Sunday, September 26, 2010
Disadvantages of online learning
Although the article states that online learning is better than face-to-face education, I disagree. Online classes are usually very challenging. I have taken several online classes over my college career. During these times, a couple of the instructors were very hard to get in touch with. It seemed as though every time I wanted to contact a professor, they would either not receive my e-mail or they would not respond in a timely manner. Also, you do not see the teacher everyday. If you need clarification on an assignment, it has to be done via e-mail. This can cause a lot of confusion. Technology is a great thing, but can let us down. Computers crash, power can be lost, and servers can be down. These are all problems we face when we agree to take online classes. Nothing can beat a face-to-face learning experience.
Advantages of Online Learning Environments
There are many advantages to online learning. First and foremost for me, personally, is that it allows me to complete my degree. With young children and work, it is hard to fit face-to-face classes into my schedule. Also with online classes I feel that you learn from your peers while learning with them. You also have the ability to learn things at your own pace. I have taken many online classes as well as face-to-face and I prefer online classes everytime.
Disadvantages with Online Learning
I believe there are multiple disadvantages to online classes compared to the few advantages. With online classes, one is basically learning everything on their own by reading or watching what the teacher assigns them to. The teacher is not really able to give a lecture to give a student a better idea on the different material; unless the professor video tapes their lessons, but that is mostly a waste of time for the professor. Also, I disagree with the guy from the article because I do not see where an online class is more than just being an individual thing. I feel that online classes are made for students who do not feel like traveling long distances, so it is impossible for most students to have any interaction with any students with in their online class. Another thing that I find troubling about the article is how they say online students have higher learning abilities. With online classes, you never know who is actually sitting behind the computer doing all the assignments or if someone is using outside resources to finish a test. At least with in a classroom, a teacher knows exactly who the student is, and is monitoring how they take tests. This way the work that is being done with in the classroom is defiantly the students and not someone else’s. In my personal experience, I find the online class to be more difficult because it is not as easy to ask my peers how to do an assignment. I usually try not to bother the professor all the time but in an online class that’s the main person to talk to because I do not know the peers in my class. Another thing from my past experience is that I am better getting my assignments done with I have the constant reminder from my peers and professor. In the online class, I tend to procrastinate more because I only have myself to remind me to do the assignments and I tend to push it off. By doing this, I start looking for the highest grade I can get if I do not do certain assignments and I convince myself that I can still do well in the class even without doing certain assignments. I just feel that online classes are not as good as what they said in the article. They just seem to have more disadvantages then advantages when it comes to me and my classes.
Advantages of Online Learning Environments
“ When course content and activities are provided online, students no longer need to worry about accessing course materials. Students can complete assignments during their most productive times. Busy students can choose to download readings or take practice exams whenever it is most convenient, in the evening after kids are put to bed, or at 4am during a bout of insomnia. Continual access to course documents also insures students can obtain materials at any time, removing the opportunity for frustrations…(uth.tmc.edu).” I believe this is the most essential advantage of online learning environments in comparison to face-to-face learning environments. Students have the ability to use their time in ways that our convenient to their schedules because assignments are always online. This teaches students to learn effective time management skills, making them more effective learners. “On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction (ny times).” I believe that this is the main reason that students perform better. Based on my own experience, I have been able to take more classes in my time constraints and have learned to schedule myself based on my time availability not having the constraints of a typical face-to-face classroom. I tend to have higher grades in online classes than in face-to-face classes because of the ability to be able to work on assignments in the time that is convenient to me. This has also helped me in my other courses as I have been forced to learn time management.
Sources:
Blackboard, Inc. "Educational Benefits of Online Learning." Web. Sept. 2010. .
"Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom - NYTimes.com." Technology - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com. Web. Sept. 2010.
Advantages To Online Learning
The biggest advantage I see to an online learning environment is my personal example in that it enables me to complete my degree in an environment that works well with my personal life. For example, the degree I am seeking is offered here in where I live, however, the classes meet twice a week and the times are usually 3:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon. I currently work full time and have two children, so these times do not work at all with my personal life. The online learning environment offers flexibility for people who work or have other obligations outside of their education. So convenience is my motivation factor.
The article in the NY Times notes that “the study’s major significance lies in demonstrating that online learning today is not just better than nothing – it actually tends to be better than conventional instruction” (Lohr, 2009, pp. 3). The article further goes on to discuss the new technology available for using in online instruction, but it does not share why the results of online education is showing higher results. An article that I found is not related to the study noted in the NY Times article, however, it does offer the same opinion in “that online education can be as good as, or even of better quality than in-class sessions, with the ultimate effect being a better learning experience for the student” (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 304). This article goes on to discuss six advantages for the student: Convenience, feedback opportunities, learner control, increased instructor contact, interactivity, and accessibility (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 305).
Motivation is something often discussed regarding online classes, but I think this is something harder to predict. Students who have achievement motivation (Moreno, 2010, p.348) are more than likely going to be motivated to perform well regardless of the learning environment while “some students will be left behind in any learning environment” (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 304). It is the responsibility of the instructor to structure the class to engage the students and both the NY Times article and the Singh & Pan article agree that the online environment “providing learning experiences that are more tailored to the individual students (Lohr, 2009, pp. 6) and “the instructor should construct the Web-based online course to satisfy the needs and desires of the individual student” (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 306).
To close on a personal note, one thing that I think college teaches students is time management, which is an important tool that will be used no matter what path your life my take. I did my undergraduate work on campus and now (quite a few years later) I am doing my graduate work online. Both environments still require the student to learn and practice time management so this benefit of higher education seems to be shared regardless of your physical geography.
References
Lohr, S. (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. The New York Times. Retrieved from
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Singh, P. and Pan, W. (2004). Online education: Lessons for administrations and instructors. College Student Journal, 38:2, 302 – 308. Retrieved from OmniFile Full Text database.
The article in the NY Times notes that “the study’s major significance lies in demonstrating that online learning today is not just better than nothing – it actually tends to be better than conventional instruction” (Lohr, 2009, pp. 3). The article further goes on to discuss the new technology available for using in online instruction, but it does not share why the results of online education is showing higher results. An article that I found is not related to the study noted in the NY Times article, however, it does offer the same opinion in “that online education can be as good as, or even of better quality than in-class sessions, with the ultimate effect being a better learning experience for the student” (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 304). This article goes on to discuss six advantages for the student: Convenience, feedback opportunities, learner control, increased instructor contact, interactivity, and accessibility (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 305).
Motivation is something often discussed regarding online classes, but I think this is something harder to predict. Students who have achievement motivation (Moreno, 2010, p.348) are more than likely going to be motivated to perform well regardless of the learning environment while “some students will be left behind in any learning environment” (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 304). It is the responsibility of the instructor to structure the class to engage the students and both the NY Times article and the Singh & Pan article agree that the online environment “providing learning experiences that are more tailored to the individual students (Lohr, 2009, pp. 6) and “the instructor should construct the Web-based online course to satisfy the needs and desires of the individual student” (Singh & Pan, 2004, p. 306).
To close on a personal note, one thing that I think college teaches students is time management, which is an important tool that will be used no matter what path your life my take. I did my undergraduate work on campus and now (quite a few years later) I am doing my graduate work online. Both environments still require the student to learn and practice time management so this benefit of higher education seems to be shared regardless of your physical geography.
References
Lohr, S. (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. The New York Times. Retrieved from
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Singh, P. and Pan, W. (2004). Online education: Lessons for administrations and instructors. College Student Journal, 38:2, 302 – 308. Retrieved from OmniFile Full Text database.
