ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue#41 | October 8, 2012 | ISSN 0975-3036
Teachers across the globe are beginning to look into distance education. Whether they are considering teaching a few online courses or using blended online models in some of their own classrooms, the fact that online learning is so new makes it an interesting area to explore. The main thing that stops many teachers from working with distance learning models, though, is the idea that an online course is easier. Maybe, without the direct presence of the teacher, or without physical location in a classroom, students will become less involved. The truth is, an online education can be just as academically rewarding as a traditional education. And, in fact, there are many ways that an online model pushes students even harder. Here are some things that make online education unexpectedly challenging:
1. Participation matters more.
In the typical traditional classroom, participation is often a small part of the final grade. In an online class, though, participation is not a part of the grade; it very often is the grade. Online students must listen to class lectures on their own time and participation in class is often recorded by communication in online forums. While there are regular assignments and tests, students do not get a pass for simply sitting in a classroom and listening to a lecture. They are not counted present unless they actually participate online with the rest of the class.
2. It’s more writing intensive.
Because all course communication takes place online, it is mostly done in writing. That means that students have to learn to successfully analyze the course information, communicate their ideas, and back them up with facts. Online communication is often a response to a question or topic posed by the professor. So, instead of answering a question in class out loud, students are constantly writing out responses. Students must also be prepared to write essays and short answer quizzes on their own regularly, along with their reading assignments and major exams.
3. Students learn time management.
There are many different types of online course formats, but one of the most popular is known as asynchronous learning. This means that the course information is all available online, including audio lectures and documents, and students can choose when and where they view these materials. Students do not have set class times to attend, and this makes it very important to be able to structure your time efficiently. Students who lack self-discipline or tend to procrastinate find online courses very difficult.
4. Students must push themselves.
Although there are many positives to an online education, one of the drawbacks is the solitary nature of the work. Students attend class alone, from their own homes or wherever they have an internet connection. They communicate with their professors via email, discussion boards and instant message. All of this self-propelled learning can become lonely once in a while, so online students have to find ways to push themselves, without the help of anyone else. While the same can be said for a traditional education environment, this is definitely an area where online students have to work a little harder than the rest.
While online education tends to mirror traditional education academically, there are many things about this learning format that make online learning very different from attending a typical classroom. Most online students adjust just fine and even enjoy the added challenge, but it’s good to be aware of the distinct differences between these two methods of higher learning. For teachers, adding an element of distance learning into your current courses could be an interesting way to keep students on their toes and push them to approach learning and communicating in a new way.
Nancy Wood is a full time freelance writer and blogger for Onlinecollegeclasses.com. She writes about advantages of online classes and is particularly interested in writing and language education. Please leave comments or questions for Nancy below.
1 comment