Hello,
Over the years, online education has evolved into a very sophisticated virtual classroom, due to the advancements in technology and the Internet. No longer an online course consists of only text messages.
Today's online virtual classrooms allow the students to open videos of pre-recorded or live lectures and demonstrations, to run interactive hands on labs and activities, animations, and simulations. In addition, you have discussion boards, assessments, email, posting assignments, and chat rooms.
Do you think that online education will become the preferred format in the future? Why?
6 comments:
I believe online education will become a dominant format for teaching and learning in the near future and it will be supplemented with on-site learning experiences. Learning will take place at any place and at any time. Teaching and learning will no longer be restricted to happen within the physical walls of a classroom. This is not 21st century type of education; instead, it is an industrial age type of education.
From my experience, online education allows learners to take control of the learning process by having more resources to help them meet their individual needs and learning styles. In my opinion, online education induces instructors to be more creative and selective in deliverying and conveying course content; therefore, improving their teaching skills. In the online classroom, communication has to be clearer and concise due to the lack of body language cues or gestures that are made by those who participate in discussions or demonstrations. Finally, online education is changing the role of the instructors from being the sole source of knowledge to become one of the sources of knowledge. To provide a 21st century type of education, instructors need to move away from thinking that their students are empty vessels they need to fill. Our job is to provide meaningful learning and authentic learning experiences. Online education has the propensity to do this due to the unlimited amount resources available in the Internet.
Note: My opinion may be bias since I am an online instructor. However, I also teach on-site courses, so I have seen the pros and cons of each format.
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Online college has a lot of flexibility and I think you learn more than if going to a normal campus. There is also more student participation
Initially, online instruction was viewed more as a technological fad, but as time has passed, this type instruction has paved inroads into the educational arena and become more acceptable and part of the norm –-a part of mainstream education; not a passing fad.
Online education will not become the preferred format within the foreseeable future for ALL subject matter due to its lack of allowing total human interaction. It is appropriate for most topics, again but not all. That is, most students feel more comfortable “pressing the flesh” or learning in a traditional classroom environment and interacting using all their five senses when learning certain subject matter. Examples are the ability to use eye contact and body language. These are still important in human interaction, between the instructor and the student. These factors are essential in learning some subject matter, such as verbal communication skills, dealing with difficult people/scenarios, cooking, etc.; these topics require human interaction using the accompanied senses.
The World Wide Web is still the dominant medium for online learning. This medium does allow for instant messaging, posting of assignments via file transfers or e-mail attachments, or even talking and seeing each other, albeit mostly asynchronous. Even though there are software products that allow interaction by several individuals at one time (synchronous) the skill sets needed for fluent and flawless communication under these conditions are difficult to master. They require all having the same technology, practice using it, and the instructor being a good “traffic cop”. The need for wider bandwidth and future technological improvements, including the ability to feel and smell, will create the major breakthroughs in the delivery of online instruction.
As the technologies and delivery methods improve, so will the “pressing the flesh” factor. These technological improvements will stimulate the human senses (sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch) and allow more natural reactions and sensitivities that will simulate an actual ambiance as it relates to human interaction and the topics being taught.
In pointing these issues out, what does it say for the future of online instruction? By watching the acceptance rate of the Internet and computers as an every day tool and communication medium, one can see an obvious opportunity to use this medium to deliver instruction. Online instruction will continue to grow and be accepted as a delivery method, especially for working adults seeking higher education and not available for the traditional classroom environment. One can only look forward to technological improvements to expand online education for all topics.
According to Julia Williams (2006), a freelance marketing writer, “… rumor has it Sony is developing a television set that can emit odors as well as pictures. Apparently, the TV would emit ultrasonic frequencies that active the brain's sense of smell. It is, naturally, dubbed “Smellavision.” If such a technology becomes widely available, adapting it to computers will be feasible. As Emeril Lagasse, the famous television chef personality, often points out in his cooking shows, “… hope you can smell this delicious baked salmon through your Smellavision”. Who says learning can’t be fun, especially when it excites the senses and creates a will to learn. Bon appetite or better still, “Which course should we serve up?”
Daniel E. Santiago, MS
Reference:
Williams, Julia. June 2006. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/32294/will_you_buy_a_smellavision_set.html
I think online education will continue to grow as a result of more adults taking advantage of the opportunity to obtain their masters or doctoral degree. I do not believe it will become a main stream educational element for undergraduate degrees. I teach undergraduate students at a regional university in Oklahoma and most of them hate the idea of having to take an online class. I think the main reason is that they are not disciplined enough to do it and they don't realize the advantages. Maybe when they get older and truly get "busy" with life they will appreciate the online format more.
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