Are Online Courses Taught Responsibly - Research Paper Example

 Are Online Courses Taught Responsibly? In our modern society, there are great technological advancements, which have taken place in science and innovations. These innovations have helped in shaping various sectors of the economy such as increasing output and efficiency in production (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). Innovation is a vital tool for solving various economic problems, thereby improving the living standards of the people. One of the areas where changes in technology have greatly influenced is in education. It has led to emergence of online learning thereby resulting to change in roles of both tutors and scholars. Distance learners are now depending on their effort to search for online learning materials. The work of tutors is to direct them via internet and coordinate their activities with less supervisory role (Bates, 2005). It has changed learning activities from more interactive face-to-face learning to a less interactive online learning (Sandel, 2007). This form of learning is gaining popularity across the globe due to increasing use of internet and a desire to streamline information flow in all sectors of the economy (Tait, 2003). However, this learning approach has raised moral concerns regarding competence and fairness of online tutorials in fulfilling the essence of learning to the students. This study will focus on moral principles of utilitarianism, Aristotle and Libertarianism to examine the appropriateness of online education to the students (Sandel, 2007). According to Sandel (2007), “libertarianism rule,” people should have free will to decide what they want as long as it is lawful and does not cause interference to the community. Students are therefore free to decide the form of education they would want to have, between online and classroom learning. However, the state should ensure that those who are responsible for offering training do not compromise its quality by any means. This may be a big problem because the state may lack capacity to regulate this form of education due cross-cultural boundaries (Tait, 2003). Therefore, scholars have to make choice whether what they get will be able to satisfy their needs. According to Bates (2005), education should contribute to equality of all students from various backgrounds. Electronic learning promotes fairness in the society as opposed to traditional classroom learning method (Tait, 2003). Therefore, all students face equal treatment in case of online learning since it does not segregate students according to their social status. Exercising this freedom will be possible only if all learners have access to education, and if it offered at an affordable price to all students (Sandel, 2007). However, it remains skeptical as to whether all scholars can be able to access online education to ensure fairness for all. The high cost of services and machines such as computers, which are necessary for learning influences of accessibility of online education. This will hinder the freedom of individuals to make choices regarding the best education system they would want. In face-to-face learning system, students who come from rich families are the ones who can afford to attend those superior learning institutions, which are equipped with all facilities necessary for effective learning (Bates, 2005). On the other hand, students from poor background cannot afford to attend such institutions. As a result, they end up in underdeveloped schools located in remote areas (Sandel, 2007). Consequently, some of the students in those institutions consider themselves unfortunate and unlikely to compete with their colleagues from institutions with better facilities (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). This creates elements of discrimination and inferiority syndrome. Therefore, with students taking their causes online, they all feel at par with their colleagues and this gives them spirit of contentment, which may result into improved performance (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). As a result, online training seems to offer a more responsible learning because it gives students equal opportunities to exploit their skills and fulfill their goal of attaining successful lives. According to Sandel (2007), Utilitarianism rule should guide students in choosing what is best for them and then acquire it by whatever means as long as it is lawful. Therefore, individuals can chose between online and classroom courses depending on which method they prefer for satisfying their needs (Sandel, 2007). Online education is also very convenient because of its flexibility. Students can take their classes from anywhere as long as they can be able to access internet. It reduces travel costs since most students can access internet from the comfort of their homes. This has also contributed to easing traffic congestion by reducing the number of students travelling to school. According to this theory, “end justifies the means.” Therefore, learners should ensure that they take decision that will help them to achieve their goals in the best possible way (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). The organization of online content is precise to help tutors save time and improve the understanding of the learners (Bates, 2005). There is always a concern about the period students should be away from their parents. Through classroom learning, students stay far away from their parents and in most cases people believe this has resulted to decay of morality in the society (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). Many parents feel insecure for their children being away from home because they are not sure of what they encounter away from their home environments. Therefore, through online teaching, scholars can effectively manage between the time they will be with their parents and time for their work (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). This can be a very good opportunity to improve parent-student relationships and help strengthen family ties. However, this service may turn out to be inaccessible by some of the students even if they prefer it. The traditional method of learning is advantageous in the sense that it brings together people from diversified background (Sandel, 2007). This result into interaction hence students get to know each other closely and consequently creates peace and unity. People from different background have different life styles. Therefore, when they come together this becomes strong peace building blocks, as they learn to respect each other and appreciate their differences (Bates, 2005). On the other hand, online learning isolates learners hence hindering them any opportunity to interact face to face. Therefore, this diminishes the competence of online training because graduates lack experience on how to interact positively with their colleagues at their places of work after they have completed their studies. Teachers should be able to identify and assist those scholars with special needs such as inability to learn fast at the same pace with others (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). After they have identified those particular students, they should help them to learn at their own speed and motivate them to learn and fill up any knowledge gap (Bates, 2005).however, this may prove difficult to achieve due to lack of interaction between teachers and learners. Tutors may be unable to identify students with special needs; hence, they will not be able to assist them. According to Sandel (2007), Aristotelian theory emphasizes on individuals selection of what is good for them. The main goal of any learning activity is to acquire relevant knowledge and skills to provide coping mechanism in overcoming real life challenge (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). Whether the learners attend the normal classroom environment or learn through online, what matters is to attain knowledge (Tait, 2003). What is important is for the learners to achieve satisfactory results and not the means they used to acquire it. People should therefore make informed decisions and ensure that their engagement in online training will help them achieve their targets. In an ideal situation, the government controls most of the learning activities in the nation. They supervise teachers and learning materials used by the teachers and students. They ensure that what teachers teach their students is relevant and creates competence (Bates, 2005). The state also ensures that all learning facilities are available for all students and will try as much as they can to avoid disadvantaging anyone. Online learning encourages scholars to put more effort in responding to the teaching of their tutors and ensure they are punctual so that they do not miss any lecture. This equips them with skills on how to plan for their own time. This has shaped the students to be good time managers (Bates, 2005). Such students will not find it hard to cope with others at their working environment (Wemiray & Sharma, 2009). In the classroom environment where students get used to following teacher’s instructions all through, this may be problematic when students are set free to make their personal judgment. Responsible teaching should motivate learners to discover more things in their own. It is not always good for the teacher to give their students all the content they need (Tait, 2003). This is the main reason for assigning students some tasks to research on various issues so that they become dependable after they have completed their studies (Sandel, 2007). Students are able to acquire the most current information about things, which occurred as long as a few hours ago (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). Online education is equipping scholars for the modern job opportunities, which require people who can be able to diagnose current problems and synthesize solutions to those issues (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). This method has an additional advantage in the sense that learners are acquainted with various methods of data collection and analysis using modern computer software to arrive at more accurate information (Tait, 2003). They also use video and tape recorder, and other storage devices to collect and store data and these characteristics of organizations environment (Tait, 2003). Learning involves use of both oral and body language. Teachers should be able to learn the body language of their students, which may help them to know whether they have understood, or whether they need special help (Bates, 2005). Sometimes, when students encounter hard concepts they may never say it verbally, but instead, they may express themselves by keeping quite or by altering meaningless words. Through online training, tutors may be able to understand the needs of the students through chats and email messages (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). Tutors spend a lot time responding to students’ posts on the forums, or emails, therefore improving the rate of interaction between teachers and the scholars (Peters, 2001). Teachers also send assessment tests to the students through email thus enhancing communication. Once they have completed working on the assignments, they reply to the tutors for correction (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). These activities have increased the level of interaction among students and teachers; hence, teachers are able to understand those students with special needs and help them to get amicable solutions (Bates, 2005). In doing so, online learning is able to fulfill the purpose of learning to students and offer an alternative learning approach. According to Tait (2003), communication between students and the teachers is an important aspect in learning. Students should acquire the best communication skills from school, which will help them later after they complete their studies. Having the best communication skills also improves learning because, students van effectively express their views and opinions (Howard, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). In a classroom environment, teachers engage students in interactive sessions of asking questions and answering them orally. When the teacher realizes that a student’s is weak, he or she can work hard to help them improve these skills (Tait, 2003). Through online tutorials, teachers are also achieving this important element of learning. Teachers encourage students to meditate on what they learnt to provoke their thoughts (Bates, 2005). They are taking time to discuss with students through forums for discussions, by use of emails or video conferencing. This form of information exchange equips students all round because, they are required to think faster and give feedback (Tait, 2003). In addition, the learners respond by giving through writing, videos, and word of mouth conversation (Howar, Schenk, & Discenza, 2004). Therefore, through online learning, students are able to become fully knowledgeable in communication skills, which include listening and writing. Online tutors are also encouraging the learners to keep in touch with one another through discussion forums thus improving interactions between among them (Wemiray, & Sharma, 2009). Another purpose of learning is to be able to internalize data available in various sources to obtain information relevant for a particular situation (Peters, 2001). With the use of internet and knowledge acquired through online learning, students are able to research on various topics from internet experience (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). Since they have experience with internet content, they distant learning students have no difficulties in looking for relevant information from various locations. Regardless of the method used in imparting knowledge to the students, it is important to put into consideration the extent to which the method used fulfills the essence of learning (Wemiray & Sharma, 2009). Use of online method should promote justice for all learners by ensuring all necessary materials are available for all scholars (Peters, 2001). The quality of training offered should also meet learner’s needs by imparting knowledge and skills necessary for industrial application (Bates, 2005). Teachers should promote cross-cultural interaction among online students and improve teacher-student interaction. They should also solve the needs of the students amicably including those students with special needs (Cleaveland-Innes, 2010). Teachers should therefore improve online learning activities to make it a complete substitute for face-to-face teaching, which fulfills all-important aspects of learning (Simonson, 2003). Reference Bates, T. (2005). Technology, Distributed Learning, and Distance Education. London: Routledge. Cleveland-Innes, M. F. (2010). An Introduction to Distance Education. Understanding Teaching and Learning in a New Era. Taylor & Francis. Demiray, U., & Sharma, R. (2009). Ethical Practices and Implications in Distance Learning. IGI Global Snippet. Howard, C., Schenk, K., & Discenza, R. (2004). Distance Learning and University Effectiveness: Changing Educational Paradigms for Online Learning. Idea Group, Inc (IGI). Peters, O. (2001). Learning and Teaching In Distance Education. London: Routledge. Sandel, M.J. (2007). Justice: A Reader. New York: Oxford University Press. Simonson, M. R. (2003). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. Merill/Prentice Hall. Tait,A. (2003). Rethinking Learner Support in Distance Education: Change and Continuity in an International Context. London: Routledge. Read More