Some districts and states are embracing online learning as a so-called “disruptive innovation,” in which difficult circumstances
force organizations to use tactics that go against traditional approaches or transform them. In the Detroit area, for instance, a local district with a high dropout rate and declining enrollment opened a cyber high school, which is aimed at helping lure dropouts and at-risk students into the district to get them back on track to graduate. The new virtual program has helped draw in new students, increasing enrollment and state funding. Which statement is supported by the paragraph and reinforces an argument for online learning?
A. Online learning is disruptive to standard educational practices.
B. Virtual-school enrollment is increasing because there are fewer graduation requirements.
C. Online learning is gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional classroom settings.
D. Virtual schools offer the same academic and elective offerings as regular schools.
Answer: The right answer is the C) Online learning is gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional classroom settings.
Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that options B and D should be discarded, since it is not said that virtual schools have fewer graduation requirements, and there is no reference to their academic and elective offerings. Likewise, option A can be also discarded, since the paragraph does not specifically say that online learning is disruptive to standard educational practices, but that some districts and states are calling it a disruptive innovation and have been forced to implement some of its tactics — even though they challenge, transform, or even go against traditional educational approaches — due to difficult circumstances (such as a high dropout rate). Option C is, therefore, the correct one. The paragraph does mention that online learning is being embraced as an alternative to traditional clasroom settings in areas such as Detroit, where it has successfully helped increase enrollment and state funding.