Advantages of online learning environments
There are several advantages of online learning environments including convenience, control, and commitment and I am very much in favor of it. I could not be getting my School Media Specialist certification if it were not for being enrolled in an online program. However, I do think that the advantages increase as the age of the student increases. The focus of the NY Times article (“Study Finds,” 2009) was largely for college and continuing education students. It reported results from an SRI study that an average online student tested higher in performance than an average classroom student. But, it also expressed excitement in the growth in online education in providing more tailored learning experiences. The use of new collaboration tools including Web-based video and instant messaging has greatly enhanced the online experience of participating in a class.
According to Online College Courses, there are 5 advantages of online courses. They are convenience, control, connection, cost, and commitment. Online courses are convenient because you can fit them into your day. You have control over the time management aspect of learning by being able to spend necessary amount of time on the subject as your background warrants. Since online courses are interactive, there is a connection with the instructor and other students from around the world. Cost is only a slight advantage since online courses should eliminate things like travel and possibly food. However, the expense of having a computer with internet access may actually be more costly. Taking online courses will teach you how to commit to something and follow through.
Moreno (2010) discusses several anxieties such as math anxiety and test anxiety that could be reduced by creating a classroom that is accepting, comfortable, and noncompetitive. Online classes can offer this kind of classroom making it an advantage of online learning environment.
My own personal experience with online courses has been advantageous to acquiring a School Media Specialist certification. I live 150 miles from Florida State University and yet, I can take all my required classes for the certification online. I am also able to revisit each class at my leisure because online classes are recorded for later viewing. My daughter also used Florida’s Virtual School for several courses in high school. The advantage of her taking an online course including freeing up her classroom time for other classes at her high school.
Works Cited
(2009, August 19). Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom. New York Times. Retrieved from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/
2010. Online College Courses. Retrieved from http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/5-advantages-of-online-courses/
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
According to Online College Courses, there are 5 advantages of online courses. They are convenience, control, connection, cost, and commitment. Online courses are convenient because you can fit them into your day. You have control over the time management aspect of learning by being able to spend necessary amount of time on the subject as your background warrants. Since online courses are interactive, there is a connection with the instructor and other students from around the world. Cost is only a slight advantage since online courses should eliminate things like travel and possibly food. However, the expense of having a computer with internet access may actually be more costly. Taking online courses will teach you how to commit to something and follow through.
Moreno (2010) discusses several anxieties such as math anxiety and test anxiety that could be reduced by creating a classroom that is accepting, comfortable, and noncompetitive. Online classes can offer this kind of classroom making it an advantage of online learning environment.
My own personal experience with online courses has been advantageous to acquiring a School Media Specialist certification. I live 150 miles from Florida State University and yet, I can take all my required classes for the certification online. I am also able to revisit each class at my leisure because online classes are recorded for later viewing. My daughter also used Florida’s Virtual School for several courses in high school. The advantage of her taking an online course including freeing up her classroom time for other classes at her high school.
Works Cited
(2009, August 19). Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom. New York Times. Retrieved from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/
2010. Online College Courses. Retrieved from http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/5-advantages-of-online-courses/
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Disadvantages of Online Learning Environments
I think one of the biggest disadvantages of online learning environments is the perception that face-to-face learning is the more authentic college experience. I think the proliferation of online-only colleges and schools feeds this collegiate caste system. The degrees obtained by those who have physically attended universities are likely to be deemed superior in a side-by-side comparison with the online-degreed. I am just thankful that FSU is an actual, physical university which also happens to offer online classes. I hold my breath and hope the rest of the world (professional peers, employers) do not make a distinction between the two degree paths. I also count on people’s personal knowledge of me and my motivation as a reason to give my online education its due.
It is difficult in an online learning environment to accomplish what Moreno describes as the “social goal” of wanting to get recognition from one’s classmates and teachers, and to make friends. A survey among teacher education students reveals that online students feel isolated and a lack of social support in studying. These students also lament the lack of opportunities to meet with other students and the instructor before or after class. They also found the lack of immediate help or feedback discouraging. The students in the study felt, and I concur, that the online group activities which many instructors assign are somewhat awkward.
The New York Times article we read for class points out that most universities' use of online learning systems is largely limited to posting assignments and other non-interactive purposes. Therefore, it would be misleading to overstate the proliferation of online college learning environments.
It is difficult in an online learning environment to accomplish what Moreno describes as the “social goal” of wanting to get recognition from one’s classmates and teachers, and to make friends. A survey among teacher education students reveals that online students feel isolated and a lack of social support in studying. These students also lament the lack of opportunities to meet with other students and the instructor before or after class. They also found the lack of immediate help or feedback discouraging. The students in the study felt, and I concur, that the online group activities which many instructors assign are somewhat awkward.
The New York Times article we read for class points out that most universities' use of online learning systems is largely limited to posting assignments and other non-interactive purposes. Therefore, it would be misleading to overstate the proliferation of online college learning environments.
Disadvantages of Online Learning Environments
My online learning environment experience has been difficult at times but I love the convenience of it. You have to be extremely motivated to learn on your own which puts a damper on my learning. I work full time so when I get home I don’t want to jump right on the computer. But I do enjoy the convenience of online learning. Especially when using Elluminate, that is what I enjoy most about online learning.
Online learning environments are convenient for most people but there are disadvantages to this as well. Some of the disadvantages are being more independent about learning. Some people need the step by step directions in certain subjects (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009). “Online classes may try to simulate classroom interaction, but they cannot duplicate it” (Matthews, 2006). Like I said some teachers use Elluminate which I enjoy more because of the interaction.
One disadvantage that not many people think about is the technology available around the world. Depending on the location, they may not have the resources available to access the library, or high speed internet. So it is a huge inconvenience for them to learn online (Matthews, 2006). I had one classmate who could not access a video because it was too big. Many online students who live in areas like these have to use interlibrary loan, which could take weeks depending on the type of media it is, to get the resources they need.
In conclusion, I do believe online learning is a great thing but it is not feasible for everyone.
Resources
Matthews, S. (2006, October 3). What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Courses? Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-The-Advantages-And-Disadvantages-Of-Online-Courses?&id=317526
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York Times Bits Blog (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Retrieved from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/.
Online learning environments are convenient for most people but there are disadvantages to this as well. Some of the disadvantages are being more independent about learning. Some people need the step by step directions in certain subjects (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009). “Online classes may try to simulate classroom interaction, but they cannot duplicate it” (Matthews, 2006). Like I said some teachers use Elluminate which I enjoy more because of the interaction.
One disadvantage that not many people think about is the technology available around the world. Depending on the location, they may not have the resources available to access the library, or high speed internet. So it is a huge inconvenience for them to learn online (Matthews, 2006). I had one classmate who could not access a video because it was too big. Many online students who live in areas like these have to use interlibrary loan, which could take weeks depending on the type of media it is, to get the resources they need.
In conclusion, I do believe online learning is a great thing but it is not feasible for everyone.
Resources
Matthews, S. (2006, October 3). What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Courses? Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Are-The-Advantages-And-Disadvantages-Of-Online-Courses?&id=317526
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York Times Bits Blog (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Retrieved from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/.
What I've Learned From Learning Online
I have been involved with online classes since 2003. To be honest, the first few years, I was the worst student. I waited until the very last minute to complete - even start my assignments. I had such anxiety about doing homework. Skip forward a few years when I got my own laptop and was able to complete assignments...In my bed! I was so motivated by this concept that I couldn't wait to complete assignments. The feeling of not having to think of homework being due because I had waited too long went away and I was left with a sense of freedom. I try not to procrastinate now, but my old ways still lurk in the shadows. At times I still do put things off until the very last minute.
I love that there is freedom in doing online classes because you do not have to physically go anywhere. I live in Central Florida, and school is four hours away in Tallahassee. I literally come home from work, put on my pajama's, and go online to the elluminate class. The Blackboard and elluminate platforms make online classes easy to follow. These classroom-like programs are very user friendly, and according to Noah Berger, online education has grown with the advent of such tools (p. 1, 2009).
Keith Hartman wrote about a woman, Heidi Grant who was an MLS student at Drexel University Online. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while she was in school. Because she was enrolled in online courses, she was able to complete her assignments from her hospital room by using her laptop (pp. 48-51, 2009). Heidi was able to keep up with her asynchronous class solely because she didn't physically have to attend.
In order to be successful in an online program, you must subscribe to Goal Theory, as defined by Moreno (pp. 336-339). Personally, I possess a mastery goal, as I am in this program to learn more about being a librarian even though I already work in a library. I am grateful to be able to work on assignments at my own pace, and since I am a night owl, that's when I like to complete my assignments. I do work full time at my local library, and sometimes my day doesn't end until 6:30 PM, which isn't too late. However, when my day begins at 7:00 AM, it does make for a long day. I am often tired and just want to relax. I love that I can listen to my classes while I am laying down, and when I'm ready, I can get up work on my assignments. Online learning is a great environment, and it works wonderfully with my schedule and in my life.
Berger, N. (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. The New
York Times, p. 2. Retrieved September 21, 2010, from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com
/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/
Hartman, K. (2009). From a distance. American libraries, 40(10), 48-51.
Moreno, R. (2010). Theories of Motivation and Affect. Educational Psychology (pp. 326-365).
Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
I love that there is freedom in doing online classes because you do not have to physically go anywhere. I live in Central Florida, and school is four hours away in Tallahassee. I literally come home from work, put on my pajama's, and go online to the elluminate class. The Blackboard and elluminate platforms make online classes easy to follow. These classroom-like programs are very user friendly, and according to Noah Berger, online education has grown with the advent of such tools (p. 1, 2009).
Keith Hartman wrote about a woman, Heidi Grant who was an MLS student at Drexel University Online. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while she was in school. Because she was enrolled in online courses, she was able to complete her assignments from her hospital room by using her laptop (pp. 48-51, 2009). Heidi was able to keep up with her asynchronous class solely because she didn't physically have to attend.
In order to be successful in an online program, you must subscribe to Goal Theory, as defined by Moreno (pp. 336-339). Personally, I possess a mastery goal, as I am in this program to learn more about being a librarian even though I already work in a library. I am grateful to be able to work on assignments at my own pace, and since I am a night owl, that's when I like to complete my assignments. I do work full time at my local library, and sometimes my day doesn't end until 6:30 PM, which isn't too late. However, when my day begins at 7:00 AM, it does make for a long day. I am often tired and just want to relax. I love that I can listen to my classes while I am laying down, and when I'm ready, I can get up work on my assignments. Online learning is a great environment, and it works wonderfully with my schedule and in my life.
Berger, N. (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. The New
York Times, p. 2. Retrieved September 21, 2010, from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com
/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/
Hartman, K. (2009). From a distance. American libraries, 40(10), 48-51.
Moreno, R. (2010). Theories of Motivation and Affect. Educational Psychology (pp. 326-365).
Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Online Learning Offers Many Advantages for Self-Regulating, Motivated Learners
I have gotten more out of my online learning experience than I did out of my four years as an undergraduate in a regular face-to-face setting. Part of this is due to increased maturity and a more goal-oriented mentality, and part is due to the fact that I have been able to make my online education experience work with the other facets of my life including work and family. The Bits Blog we read talks about online learning being tailored to individual learners and I think the fact that online learning can be fit in around other obligations is an example of this. Since there is no information studies program at a school within driving distance, or even in my state for that matter, getting my masters degree would have meant relocating to another state. As much as I want the degree, relocating would have been out of the question at this point in my life, so I am very glad to live in an age in which I am able to further my education through distance learning.
I think that students who do well in online learning environments probably have a few characteristics in common: That they have a high level of motivation to learn, they are good at being self-starters and self-regulators and they do well without close supervision and monitoring. I think maturity brings about many of these characteristics. I think many young people who would not have the self-regulation skills to schedule their time properly for online learning would do so very well at a later time in life when they are more mature and have more motivation to learn for a specific reason. And, although this maturity comes to many of us, like me, with age, I also think there are plenty of people who have this type of maturity and self-regulation at a young age.
Chapter 9 of our text talks about intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation and mastery vs. performance goals. I think that online learners are those whose motivation is primarily intrinsic, and whose goals are primarily mastery goals. Most of us want to learn for the sake of learning and earn the degree in order to meet the qualifications required to master our subject. I think there is some blurring of these motivations and goals, and that each individual online learner may have more or less of either type. For example, earning a degree or acquiring a certain job might be considered extrinsic motivations or performance goals in a sense, but I believe that most online learners are seeking the tangible degree in order to obtain a job in a field in which they can apply learning which they are intrinsically passionate about.
The Bits Blog article states that all the good news regarding studies of the successes of online learning does not mean that we will be saying goodbye to the classroom, and I agree completely with this. I think there will always be a need for both types of learning. We've always had the standard face-to-face learning which works well for so many people, and now we have the online learning, which gives another segment of the population a realistic way to further their education.
Luckily for those of us obtaining online degrees, employers are receptive to prospective employees who have obtained degrees online from accredited, reputable programs. According to an article on CNN.com by Rachel Zupek, to many employers, a degree is a degree. And while other employers have more specific standards about where the degree comes from, for most the fact that a degree was earned online or face-to-face is less important than the institution's reputations as a whole and factors such as accreditation and the quality of graduates. So, it seems to me that the news is all good - not only does online learning work well for many of us, but employers will be happy to have us!
References
Lohr, S. (2009, Aug. 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Retrieved from
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds -that-online-education-beats-the-
classroom/?ref=education
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Zupek, R. (2010). Employers on online education. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/
LIVING/worklife/03/29/cb.employers.online.education/index.html?iref=allsearch
I think that students who do well in online learning environments probably have a few characteristics in common: That they have a high level of motivation to learn, they are good at being self-starters and self-regulators and they do well without close supervision and monitoring. I think maturity brings about many of these characteristics. I think many young people who would not have the self-regulation skills to schedule their time properly for online learning would do so very well at a later time in life when they are more mature and have more motivation to learn for a specific reason. And, although this maturity comes to many of us, like me, with age, I also think there are plenty of people who have this type of maturity and self-regulation at a young age.
Chapter 9 of our text talks about intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation and mastery vs. performance goals. I think that online learners are those whose motivation is primarily intrinsic, and whose goals are primarily mastery goals. Most of us want to learn for the sake of learning and earn the degree in order to meet the qualifications required to master our subject. I think there is some blurring of these motivations and goals, and that each individual online learner may have more or less of either type. For example, earning a degree or acquiring a certain job might be considered extrinsic motivations or performance goals in a sense, but I believe that most online learners are seeking the tangible degree in order to obtain a job in a field in which they can apply learning which they are intrinsically passionate about.
The Bits Blog article states that all the good news regarding studies of the successes of online learning does not mean that we will be saying goodbye to the classroom, and I agree completely with this. I think there will always be a need for both types of learning. We've always had the standard face-to-face learning which works well for so many people, and now we have the online learning, which gives another segment of the population a realistic way to further their education.
Luckily for those of us obtaining online degrees, employers are receptive to prospective employees who have obtained degrees online from accredited, reputable programs. According to an article on CNN.com by Rachel Zupek, to many employers, a degree is a degree. And while other employers have more specific standards about where the degree comes from, for most the fact that a degree was earned online or face-to-face is less important than the institution's reputations as a whole and factors such as accreditation and the quality of graduates. So, it seems to me that the news is all good - not only does online learning work well for many of us, but employers will be happy to have us!
References
Lohr, S. (2009, Aug. 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Retrieved from
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds -that-online-education-beats-the-
classroom/?ref=education
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Zupek, R. (2010). Employers on online education. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/
LIVING/worklife/03/29/cb.employers.online.education/index.html?iref=allsearch
Online Learning - Infinite Benefits of an Infinite Classroom
Online learning is an idea that has been tossed around since the internet first started making its way into our homes, but only recently has it really risen in popularity. This is no surprise, as more and more people are beginning to realize and desire the many benefits associated with online education both in k-12 learning as well as post-secondary education.
As a former home schooled student, I have to say that flexibility can make a massive difference in what a student gets out of his or her education, as well as in what they put into it. By this, I mean not only flexibility in scheduling of lessons, but also in the delivery of those lessons. Many online K-12 schools allow for variability in the pace of their curriculum. This allows fast learners to progress at a speed that will keep them interested and challenged, while slower learners are able to work towards full mastery before being rushed along to more difficult content for which they lack prerequisite knowledge. Furthermore, the many types of content that can be delivered to students via a web-based classroom not only allows for more differentiation than would be practical in a classroom, but also helps make lessons more accessible to students who may have sensory disabilities. The flexible scheduling offered through online learning can also be tremendously beneficial. Students are able to plan their study time around such things as family responsibility, early career planning (in the case of athletes or performers), parents' work schedules to ensure maximum family support, and even uncontrollable factors such as illness. No longer does life hinder learning, but rather, learning enhances life. A great example of the utilization of flexibility in online education is the K12 online curriculum found at www.k12.com.
IN addition to flexibility, online learning environments offer a level of class involvement that could never be found in a classroom. With the availability of chat rooms, VOIP, streaming video, message boards, and interactive graphical user interfaces of all sorts, there should never be a student who doesn't benefit from a class activity because resources ran out, they didn't get called on, or they were too shy to join in. In an online classroom, everyone should be able to try a hand at answering the same questions. Everyone should be able to leave messages in a discussion forum or join in a chat with a study group, the teacher, or the entire class. A shyer student may prefer text discussions, while a more socially confident student may prefer a video conference, but everyone still gets to be a full part of the learning community. All of these tools give instructors a unique opportunity to interact and share information with their students as well, from offering online office hours and one-to-one VOIP sessions when a student needs help to instant feedback on exams and rich content that can engage all of a student's senses with video, audio, text, and interactive activities. No face-to-face classroom can provide all of this to a student.
It is true that online learning might not work for every individual. Some families can't afford internet, or a personal computer for each school-attending child. Some students may not have a stable enough home life (financial difficulties, less-than-supportive parents, etc), and others still may lack the motivation to sit down at their computer now and then, and really need to have learning time forced on them in a setting strictly designed for learning. Still, the statistics do indicate positive outcomes for students who have chosen online learning. A 50th to 59th percentile jump may not be huge, but it is significant nonetheless, and there must be something about online learning, something missing in the classroom, that causes this.
In favor of Distance Education
I am a living example of why distance learning education is valuable and even indispensable nowadays: I begun my MSLIS when I was three months pregnant and I'll finish it watching an 'almost three-year-old' running around in a town where none of the universities has a College of Information department or anything alike that could offer me the required courses to become a school media specialist.
Moreno (2010) brings out several points regarding what motivates us to learn and, so far, I have found them all throughout my online educational experience (Spring 2008-present, that is): I have made a strong personal connection with professors who understood me and accommodated my needs through difficult personal times, my professors have found ways to create a classroom community through different activities and collaborative projects, the College of Information's staff has been very caring and helpful through different registration epochs, etc. Also, this educational experience has helped me to move from 'extrinsically-motivated' to 'intrinsically-motivated' as I have discovered that a this career, which initially promised to enhance my chances to provide a better financial future for my family, is also full of exciting areas I'm interested in. In fact, I am now motivated to keep studying on my own to join again someday this same department to pursue an even higher degree.
Vasquez's (2010) article found in The Miami Herald reflects the reality of people like me who can't afford to leave their locations in search for better education opportunities and benefit greatly from distance education. In fact, if we put things in perspective, the chance we are given to complete our education this way also affects positively the quality of life of people around us as they can count on new professionals who, otherwise, wound't have existed as Vasquez (2010) shows in the example of Iraqi doctors being trained to save lives in Iraq by highly accredited American teachers through distance education.
Moving on, Lohr (2009) brings out the valuable point that online students perform slightly better than their colleagues from classrooms settings. Personally, I have found that online education requires more individual preparation and more independent reading than my previous classroom experiences and that might explain that fact for me. I, with no doubt, feel prepared to face the practice of my new profession after all the materials, explanations and discussions.
All in all, I'm likely to favor distance learning over classroom learning in the future. I don't really miss sitting in a freezing classroom copying what's in the board swiftly because it'll be erased: now I can listen to the recorded class or read my teachers' advices as many times as I need. Distance learning has surely gone the 'extra mile' for me :-).
References
Lohr, S. (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Vasquez, M. (2010, June 7). Colleges serious about internet intellectuals. The Miami Herald. Retrieved from http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/07/1664292/college-serious-about-internet.html
In favor of online classroom
Just like everything Online and Traditional classroom environments have different pros and cons that vary from student to student.
I believe online environments offer students to ability to share with their peers with out being judged, which creates a sense of belonging. From my own personal experience I can tell you that it is hard to discuss certain things in person especially if your opinion is not fully developed or differs from others.
As more and more online classes are offered the more teachers and students are using them to their fullest. I can remember my first online class in 2000, it was an absolute joke. The instructor didn't have much structure of a class hardwired into it. I believe the only way the class will be effective is if the instructor has meaningful and worthwhile assignments. Therefore, having pros and cons with each different online class will vary drastically.
I do agree strongly with the article about not letting online classrooms replace traditional classrooms, because I think that traditional classroom are also extremely important to different learners. However,online classes definitely benefit those that can be self motivators and need the flexibility within the courses.
I am not very familiar with online classes in the elementary or secondary schools and how they are use or how effective they might be. I am writing and thinking only on a college level.
Funny enough I was suppose to take this class in a traditional style environment and was given the option to do as an online class. I jumped to the idea of online because it was conducive to my home schedule (definite PRO).
I believe online environments offer students to ability to share with their peers with out being judged, which creates a sense of belonging. From my own personal experience I can tell you that it is hard to discuss certain things in person especially if your opinion is not fully developed or differs from others.
As more and more online classes are offered the more teachers and students are using them to their fullest. I can remember my first online class in 2000, it was an absolute joke. The instructor didn't have much structure of a class hardwired into it. I believe the only way the class will be effective is if the instructor has meaningful and worthwhile assignments. Therefore, having pros and cons with each different online class will vary drastically.
I do agree strongly with the article about not letting online classrooms replace traditional classrooms, because I think that traditional classroom are also extremely important to different learners. However,online classes definitely benefit those that can be self motivators and need the flexibility within the courses.
I am not very familiar with online classes in the elementary or secondary schools and how they are use or how effective they might be. I am writing and thinking only on a college level.
Funny enough I was suppose to take this class in a traditional style environment and was given the option to do as an online class. I jumped to the idea of online because it was conducive to my home schedule (definite PRO).
Advantages of Face-to-Face Learning Environments
Online learning environments have come a long way in the past decade or so. Major advances have been made not only to the technology available to make content and learning resources available online, but also in the quality of instruction available online as professors catch on to the concept and it becomes more mainstream. Despite this, there are many advantages to face-to-face learning environments that cannot be replicated in online instruction. Among these are the personal contacts and relationships with other classmates, the ease to contact your instructor in person about questions and concerns about the course, and the networking that face-to-face instruction affords.
