Online Teaching – Now and the Future
Online teaching is defined as any educational activity that requires a student to complete some learning or assessment activity via a personal computer and a connection to a network (Murdoch University Academic Council 1999). This network connection is usually to the Internet (Demirdjian 2002). It is a seen by the Murdoch University Academic Council as a teaching and learning technology, not a method of study (2002), but this depends on how it is to be used and by whom. For example, distance education student using online teaching would be more inclined to see it as a study method than a QUT student who uses online teaching to download and print lecture notes to attend a lecture on campus.
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Another benefit arising from this is that students are able to study where they want to study; there is no need to make their way to a campus. Also students are able to access their lessons more than once. While a lecture is given once, online materials can be accessed at any time (Demirdjian 2002). Financial benefits arise for students from the lessened need for high fees, housing away from home and travel costs such as fuel and parking at campuses (Demirdjian 2002). Some of these benefits are offset by the increased need for a personal computer to be purchased, Internet access at home, paper and print cartridges. Despite these benefits, there are also some serious detriments to use of online teaching. There is possible dehumanisation from continued use of online teaching meaning that the repetitive nature of connecting to the Internet to do work can lead to people being seen more as automatons than people. The lack of face-to-face contact that occurs with the increase in users of online teaching can be seen as leading to a deficiency of in-group experiences (Demirdjian 2002). Other drawbacks of online teaching relate directly to the technological aspects and lack of contact. Teachers cannot rely on classroom theatrics to get ideas across to students, sometimes the curriculum needed cannot be found or used online and computer crashes can prevent students from accessing
However, Friday, et al., noted that at the undergraduate level, face-to-face methods of course delivery are more beneficial in terms of student learning compared to online, web-based course delivery methods (77). Diaz and Cartnal note that the traditional classroom setting may be especially motivating for extrinsically motivated students who prefer to accomplish goals in a face-to-face setting where they are able seek the reward of the assignments of an instructor (135).
Ally Mohamed (2004) defines online learning as “the use of the Internet to access learning materials; to interact with the content, instructor, and other learners; and to obtain support during the learning process, in order to acquire knowledge, to construct personal
In a review of the literature, recurrent ideas appeared in the research articles reviewed. These ideas include technology as part of education has a conclusive and encouraging impact on students, students demonstrated a greater level of learning and expanded productivity with the use of technology. Both educationalists and students felt technology added significance to their learning experiences. The addition of online education was cost effective as well as advantageous to the learning process. Technology caused teachers to be better teachers. Because of the wealth of information previously only available to students at a prestigious university, teachers are required to keep their assignments relative and backed by this knowledge. Students can out research the teacher on many occasions and
Dabbagh, N. (2007). The online learner: characteristics and pedagogical implications. Contemporary Issuesin Technology and Teacher Education, 7, 3, 217–226.
There is a dispute among experts that traditional learning is the best way of preserving learning process, but other models are beginning to gain attention and respect, with distance learning leading the way. When comparing learning an equal course in a traditional framework to a online learning framework, students often express higher satisfaction from the online learning, and rate the learning as more successful than the traditional framework. It has also been argued that on line learning is more efficient and interactive. Findings of research done in the seventies and eighties, comparing the use of computers in the learning environment, also indicated improvement in the student's achievements (Rashty, n.d.)
On the other hand, disadvantages some may see with traditional education would be cost and flexibility. With traditional education a student could easily endure more expenses such as, cost of transportation for gas to and from school, bus passes, or parking passes. Furthermore, the cost of on campus housing, or food could be a very costly expense. When living on campus, students tend to eat out a great deal and
This section of the encyclopedia talks about what students and teachers can contribute to online learning environment. It talks about who the average online learner is and the online relationship between the student and the teacher, and the student and their peers. Above all the author stresses that thinking differently is important to make online education work.
This letter is in response to the Adjunct online teaching positions Teaching Specialist- Liberal Arts Online Courses # 316945. I hold a Ph.D in Education, and a Masters and BS in Music Education. Additionally, I have eleven years of teaching experience at the postsecondary level.
In the 2011 New York Times article titled, “In classroom of the future,” the writer Richtel explains the benefits of technology in classrooms. According to the article, the author described the learning patterns of students improving in various ways by acquiring the skills that are necessary to understand how to use gadgets. Some individuals may argue that a technology based environment could wrongly impact a student's social skills however based on the New York Times article classes that take place on the internet can positively benefit students who are introverts who feel isolated in the traditional classroom. The examples of how students can benefit from an online school are learning how to utilize gadgets, improving learning
Contrary to what some may believe, online learning doesn't equate to less work nor are the standards any lower than what one would expect from a traditional classroom environment. Online learning simply refers to the way in which the content
Online education, also called long distant learning, can be defined as a new method of learning through a computer network. This modern way of teaching gives students an opportunity to take classes online. Bill Gates
Online education is a type of distance learning. The student is taking courses without attending a school or university. Instead, online students and teachers interact over the Internet. Online classes can teach students educational responsibility. By forcing them to access the online portal to participate in reading the textbooks/lectures and doing the assignments. Technical abilities is also learned with online classes. Students who lack the tech savvy knowledge can learn how to navigate through the online environment. Being able to access the online portal at any given time of the day is one other benefit to online education. Though online education may seem beneficial, there are more negatives than
time. Students will have less chances to practice as other students so that they always
In contemporary world, distance learning as an instructional delivery system, steadily complementing or even substituting traditional education at the universities. This kind of learning has been gaining its growing popularity with the developing of Internet as students can simply communicate with their teachers and exchange materials throughout the internet, regardless of where they live. As online education programs developing steadily, it has led to a growing interest among the university students and it ongoing to pursuit their educational goals.
Education has undergone significant changes because of the development of information and communication technology over the 21st century (Lin & Jou, 2012:2). As a convenient and inexpensive way to gain knowledge while pursuing higher education, online learning, a form of training or teaching that takes place over the Internet, has been considered as an alternative to traditional classroom learning (Zhang et al, 2004). This essay will argue that even though online learning has benefit such as flexibility which could outweigh traditional learning, traditional classroom learning might still not be entirely replaced. This essay will discuss positive and negative aspects of online and traditional learning in terms of four criteria: