Is e-learning the issue or students' lack of computer skills?
One thing that I notice in my traditional classroom setting is that most students, even adult learners have what it takes to acquire a certain set of skills, provided that they are well explained by the instructor. What some lack, in regards to adult learners, is computer literacy.
Therefore, I am willing to say, that any course can be taught online. The problem will lie in the students' ability to navigate through the computer learning fields.
Some students will probably prefer to have a physical person present to help them when they come to a crossroad. Others, who are computer literate and/or high achievers, are willing to figure it out. That's where good tutorials can come in hand.
Morgan,
I believe students that begin e-learning programs need to be provided with clear expectations and that includes expectations for computer hardware needed, computer skills needed, etc. As you mention, many local libraries and even local community colleges (and some other non-profits) offer free computer skills, and information literacy courses for those that need to build their skills before beginning an e-learning program. Computer anxiety would be better met in a controlled local environment with direct assistance then for students with computer deficiencies to remediate through online materials it seems.
Herbert Brown III
I concur that computer literacy is an issue that inhibits academic progress for many students. As an advisor and librarian, I have worked with several students across the country who do not possess some of the most rudimentary computer skills such as copying/pasting, nagivation,or retrieving an electronic document and saving a copy to their computer. As a result, this places the student at a disadvantage and often fosters feelings of frustration and defeat. As a librarian, my typical role is to develop information literacy skills by offering live presentations on how to search and retrieve scholarly information within our databases but also how to evaluate the information that students locate. My goal, however, is to start implementing an orientation where students can attend a computer basics tutorial in order to develop some of these skills, hopefully before evening starting their programs.
I found this to be an interesting topic as well for several reasons. At one school where I teach (that has ground campuses as well as online), students from ground campuses are occasionally pressured to take an online course if the local campus doesn't want to run the course for financial reasons. I think this is a very bad practice.
Some students may not have the self-confidence or ability to work independently that is required to be a successful online learning. Or they may have computer literacy issues. Or they may just not like online. Whatever the reason, I think that students should be free to make their own choices.
These are the students, in my experience, that do most poorly. It could be, in part, because they have a negative attitude from the onset because they were pressured into a situation they did not want. Regardless, though, I believe students in these cases are being setup to fail.
I appreciate the concept of remedial tutorials. I have taught an online class in the past and had several students fall behind due to their inability to comprehend basic computer tasks (such as copying and pasting) that an assignment required them to have mastery of. Generally a well designed handout with screen shots or a YouTube video explaining the steps will clear up the matter. The unfortunate side of this is that many fall further behind during this remedial training and some never do catch up or are unwilling to take the time to learn the basic skills because they are so worried about just turning something in, even if it is not exactly what is being asked for.
It sounds like you have had a great deal of experience with online learning--including having to deal with many excuses! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
This is such an interesting topic for me because I not only took all my classes online, but I was an online Coordinator for quite some time and heard every excuse in the book. I do a lot of work on the computer, but I do not consider myself the most literate person when it comes to the computer and I did it.
Excuses I heard and still hear everyday:
*I am an on-hands learner and I just cannot do online classes.
*I do not have a computer
*I do not have internet
*There is no one there to guide me or answer my questions.
Those are just a few. My response:
*Give online a positive chance, come in and see me each day or your program director and we will assist you any way needed. There is much more to my response, but this is basic. Putting in to the class what they expect to get out of it is a large part.
*There are computers on the campus (available from 6am-11pm, M-F), there are local libraries, etc...
*As far as not having internet, you can use any computer in the world as long as you have internet service, so the same answer as above applies.
I agree with what you have said Kim, but it is more than just knowing the technology that makes a student successful in online learning. Self-discipline is another aspect of being successful with online learning. Another would be the ability to communicate effectively in written form. It would be very challenging for a student to be successful online without good writing skills. Do you have any other items that help a student be successful in an online class?
I really like your 15-20 minute rule! That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Kim.
William:
I agree that all learners should take a basic computer class before signing up for an online class.
The students should also have a basic understanding of the software being used (such as Office 2007).
I think creating a sample course for all adult learners and requiring them to complete the course before registering for their first online class would be beneficial.
LaTunya:
I have noticed as well that some adult learners and even those fresh out of high school will, at times, struggle with the online environment.
I agree entirely that any course can be taught online and students can learn to navigate the CMS and once learned they will be successful in all courses offered using the same CMS if there are quality learning fields and/or they are high achievers.
I have noticed that with a little guidance I have been able to assist most students in the course design and layout in our CMS. I have a general rule of thumb that if a student is working on something for 15-20 minutes and cannot figure it out that they contact me and I will assist to make certain that the design of the CMS is easily understood by each student.
William:
Please share your thoughts with us on the types of computer skills adults should master before taking an online course.
Satrohan
The lack of computer skills is an issue in the class or e-learning so adults should take at least a basic computer course or should practice on a computer before begining any online class
I agree with you that lack of computor skills is the major obstacle for e-learning regardless of the age of the student. Although it is probably a more common problem with older students.
In a traditional classroom setting, I find that the adult learners are actually the better students.
Joel:
Your recommendations point to th single-most important factor for students to be successful online learners-----transitioning them into the this mode of delivery of instruction. The trend seems to be heading in that direction; so there may be no escaping it. Introducing e-learning in a strategic manner, informing students of the requirements to succeed in an e-learning environment, and providing them with the resources to bridge any gaps in the required competencies before they take the first course could work marvels.
Satrohan
Marc
I believe you hit on a key point when you mentioned learners reluctance to learn new things.
Fear of the unknown, risk taking is horrifying for many learners.. The fear of failure.
Perhaps creating an environment in your school where both enhancing computer skills as well as the advantages of e-learning are emphasized and risk taking encouraged would ease the dissonance.
Perhaps the computer literacy/e-learning/skills assessments is one way to determine needs of our learners and to provide them with the support and mechanisms to facilitate their success
Joel
Nori:
One strategy I recommend is to define the computer literacy level by identifying those tasks students will have to complete. In other words, identify those computer skills a students must possess to be successful in an online environment. Create a survey in which those tasks are listed and distribute it to the students. Their responses should indicate their computer literacy level.
Satrohan
Pamela:
There is certainly a set of basic computer literacy skills required to be a successful onlin learner. Do you believe that an introduction tpo the features of the Course Delivery Platform through which the course is delivered would be beneficial to students?
Satrohan
I have to agree with Pamela. Computer literacy should be a pre requisite for online classes. I am getting ready to teach my first online course that will be a mixture of adult and recent high school graduates. I am sure that I will encounter various levels of computer skills. My question for the group would be: What is the best method in an online environment to determine a learner's computer literacy?
I belive that computer litercy should be a pre requisite for online classes. This is what most adult learners lack in the on line courses that I teach.