Face-to-face learning environments make it almost impossible for classmates to not become familiar with at least a couple of their classmates. In a New York Times article from August of 2009, Philip R. Regier states “learning has to occurs in a community”. Online environments do involve group work and interaction with course mates, but it will not ever be as personal as working with other students in groups in the same room. Furthermore, students are less likely to use each other as a study resource and make study groups or reach out with questions. Sometiems students are more comfortable seeking help from a fellow student than from their professor (Mooney, 1). Even in online courses when professors encourage students to interact with discussion boards or group work students are less likely to form personal connections, as they would be in a traditional classroom setting.
In addition to contacting students, contacting professors can be more of a challenge in online learning environments. Face-to-face courses allow for a student to stay after a class to ask a question and also involve office hours when students can reach their professors to ask questions or bring up concerns. In an online classroom, students are typically restricted to emailing the professor or asking a question during an asynchronous class and they are not afforded the privacy or personal setting that traditional face-to-face students get. Furthermore, a student’s self-efficacy has a strong influence on the motivation to learn (Moreno, 344). Professors that are in class with students are more likely to spot when a student is out of their comfort zone and help them through a topic that they might not otherwise be able to understand whereas in distance learning, the professor will likely have no idea the student is struggling unless the student takes it upon themselves (which as we know they may or may not do) to speak up about it.
Finally, and in my opinion most importantly, students in face-to-face classrooms have the huge advantage of being able to network with their professor and others they have access to in their school or college. So much of success is based off of networking these days that this is truly an invaluable resource. Professors who meet with their students in face-to-face settings are more likely to remember that student and see that student in more settings allowing them to be able to form a personal connection and confidently use their connections as professionals already in the field to help the student find a job or other opportunity. I have personally taken both online and offline courses and with the same level of attention to the course and effort put in, I have come out with many contacts from my face-to-face courses who have given me opportunities and none who I believe would go out of their way to find an opportunity for me in my online courses. This is simply due to the nature of online courses being less personal.
For all these reasons I feel that online classes have their place, but there are many advantages of face-to-face learning environments that cannot be replicated online. While test scores and academics play a role and are important, they are not everything that you take from your education, and most online programs fall short of offering the personal connections and contacts that can be an entry into the industry you want.
Works Cited:
Lohr, S. Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom. August 19, 2009.
Accessed September 26, 2010, from Times News: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom
Mooney, Shane. Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education Classes. 2010.
Accessed September 26, 2010 from Helium. http://www.helium.com/items/1939854-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-distance-learning-and-online-education-classes
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Face-to-face learning environments make it almost impossible for classmates to not become familiar with at least a couple of their classmates. In a New York Times article from August of 2009, Philip R. Regier states “learning has to occurs in a community”. Online environments do involve group work and interaction with course mates, but it will not ever be as personal as working with other students in groups in the same room. Furthermore, students are less likely to use each other as a study resource and make study groups or reach out with questions. Sometiems students are more comfortable seeking help from a fellow student than from their professor (Mooney, 1). Even in online courses when professors encourage students to interact with discussion boards or group work students are less likely to form personal connections, as they would be in a traditional classroom setting.
In addition to contacting students, contacting professors can be more of a challenge in online learning environments. Face-to-face courses allow for a student to stay after a class to ask a question and also involve office hours when students can reach their professors to ask questions or bring up concerns. In an online classroom, students are typically restricted to emailing the professor or asking a question during an asynchronous class and they are not afforded the privacy or personal setting that traditional face-to-face students get. Furthermore, a student’s self-efficacy has a strong influence on the motivation to learn (Moreno, 344). Professors that are in class with students are more likely to spot when a student is out of their comfort zone and help them through a topic that they might not otherwise be able to understand whereas in distance learning, the professor will likely have no idea the student is struggling unless the student takes it upon themselves (which as we know they may or may not do) to speak up about it.
Finally, and in my opinion most importantly, students in face-to-face classrooms have the huge advantage of being able to network with their professor and others they have access to in their school or college. So much of success is based off of networking these days that this is truly an invaluable resource. Professors who meet with their students in face-to-face settings are more likely to remember that student and see that student in more settings allowing them to be able to form a personal connection and confidently use their connections as professionals already in the field to help the student find a job or other opportunity. I have personally taken both online and offline courses and with the same level of attention to the course and effort put in, I have come out with many contacts from my face-to-face courses who have given me opportunities and none who I believe would go out of their way to find an opportunity for me in my online courses. This is simply due to the nature of online courses being less personal.
For all these reasons I feel that online classes have their place, but there are many advantages of face-to-face learning environments that cannot be replicated online. While test scores and academics play a role and are important, they are not everything that you take from your education, and most online programs fall short of offering the personal connections and contacts that can be an entry into the industry you want.
Works Cited:
Lohr, S. Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom. August 19, 2009.
Accessed September 26, 2010, from Times News: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom
Mooney, Shane. Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education Classes. 2010.
Accessed September 26, 2010 from Helium. http://www.helium.com/items/1939854-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-distance-learning-and-online-education-classes
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Advantages of Face-to-Face Learning
So far everyone has written about their post based on either the pros or cons of online learning, but nobody has taken a stance for or against face-to-face learning. It is clear there are advantages of online learning (I wouldn't be taking this course if there weren't), but there are also key advantages of face-to-face learning which can not be simulated in an online course. The article neglects to mention how efficacy of online and face-to-face learning compares when the student is expected to apply the information taught in a "real world" setting or the level of familiarity a face-to-face instructor achieves with their students and how this effects the students learning experience.
I agree that in most cases pure textual information can be learned just as effectively online as face-to-face. However, in my experience, this information is rather useless until put into practical application. For example, my first M.A. is in speech-language pathology. I spent two years taking courses to learn the definitions and theories, but when I really LEARNED how to be a therapist in clinics and practicums. The practical application of theories is far more effectively taught in "real world" settings where the student can observe and interact with the instructor in verbally and physically in real time. This also allows the instructor to critique the functional performance of the student at a more practical level than an essay or online chat can.
Nuances in communication, such as body language and facial expression, also carry a good deal of information. In fact, some research suggest that 70% of information received during face to face communication is actually due to tone of voice, gestures, body language, facial expression, and contextual clues (Hoff 2001). It is very difficult, if not impossible, to replicate these elements of communication in online learning environments. This means the communication of nuanced information must be supplemented with other methods and takes more time.
Chapter 2 from out text give a lot of information about motivating students and the importance of building a trusting relationship in the classroom. It seems to me that it is also vastly easier to do this when the student and instructor are able to build a personal relationship, which is very hard to do in an online course format. We connect emotionally with people with our eyes, body language, and tone of voice. Yes, you can go through a series of introductions and become familiar with each other's "written voice", but this does not result in the same bond that face-to-face instructor can achieve with a student they see on a daily basis.
I am not writing all of this to say that I think online courses are less effective than face-to-face courses, but that there are some aspects of face-to-face instruction that can not be duplicated online. However, there are also other benefits of online courses that are not replicable in face-to-face courses. Perhaps in the end it depends on the individual student, their learning style, motivation, and desired outcome from the course.
I agree that in most cases pure textual information can be learned just as effectively online as face-to-face. However, in my experience, this information is rather useless until put into practical application. For example, my first M.A. is in speech-language pathology. I spent two years taking courses to learn the definitions and theories, but when I really LEARNED how to be a therapist in clinics and practicums. The practical application of theories is far more effectively taught in "real world" settings where the student can observe and interact with the instructor in verbally and physically in real time. This also allows the instructor to critique the functional performance of the student at a more practical level than an essay or online chat can.
