Carroll County Times Articles
Online Learning Offers Flexibility
by Isabel DeFeo – April 9, 2006
Distance learning is nothing new. In fact, American and European institutions offered correspondence courses back in the mid-1800s. During the early 20th century, students could partake in courses via radio. In the 1930s, when television was launched, educators dreamed of courses offered via this new medium. As technology has advanced, so has distance learning.
Online Classroom Environment
Educational institutions have taken advantage of the Internet, and distance learning has entered a new era. More and more traditional colleges and universities are offering online classes as well as hybrids (classes that use a combination of classroom, online, and televised learning), in addition to traditional classes. In fact, an online study of 1,170 institutions conducted by the Sloan Consortium found that 1.9 million students were enrolled online in the fall of 2003. The figure may even be higher, since there were close to 1,900 institutions that did not respond to the survey. Many colleges here in Maryland expect their online course offerings to expand in the years to come.
What is Online Learning?
Online learning for colleges and universities usually consists of courses that are offered via the Internet. These courses are offered using modules designed and housed by companies who specialize in software for the online environment. As an online instructor, I use those modules when I teach my courses. I design and implement the courses myself, but I use the modules as the means of delivering the course to my students - from the syllabus to course lectures to online quizzes and assignments.
Online learning is not for everyone, but it does offer some unique advantages to non-traditional students. Who are these non-traditional students? They are people with full-time jobs that require travel. They are people with rotating work schedules who cannot commit to a certain meeting time every week. They are single parents who cannot afford yet more daycare. They are everyday people with everyday issues.
Online Learning is Gaining Acceptance
Traditional colleges and universities have realized the value of online learning. They have taken steps to develop classes that offer students the same value of learning as traditional on-campus classes. These classes carry the same weight. Businesses have also adopted online learning as a cost-effective corporate training method when employees are spread about.
Contrary to popular belief, online learning is not necessarily easier than traditional classroom learning. Every semester, I have at least one student who complains on his evaluation that the course was much more demanding and time consuming than an on-campus course. That's because online learning lacks a class meeting time with a lecture. Instructors have to develop courses that offer the same quality and quantity of information as students would have gotten through attending class. We do that through a variety of assignments that make use of discussion boards, chats, online workshops, video and audio clips, and slide shows. Every semester, I learn of yet another creative way instructors make online learning come alive.
Self Discipline
Students who tackle online classes have to have a certain resolve to complete the course work. Students without this self-discipline then to fade into cyberspace. These students find it difficult to meet the demands of online learning without an instructor to remind them of deadlines. Most, however, thrive in the online environment. Those who are too shy to participate in class discussions in traditional classrooms find their voice online. They become vibrant, and they are articulate participants. Students who are older than the traditional college age also do well online. They are aware of the value of an education. They are accustomed to real word deadlines and the demands of everyday life. They make online education work.
Relationships
Some people feel that online learning lacks the personal human relationship that develops between instructor and students. It depends on how you look at it. From personal experience, I have found that people get to know each other without traditional biases. You do not know what your classmates look like, their race, or their ages. You do not develop prejudices based mannerisms and looks. You get to know your classmates through their writing. Their voice develops through their ability to communicate through the written word. Online classes can bring back the lost art of writing.
Online learning offers a flexible alternative for those with inflexible schedules. With its roots in the early technology of the 1800s, online learning makes use of today's technology to offer students access to quality higher education no matter their background or current circumstances.
About the Author
Isabel DeFeo is owner of I.M.A. Web Design, as well as a part-time English instructor at Frederick Community College and Carroll Community College. She is also a member of the Carroll Technology Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating businesses, government and residents about technology issues. Questions are welcomed and may be addressed in future articles. Email advisors@carrolltechcouncil.org or go to www.carrolltechcouncil.org for a list of Advisor categories.
