Introduction to Online Learning - Essay Example

Online Learning Online learning, also known as "Distance learning", or "E-learning", is undoubtedly becoming the educational option for millions of students. Ten years ago, we hardly heard the term, or we thought it was only about the rural or remote education delivered by satellite through a television. Today, new technologies such as iPods, mp3 players or Google are seriously being discussed as educational resources and tools. According to a report from the Sloan Consortium, an authoritative source of information about online higher education, nearly 3 million students are believed to be taking online classes at institutions of higher education in the United States this year1. In this essay, I'll discuss why online learning has the advantages that it makes it compete with traditional classrooms. Historical Background The first online courses were delivered on command-line systems. Later on, Archie, Veronica and Gopher were used from course providers to give students access to information and MOO's (Multi user dungeon Object Oriented) came to provide real-time text-based communication. During the 90's, newer conferencing systems became available, and after the advent of the web they supported audio and video also, to conclude to web-in-a-box software for student tracking (Mason, 1998). Since those times, a lot of things have changed thanks to technology, but online learning is still characterized by three aspects: 1. asynchronous group and individual messaging. (Synchronous activities occur also, when all participants join in at once, as with a chat session or a virtual classroom or meeting.) 2. access to course materials 3. real-time interactive events Most online courses are based on applications known as "course management systems", where topics are outlined and students and teachers have discussions, complete tests, submit papers; and where resources and grades are posted. This new technology has affected the way courses are designed. The new online pedagogy that is emerging is characterized by (Mason, 1998): interactivity in the learning process, changing role of the teacher from sage to guide, need for knowledge management skills and team working abilities and move towards a resource-based rather than packaged learning. These characteristics enable people with tight-schedules, remote locations or simply with preference to study from home, the possibility of learning at their own pace, organizing their time (flexibility), and interacting with a lot of different people. Therefore, their most important advantages include flexibility, interactivity, lower costs, multimedia and hyperlinking. Another important advantage is that distractions are minimized. Since the student can access the course whenever he/she wants, he/she will be more attentive to the contents than in an obligatory lecture in a day where he/she perhaps has a headache or a classmate is distracting him/her. The possibility of taking courses at far-distanced universities. What about courses that are not offered at your campus Let's say you would like to learn Serbian, but your college doesn't offer it. You could enroll for Serbian 101 at a college located hundreds of miles away. Still another advantage is that, taking these types of courses can strengthen other important skills needed studying and/or at a job. "On-line courses provide the opportunity to improve technology and Internet skills," says Tim Ely, director of instructional design at Harcum College in Pennsylvania.2 Not everyone is for online courses, some articles say. One of the major disadvantages is that the face-to face relationships with teacher and classmates are gone. "A drawback is that you have no face-to-face interaction with peers and instructors, meaning you can't tune in and react to clues such as body language, facial expression, and tone of voice," says Ely. "A feeling of isolation and lack of community may also develop due to lack of human contact." Motivation He who wants to learn shall learn. Whether inside of a classroom or in front of a computer; if the student is not motivated to learn, it will be very difficult that the teachings will be passed on to him/her in a magical way. In an online course, it crucial that the student is self-motivated and that understands that, not going to a classroom, doesn't mean less workload; it means independent studying. "Do not think there is less work because you do not necessarily have to go to class," says Rich Rice, assistant professor and extended studies liaison at Texas Tech University. "It can actually be more work." This type of learning could be derived from or similar to the Social-Constructivism, as a pedagogical perspective, "whereby learners construct their knowledge through discussion, thereby enhancing their thinking skills".3 Interaction Many of the critics made to online learning is that it lacks the face-to face contact, the human interaction that exist in the classroom, which some pedagogues argue is a central part of education. However, with online learning, there has been said to be equal if not more interaction than in traditional classes. For example, let's say a student is typically shy and introvert to comment in class, while he is really participative in online discussions. Brian Mueller, CEO of the University of Phoenix Online said that "the discussion format in an online class with about 14 people creates deeper interaction among students and instructors than a lecture hall with 200 students".4 In an online learning environment, the teacher becomes the facilitator or guide; more than the dictatorial provider of knowledge. "Online courses give everyone the opportunity to become the teacher (e.g. in computer conferencing). Of course, this doesn't diminish the role of the teacher. Designing successful learning structures online take skill and experience and they need someone to run them" (Mason, 1998). Students have a high level of interactivity, if they know how to take advantage of the technology. They can answers from their peers and teachers immediately, if it's during a real-time discussion or activity. Otherwise, he can send an email and get an answer. The assignments are posted or emailed, so are the grades; so there's less chance of confusion, and if there are any questions, the student can always contact the instructor to clarify something. While some students feel more comfortably asking questions of making comments face-to-face, others prefer to do it online. To summarize, online courses are definitely a positive option for learning. It does depend however of each person's own skills and preferences. Like in traditional courses, the student learning is enabled by motivation and by interacting with the teacher and peers. There are also "hybrid" courses, which combine both methods; it's not entirely online, neither only traditional classroom activities. Being a successful student depends on their self-motivation, effort and commitment. The technology is another resource in learning; it is up to the student to take advantage of it. Bibliography 1. Rowh, Mark. "Is on-line learning right for you Online courses provide a great option, but make sure they fit your situation" Career World, April-May, 2004 Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HUV/is_6_32/ai_n6011083#continue 2. Mason, Robin. "MODELS OF ONLINE COURSES" (October 1998). Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University ALN Magazine Volume 2, Issue 2. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://tecfa.unige.ch/staf/stafe/paraskev/staf14/ex8/article1.html#7 4. "E-learning". Wikipedia article. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-learning 5. "Online learning". Wikipedia article. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_learning 6. Peacock, Ryan. (2005). "Online ed making the grade". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved Nov. 7th, 2005. At: www.rockymountainnews.com 7. Roach, Ronald "Survey says online learning equal to classroom instruction - tech briefs - Brief Article". Black Issues in Higher Education, Sept 25, 2003. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DXK/is_16_20/ai_108967479#continue 8. Cooper, Steve "Hot biz: online learning". Entrepreneur, Dec, 2003 by Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DTI/is_12_31/ai_111163610 9. Anderson, Terry & Elloumi, Fathi (editors).Theory and Practice of Online Learning. Athabasca University, 2004. Online Book. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2005 at http://cde.athabascau.ca/online_book/ch1.html Read More