Nuances in communication, such as body language and facial expression, also carry a good deal of information. In fact, some research suggest that 70% of information received during face to face communication is actually due to tone of voice, gestures, body language, facial expression, and contextual clues (Hoff 2001). It is very difficult, if not impossible, to replicate these elements of communication in online learning environments. This means the communication of nuanced information must be supplemented with other methods and takes more time.
Chapter 2 from out text give a lot of information about motivating students and the importance of building a trusting relationship in the classroom. It seems to me that it is also vastly easier to do this when the student and instructor are able to build a personal relationship, which is very hard to do in an online course format. We connect emotionally with people with our eyes, body language, and tone of voice. Yes, you can go through a series of introductions and become familiar with each other's "written voice", but this does not result in the same bond that face-to-face instructor can achieve with a student they see on a daily basis.
I am not writing all of this to say that I think online courses are less effective than face-to-face courses, but that there are some aspects of face-to-face instruction that can not be duplicated online. However, there are also other benefits of online courses that are not replicable in face-to-face courses. Perhaps in the end it depends on the individual student, their learning style, motivation, and desired outcome from the course.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Online Courses - Full of Benefits
Although there are some disadvantages to an online learning environment, for most students it can be a tremendously successful experience. First, an online environment offers students the opportunity to work at their own pace (Lohr, 2009). Traditional classrooms force students to keep pace with the teacher. An advanced student may find this boring while a slower student struggles to keep up. But with an online course, students of all different abilities and levels can benefit (Metz, 2010). Each student has the opportunity to work at a pace that is comfortable for him/her. Students also develop responsibility and take ownership of their own learning. This can motivate many students to perform better.
Online courses also promote self-efficacy. Some tips for promoting self-efficacy include helping students become aware of their control over learning, having them practice independently to master learning, and helping students set short-term specific goals (Moreno, 2010, p. 345). Online learning environments foster all of these things. Children have to take control of their own learning by being self motivated. Practicing and learning independently helps to reinforce the learning process. Finally, online courses (by nature) set short-term specific goals. In my experience, teachers have a curriculum written out with goals set every week. Assignments are usually very clear with detailed expectations. This always helps me to focus on the task at hand and have a better understanding of the teacher’s expectations. It also helps to be able to look ahead and gain a bigger picture of what the main goals are of the class. I have found that overall online classes have clearer goals and cause me less stress than traditional face-to-face classes. Added bonuses include less down time due to travel as well as less wasted time caused by unprepared students.
Online classes have improved greatly in the last few years. More students are finding out the benefits of learning at their own pace and taking control of their own education. In the future I am sure we will see an increase in online classes and greater focus on individual learning instead of the traditional one size fits all mentality.
Resources
Lohr, S. (2009, Aug. 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Retrieved September 25, 2010 from the New York Times: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom
Metz, Kimberly. "Benefits of online courses in career and technical education." Techniques 85.6 (2010): Academic OneFile. Web.
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Chapter 9, Theories of Motivation and Affect. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Online courses also promote self-efficacy. Some tips for promoting self-efficacy include helping students become aware of their control over learning, having them practice independently to master learning, and helping students set short-term specific goals (Moreno, 2010, p. 345). Online learning environments foster all of these things. Children have to take control of their own learning by being self motivated. Practicing and learning independently helps to reinforce the learning process. Finally, online courses (by nature) set short-term specific goals. In my experience, teachers have a curriculum written out with goals set every week. Assignments are usually very clear with detailed expectations. This always helps me to focus on the task at hand and have a better understanding of the teacher’s expectations. It also helps to be able to look ahead and gain a bigger picture of what the main goals are of the class. I have found that overall online classes have clearer goals and cause me less stress than traditional face-to-face classes. Added bonuses include less down time due to travel as well as less wasted time caused by unprepared students.
Online classes have improved greatly in the last few years. More students are finding out the benefits of learning at their own pace and taking control of their own education. In the future I am sure we will see an increase in online classes and greater focus on individual learning instead of the traditional one size fits all mentality.
Resources
Lohr, S. (2009, Aug. 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Retrieved September 25, 2010 from the New York Times: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom
Metz, Kimberly. "Benefits of online courses in career and technical education." Techniques 85.6 (2010): Academic OneFile. Web.
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Chapter 9, Theories of Motivation and Affect. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Disadvantages of Online Learning: Maybe Not for Everyone?
When I first began searching for and considering graduate programs two years ago, I relegated online/ distance learning to last-resort status. This was not because I thought it was inferior, but I presumed that like my undergraduate studies, I would ‘go’ to graduate school, meaning face-to-face classes. When I got a full-time job in my future career field, though, I quickly changed my mind because it was hard to think of giving up a job that provides practical, real-world experience. So, I became a distance learning student and gradually became aware of the many advantages of online learning. After being an online grad student for two years, I have also come to realize that it is not a one-size-fits-all environment, and the many advantages to online learning that I enjoy are perhaps not advantages for every learner. Instead, the flexibility, autonomy, interactions, and/or levels of motivation necessary may make serve as disadvantages for some learners.
Online learning continues to grow in both popularity and numbers, with a broad spectrum of students enjoying the benefits of online classes. As several recent studies note, the prospective advantages of online learning extend beyond increased access and flexibility (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009; Clark, 2009). A study on online education by the U.S. Department of Education, found a small but significant difference in test scores for students learning in online vs. traditional classroom environments, suggesting that online learning is “not just better than nothing—it tends to be better than conventional instruction” (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009, para.4). Proponents of online learning propose that online education can tailor instruction to individual student needs and provide practical applications of skills rather than just basic instruction in them. In my various online courses, I have experienced this myself, particularly with teaching-based projects I can implement in my current job that benefit me as a student yet also provide a new service and/or resource for patrons at my library.
Nonetheless, the research in the Department of Education report, as well as several other studies (Northwestern University, 2010; Clark 2009), does note that “most” of the comparative studies were done in adult continuing education and collegiate courses, which also happens to be the area in which they project the largest growth in online learning (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009). Studies suggest that online courses are designed primarily for working adults, with some younger students joining the trend as more colleges offer, if not require participation in online education (Clark, 2009, para 2.). Still, the online learning environment may not be a “good fit” for younger students with “poor self-discipline and time-management skills” (Clark, 2009, para 12). In my experience as a student who initially preferred face-to-face classes, online learning requires something of a tradeoff. In exchange for the flexible hours to post to discussion boards, attend synchronous class meetings after work, and collaborate through a variety of web 2.0 tools, students in online classes need a certain level of self-discipline and motivation to complete readings and assignments; I found this to be particularly true in one online course that optional class meetings and discussion forums, meaning that we had to self-regulate on the assigned readings or we would be cramming to get them finished before assignments were due. Younger or less experienced students may not be able to strike this balance between autonomy, self-discipline, and motivation.
One study of the relationship between motivation and online learning notes that “practitioners and researchers alike have come to understand that to be successful in online courses, it helps to be a highly motivated, self-regulated learner” (Artino & Stephens, 2009, p.146). This is perhaps because online learning environments are “relatively autonomous” compared to traditional classrooms (Artino & Stephens, 2009, p.147). As Chapter 9 in the Moreno text explains, motivation is strongly interrelated with learning and underlies achievement (Moreno, 2010, p.329). Motivation can also vary from student to student or even within an individual student depending on their age, the subject matter they are studying, and even the context in which they are learning (Moreno, 2010, p.329). Although students may enjoy the benefits of online learning like honing their technology skills and learning from home, not all students fall into the “highly motivated, self-regulated learner” category.
I have a coworker, for example, who is an adult learner in an asynchronous online graduate program. Even though s/he likes the flexibility of the classes, s/he admittedly lacks the motivation and/or self-regulation to complete readings and assignments in a timely manner, which affects success in the courses. However, when my coworker took a face-to-face course in the same program, s/he did very well because of the different social dynamic and added structure of the class. Studies suggest that as students get older, they seek both a sense of community with teachers and classmates as well as autonomy, which can affect their motivation and learning (Moreno, 2010, p.357). Students like my coworker who are motivated to some extent by social goals may not be fulfilled in online learning environments, where the social dynamic and interactions can differ from face-to-face learning.
