I didn’t read the whole article (it’s the SLimes after all), but a true “on-line course” requires more than simply cutting and pasting articles and sending it to a teacher! Just as those on free-republic comment and discuss articles, on-line courses require such discussions as well as responses in essay form. A good teacher comments on essays and requires rewrites...the only way to truly learn to write.
Just as in any school, the “learning” is dependant on fair and demanding teachers and willing students. It’s not the whole answer, but for many kids who do not do well in traditional classrooms OR for assistance to home-schooling, a “digital” approach can be a great alternative. For many reluctant learners, they can thrive on the visual and interactive nature of computer learning.
Good point. I teach in an online school, and we run term papers through an automatic plagiarism-checking program. Even before we had that, it was easy to tell when a student who formerly only communicated using the language of text-messaging suddenly is using PhD-level phrasing and vocabulary. Then you do a simple Google search to see where they copied it from, and then give them a zero. I used to teach in public schools, but I won’t go back unless we are literally starving and about to start living in a box.