Alternative Education

Education that takes place outside of traditional public or parochial school systems, such as homeschooling, as well as education programs that are offered as alternatives within formal educational systems and provide innovative and flexible instruction, curriculum, grading systems, degree requirements.

Sub-headings:

Experimental Methods

Provision of compulsory education through experimental learning, often evident by new or innovative ideas, methods, or subject matter organization, in comparison with traditional/standard education methods.

Homeschooling

Provision of compulsory education in the home, usually by a parent, as an alternative to traditional public or private schooling.

Resources in this category:

The Canadian Office of Learning Technologies
http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/topics/lxt-gxr.shtml

The Office of Learning Technologies is a Canadian government agency that "works to raise awareness about the opportunities, challenges, and benefits of technology-based learning." The site includes publications and a library with searchable databases. It also features resources for practitioners, educators, and instructors and resources for learners who are interested in online and distance education and training. This site is available in French and English.

Distance Education Clearinghouse
http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html

Information and resources relating to distance learning, including an Overview of Distance Education, News and Information, Interactive Delivery Systems, and Professional and Related Information.

Distance Learning: Online Degrees and Courses
http://online-degrees.com/

Ready to move forward at work? Or start a new career? Search a directory of links for distance education divisions of colleges and universities throughout the US and Canada.

The Education Revolution
http://www.educationrevolution.org/

The website of The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO), a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to advance learner-centered approaches in education, provides resources for educators, parents, and administrators. Resources on the site include job and internship listings, information on democratic education and schools, innovative higher education programs, home education resources, fee-based guidance for starting a school in the form of mentorship listserve, and an extensive listing of links and resources.

F2be (The Freedom 2be Natural Learners)
http://www.f2be.com/

"The F2be hopes to help challenge current perceptions about what education is all about. It suggests that the old systems are no longer relevant to today's technological society and that education should increasingly be about valuing learning, thinking and feeling abilities over the simple acquisition of knowledge." The site provides listings of articles, organizations, schools, as well as an A-Z Theories page to help users understand philosophies, approaches, and types of schools in the alternative education movement.

iEARN: International Education and Resource Network
http://www.iearn.org/

This is the site of a non-profit global network of more than 115 schools in the world that enables teachers and young people to work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies. The projects aim to enhance learning and make a difference in the world through collaboration.

The International Association for Learning Alternatives (IALA)
http://www.learningalternatives.net/

The mission of IALA is to "lead, promote and support learning alternatives and choice options." This site supports those goals by offering users IALA's newsletter, legal information, downloadable articles and documents on alternative learning and choice options, and contact information for regional state associations.

Magnet Schools of America
http://www.magnet.edu/modules/news/

"Magnet schools are based on the premise that all students do not learn in the same ways, that if we find a unifying theme or a different organizational structure for students of similar interest, those students will learn more in all areas." This site has information on the mission of magnet schools, how to join the MSA organization, and a directory of schools, districts, and affiliates.

National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools
http://www.ncacs.org/

NCACS is a nonprofit educational organization that has been supporting the work of students, parents, teachers and others in the field of alternative education, while informing the general public about its benefits and successes since 1978. NCACS's website provides links to member schools, job opportunities in alternative community schools, NCACS news, publications for purchase, and membership information.

Online Degrees and Online College Search
http://www.onlinedegrees.com/

Search for complimentary information about online degrees in a number of areas at a number of schools. Degree areas include Accounting, Business & Management, Criminal Justice, Graphic Art & Design, Healthcare & Medical, Information Technology & Computer, Paralegal & Legal, and Teaching & Education.

Online-Education.info
http://www.online-education.info/

This site, www.online-education.info, offers a directory of campus-based colleges, online education and post-secondary online degree programs.

Online-Education.net
http://www.online-education.net/

This collection of resources about online education covers topics ranging from high school diploma courses to specific trade courses. Users can also search by geographic location or by specific school.

Repeat After Us
http://www.repeatafterus.com/

Online language lab with a library of English language text and audio clips intended to help people with their language skills.

Technologies for Learning
http://node.on.ca/tfl/

"The NODE's technologies for learning (tfl) will help you make informed decisions about learning technologies by organizing and contextualizing information, critical analyses and the experiences of colleagues. These resources are organized under categories: technologies and special topics."

U.S. Charter Schools
http://www.uscharterschools.org/

This site provides an overview of charter schools, relevant reports and research, information about starting a charter school, profiles of charter schools, information on states with charter school laws, and access to discussion groups.