A final prospective disadvantage to online learning is that such classes can have negative outcomes for language minority and lower performing students (Northwestern University, 2010). A survey of professors found almost half of them felt that students in the online course received an “inferior education” (Clark, 2009, para. 13). As the primary author of a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, David Figlio notes, “not all internet courses are created equally” (Northwestern, 2010, para. 13). In the end, although I think online learning is a wonderful opportunity and learning environment that works for my schedule and needs, I think it might not be the best option for all students, like those who need a little more structure, motivation, personal/social interaction, or who have specific language or learning needs.
Artino, A.R., Jr., & Stephens, J.M. (2009). Academic motivation and self-regulation: A comparative analysis of undergraduate and graduate students learning online. The Internet and Higher Education, 12(3-4), 146-151.
Clark, K. (2009). Online education offers access and affordability. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/online-education/2009/04/02/online-education-offers-access-and-affordability.html.
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York Times Bits Blog (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Message posted to http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/.
Northwestern University (2010). Rushing too fast to online learning? Outcomes of Internet versus face-to-face instruction. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628092756.htm.
Online learning continues to grow in both popularity and numbers, with a broad spectrum of students enjoying the benefits of online classes. As several recent studies note, the prospective advantages of online learning extend beyond increased access and flexibility (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009; Clark, 2009). A study on online education by the U.S. Department of Education, found a small but significant difference in test scores for students learning in online vs. traditional classroom environments, suggesting that online learning is “not just better than nothing—it tends to be better than conventional instruction” (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009, para.4). Proponents of online learning propose that online education can tailor instruction to individual student needs and provide practical applications of skills rather than just basic instruction in them. In my various online courses, I have experienced this myself, particularly with teaching-based projects I can implement in my current job that benefit me as a student yet also provide a new service and/or resource for patrons at my library.
Nonetheless, the research in the Department of Education report, as well as several other studies (Northwestern University, 2010; Clark 2009), does note that “most” of the comparative studies were done in adult continuing education and collegiate courses, which also happens to be the area in which they project the largest growth in online learning (New York Times Bits Blog, 2009). Studies suggest that online courses are designed primarily for working adults, with some younger students joining the trend as more colleges offer, if not require participation in online education (Clark, 2009, para 2.). Still, the online learning environment may not be a “good fit” for younger students with “poor self-discipline and time-management skills” (Clark, 2009, para 12). In my experience as a student who initially preferred face-to-face classes, online learning requires something of a tradeoff. In exchange for the flexible hours to post to discussion boards, attend synchronous class meetings after work, and collaborate through a variety of web 2.0 tools, students in online classes need a certain level of self-discipline and motivation to complete readings and assignments; I found this to be particularly true in one online course that optional class meetings and discussion forums, meaning that we had to self-regulate on the assigned readings or we would be cramming to get them finished before assignments were due. Younger or less experienced students may not be able to strike this balance between autonomy, self-discipline, and motivation.
One study of the relationship between motivation and online learning notes that “practitioners and researchers alike have come to understand that to be successful in online courses, it helps to be a highly motivated, self-regulated learner” (Artino & Stephens, 2009, p.146). This is perhaps because online learning environments are “relatively autonomous” compared to traditional classrooms (Artino & Stephens, 2009, p.147). As Chapter 9 in the Moreno text explains, motivation is strongly interrelated with learning and underlies achievement (Moreno, 2010, p.329). Motivation can also vary from student to student or even within an individual student depending on their age, the subject matter they are studying, and even the context in which they are learning (Moreno, 2010, p.329). Although students may enjoy the benefits of online learning like honing their technology skills and learning from home, not all students fall into the “highly motivated, self-regulated learner” category.
I have a coworker, for example, who is an adult learner in an asynchronous online graduate program. Even though s/he likes the flexibility of the classes, s/he admittedly lacks the motivation and/or self-regulation to complete readings and assignments in a timely manner, which affects success in the courses. However, when my coworker took a face-to-face course in the same program, s/he did very well because of the different social dynamic and added structure of the class. Studies suggest that as students get older, they seek both a sense of community with teachers and classmates as well as autonomy, which can affect their motivation and learning (Moreno, 2010, p.357). Students like my coworker who are motivated to some extent by social goals may not be fulfilled in online learning environments, where the social dynamic and interactions can differ from face-to-face learning.
A final prospective disadvantage to online learning is that such classes can have negative outcomes for language minority and lower performing students (Northwestern University, 2010). A survey of professors found almost half of them felt that students in the online course received an “inferior education” (Clark, 2009, para. 13). As the primary author of a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, David Figlio notes, “not all internet courses are created equally” (Northwestern, 2010, para. 13). In the end, although I think online learning is a wonderful opportunity and learning environment that works for my schedule and needs, I think it might not be the best option for all students, like those who need a little more structure, motivation, personal/social interaction, or who have specific language or learning needs.
Artino, A.R., Jr., & Stephens, J.M. (2009). Academic motivation and self-regulation: A comparative analysis of undergraduate and graduate students learning online. The Internet and Higher Education, 12(3-4), 146-151.
Clark, K. (2009). Online education offers access and affordability. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/online-education/2009/04/02/online-education-offers-access-and-affordability.html.
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New York Times Bits Blog (2009, August 19). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Message posted to http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/.
Northwestern University (2010). Rushing too fast to online learning? Outcomes of Internet versus face-to-face instruction. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100628092756.htm.
Online and Plugged In: the benefits of online learning
Although some may argue that online learning is not as productive as learning face to face, I feel that there are many advantages to online learning which make it more effective. The article “Why Do Students like Online Learning” by Stephanie Coleman addresses many of the benefits of online learning environments. Accessibility is one area where online classes work more effectively because you can attend a course from anywhere. Classes are available to those who might have a hectic work schedule and cannot travel to and from a classroom easily. Online classes are also accessible at anytime and students can access materials whenever it might be convenient.
Perhaps the most important aspect of online learning is that it “facilitates team learning by providing chat rooms and newsgroups for meetings and joint work” (Coleman, 2005). Online classes also encourage participation because a student can only be noticed by their contributions to a class. This increases student interaction and allows for an open discussion forum. By having a varied group of students from many areas it also increases diversity of opinion and students are exposed to new ideas and ways that they might not have known before. The online environment is also not as intimidating as a face to face classroom because you don’t have to be concerned with physical surroundings or attributes. It is simply a focus on ideas, beliefs and collaboration which helps bond those sharing the classroom experience.
Through the process of online learning technological skills are practiced and mastered making students more knowledgeable in computer science and emerging technology. You can learn new technology through interaction and the sharing of information with other students thus broadening your skill set.
Another aspect of that makes online learning more beneficial than face to face learning is that more and more learning interactions are internet based. Those individuals who are already using technology to engage in learning will be ready to transition to the next technological phase of education ”online education could be set to expand sharply over the next few years, as evidence mounts of its value” (Lohr, 2009).
Lohr also points out that “the real promise of online education, experts say, is providing learning experiences that are more tailored to individual students than is possible in classrooms. That enables more “learning by doing” which many students find more engaging and useful” (Lohr, 2009). By participating in hands on learning activities in online class rooms students are more apt to retain information and use it in the future.
Of course with all of the benefits offered through online learning none would be effective without the motivation of the student. Online courses are most effective for those who are self motivated to learn. They must possess an intrinsic need to gain knowledge because simply having extrinsic motivation “the motivation to be involved in a learning activity as a means to an end” (Moreno, 2010) would result in a lack of retention a skill that is needed for future success. Having a dispositional interest in the online subject a student is taking will also affect the motivation of the student “dispositional interest has a positive effect on attention, memory, persistence, effort, and learning” (Hidi & Renninger, 2006).
Other aspects of motivation that are important for online learning are goal theory, especially having a mastery goal which “focuses on improvement and increased understanding” (Moreno, 2010, p. 336). It has been shown that “students with mastery goals are those who benefit the most from classroom experience because they are more likely to believe that they can make progress if they put forth effort; they are self regulated; they have intrinsic motivation to learn; they persist when confronted with challenges; they attribute their success and failure to internal, controllable causes, and they actively engage in learning strategies that promote meaningful learning” (Moreno, p. 337).
All in all, I feel online learning is successful for those who are self motivated and are able to meet the challenge of mastering a technology centered learning environment. I have found the experience has broadened my horizons and has helped me to become more self regulated and vested in learning. Through collaboration I have been exposed to new ideas and new ways of thinking. The experiences I have had will stay with me and I will draw on the knowledge gained through online learning throughout my future in education.
References
Coleman, S. (2005, August 14). Why Do Students Like Online Learning? Retrieved September 20, 2010, from World Wide Learn: http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-articles/benefits-of-online-learning.htm
Hidi, S., & Renninger, K. (2006). The four-phase model of interest development. Educational Psychologist 41 , 111-127.
Lohr, S. (2009, August 19). Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom. Retrieved September 20, 2010, from Times News: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational Psychology. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Online Learning Has Many Advantages
I absolutely love being able to earn my degree entirely online! Online learning has so many advantages that they outweigh the disadvantages in my eyes. I love having the freedom to work from home and not have to leave my family and go and sit in a classroom. After being at work all day, that is the last thing that I want to do. By taking online courses, I can work on my homework while my kids are doing theirs or I can do it when they go to bed.It takes a very organized and dedicated person to be able to take classes online. I am a little OCD so for me this works out well, I love being able to have things planned out and being able to know my assignments ahead of time is also great.An online learner has to motivated as well. In chapter 9 of our text book, Moreno defines motivation as the pshychological process that directs and sustains a student's behavior toward learning (p.329). It would be very easy to get behind on your assignments but if you stay organized an on top of things, this should not be a problem. I am a quiet person and probably would not interact as much with my classmates and instructors if I were in a typical classroom. I also feel like I know my classmates and instructors more than being face-to-face with them.Online learning has come a long way. We know have the ability to see our instructors and classmates via web cam, we can hear them speak using programs such as Eluminate. "Until fairly recently, online education amounted to little more than electronic versions of the old-line correspondance courses. That has really changed with the arrival of web-based video, instant messaging and collaboration tools" (NY Times). It will be very interesting to see how it changes in the next 5-10 years. The main thing that sticks out to me is "convenience". In an online article from Kennesaw Univeristy, they discuss the advantages of earning a degree online. They states that online learning allows working adults and parents with the opportunity to earn a degree without making too many sacrifices " (Kennesaw.edu). This is why I chose online courses. It allows me to continue my lifestyle while completing my degree all in the comfort of my home. What could be better?
Friday, September 24, 2010
Online Learning Has Great Advantages
I am all for the online learning environment and there are definite advantages to this method of learning and these feelings are supported by the NY Times article assigned this week and the US Department of Education report contained therein. I do believe it takes a very regulated and disciplined person to be successful in these types of classes, but even people who are innately that way would still have a period of adjustment. Albeit there is the easy temptation to slack off and it is not hard to fall behind quickly in assignments, but those can be worked around. The advantages I see, and that are supported by Means, Toyama, Murphy, Bakia and Jones in 2009, as well as what I have experienced myself are as follows. First, you are able to "go" to class when you want to, if there is not an assigned time slot, which I find to be beneficial. This allows you to devote the time you need to get the work done because you are doing it at a time that is available to you. This will probably increase time spent on the assignments or lessons. In addition, there is no travel time associated with this type of learning, unless one has to get access to the technology. (That would be a huge disadvantage, I guess as another part of the debate). You are also able to use different modes of learning to make the experience much more complete and satisfying. If the instructor is one who makes themselves readily available and part of the lessons. That is a huge advantage as well to ensure the flow of the course and the learning process. The instructor would be available in an anonymous way to help struggling students, as necessary. Additionally, rigid office hours would be negated through the use of blackboards or email.
Chapter 9 of the Moreno (2010) textbook dealt mainly with students and their anxiety levels in class and factors that may negatively impact student learning or motivation to learn. The online environment can combat some of those anxiety issues, as well as remove any socioeconomic or cultural differences that may prevail in classroom affect (Moreno, p. 358-359). Students who are shy about speaking up in a class may find themselves much more apt to freely become involved in the ongoing discussions throughout the lessons. There may be the instance in a face-to-face setting wherein a student is regularly able to “hide” by not participating in lessons and their brilliance is being missed because of their shyness. In an online environment, the students are all required to speak up and their input will be treated respectfully and equally. In addition, what I learned from the reading was there is a greater opportunity for self-assessment and reflection because that can be built into the lessons that are on line, which was found to be a part of better success by Shen, Lee and Tsai in 2007 (as cited in Means, Toyama, Murphy, Bakia and Jones, p. 45). This was a new advantage for me, as I had never thought of this as being an available part of an online lesson and one that can actually improve the academic success of students in these programs. One last advantage, which as I previously stated can also be viewed as a disadvantage, is students will learn more about technology through online lessons and materials. This gained knowledge will increase the students’ research skills at an earlier age and that should help them succeed in higher education (Donlevy, p. 120).
References:
Donlevy, J. (2003). Teachers, technology and training: Online learning in virtual high school [Electronic version]. International Journal of Instructional Media, 30(2), 117-121.
Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2009). Evaluation of evidenced-based practices in online learning: A meta-analysis and review of online learning studies. Washington, DC: US Department of Education.
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
New York Times, (2009). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Accessed on September 23, 2010, http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom.
Chapter 9 of the Moreno (2010) textbook dealt mainly with students and their anxiety levels in class and factors that may negatively impact student learning or motivation to learn. The online environment can combat some of those anxiety issues, as well as remove any socioeconomic or cultural differences that may prevail in classroom affect (Moreno, p. 358-359). Students who are shy about speaking up in a class may find themselves much more apt to freely become involved in the ongoing discussions throughout the lessons. There may be the instance in a face-to-face setting wherein a student is regularly able to “hide” by not participating in lessons and their brilliance is being missed because of their shyness. In an online environment, the students are all required to speak up and their input will be treated respectfully and equally. In addition, what I learned from the reading was there is a greater opportunity for self-assessment and reflection because that can be built into the lessons that are on line, which was found to be a part of better success by Shen, Lee and Tsai in 2007 (as cited in Means, Toyama, Murphy, Bakia and Jones, p. 45). This was a new advantage for me, as I had never thought of this as being an available part of an online lesson and one that can actually improve the academic success of students in these programs. One last advantage, which as I previously stated can also be viewed as a disadvantage, is students will learn more about technology through online lessons and materials. This gained knowledge will increase the students’ research skills at an earlier age and that should help them succeed in higher education (Donlevy, p. 120).
References:
Donlevy, J. (2003). Teachers, technology and training: Online learning in virtual high school [Electronic version]. International Journal of Instructional Media, 30(2), 117-121.
Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2009). Evaluation of evidenced-based practices in online learning: A meta-analysis and review of online learning studies. Washington, DC: US Department of Education.
Moreno, R. (2010). Educational psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
New York Times, (2009). Study finds that online education beats the classroom. Accessed on September 23, 2010, http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom.
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