Janet:
Good design,opportunities to participate in the learning activies, self discipline, effective time-management are are contributory factors to being a successsful onliner learner. These traits are also essential for being a successful learner in a traditional classroom setting. Here is a question for you.
Assume that we keep all conditions equal for both th eonline environment and the traditional classroom setting, do you believe students can learn as much, or more in an online environment versus a traditional classroom setting?
Satrohan
I believe that the course must be designed in such a way to promote participation and learning. If it possesses these qualitites then I believe they can learn as much if not more, but again as I said in the last forum, the student must be disciplined and committed to learning.
Jan ODonnell
Alanna:
I agree with you that there are well-established learning technologies; and more are emerging. Do you think that students can afford to add to their learning systems, advanced learning technologies a learning institution has chosen to deliver instruction? And if they can, would this be a feasible approach to adopt when members of the student population are known to reside in geographic locations not serviced by High Speed Internet transmissions?
Satrohan
I think that this can be a challenge sometimes. I think that the tools for the to learn as much or more are out there. But I think the challege is knowing if they are taking advantage of those tools. In a classroom you are able to monitor and visualize the students taking in different types of knowledge and using various tools to help themselves understand what they are learning. In the online setting it is more difficult to visualize and insure that the students are taking advantage of some methods. That is why I like to use chat sessions to make sure that the students are on even playing fields.
An excellent answer, Anthony. The msot striking statement you havemade, in my opinion, is providing learning activities that not only would support the achievent of the learning outcomes; but also, would engage the learner in an meaningful manner.
Satrohan
Quite a loaded question. A well designed online course could easily provide all the tutelage one could gather from a "real-world" curriculum.
Considering the instantaneous resources available on the internet, its very possible to see the amount of information provide through an online course greatly exceeding what one would expect from a teacher in a class via handouts and in-class demonstrations.
Even in a real class, internet resources would likely be time shifted for when the student is at home or in labs, so the effectiveness may dwindle if the student just doesn't do their homework. Conversely, in the online environment, resources can be opened and perused at the moment they're presented.
Essentially, the amount of learning a student would recieve through either method of teaching, is greatly dependent on their learning style. The more engaged they are and accessible the information is to them, the more likely they will absorb more material.
Tricia:
I agree with you that a student's attitude and orientation towards knowledge acquisition do have a strong influence on how successful the student is in any learning endeavour. This applies to both online or traditional classroom learning environments. We differ in terms of learning gains. All things being equal, I believe students are likely to achieve higher levels of learning in an online environment.
Satrohan
I believe that students would learn as much in an online course as in a traditional classroom setting. While the students who prefer organized thoughts and systematic aproaches to their learning may excell more in online courses, the students who are more imaginative and creative may do best expressing and learning in a traditionally taught classroom. Overall the net benefit would be the same. Both types of students will excell and learn the fundamental material so long as they are flexable and cooperative. If the student decides that they will learn, they will. However, if the student decides that they will not do well with an online classroom, they probably won't.
Thank you kindly, Paul, for sharing this resource with us. I will review this Web site shortly.
Satrohan
Yes Paul. The course must be organized in a robust manner. What are some characteristics an online course must contain before it can be deemd to be properly constructed?
Satrohan
I like the Student Readiness for Distance Learning Tutorial that is posted at http://www.emoderators.com/dltutorial/index.shtml
This tutporial gives the future online student with a realistic view of what online or distance learning will require of them.
This is a great question...
I think that many online courses offer the opportunity for students to learn as much, if not more, but there are many factors that have to be considered. As previous posts indicate, self-discipline is a necessary factor for sucess in the online environment. But are their other factors, in general, that can make a course successful or not regardless of the manner in which it is presented.
Online courses offer more opportunity for research and study, reflection and contemplation before a students has to "verbally" comment.
Many studies indicate that students can learn as much and possible more in the online environment. Doesn't course construction sometimes effect this?
Michelle:
Of course human interaction makes a significant difference. I am assuming that the school that has Chats as the only online feature has other course components and learning activities to support the learning objectives. Chat sessions are not the most efficient means to deliver instruction.
satrohan
I honestly think it depends on the course & the online environment. I teach at three schools. One is on-ground, one is online, & one is a mixture of both. It has been my experience that the online classroom makes a huge difference. At one school, the only online portion is a chat room only. At the other school, the classroom is completely interactive with PowerPoints & online resources at the student's figure tips. The students in the second classroom referenced above far exceed the students in the first with regards to participation & activity.
As I have posted before it does depend on the subject matter as well. Some courses lend better to an online environment than others.
Schawn:
I agree with you that students can learn more in a face-to-face setting. I would just like to add this qualifier.
Students, among other desirable traits, must be goal driven by strong motivation to acquire an education relevant to their ambition, career goals etc. More important they must possess the faculties to complete that journey. For example, they must be able to manage their time effectively, they must be able to practise self-discipline, they must overcome any inclination to procrastinate. All of these criteria are necessary for success in an online environment as well as in a traditional classroom setting. After all, students do have to expend additional efforts that go beyond what they expend in the classroom.
Satrohan
I completely believe students learn more in a face-to-face setting. Unfortunately, those individuals whom are unable to attend traditional classes have to adjust and make the on-line learning process work for them if they want to obtain an education. Fortunately this media exists.
James:
The asynchronous approach is bettr. And yes; a bio of the Guest Lecturer attesting to his or her authority in the content area is of added value. I want to suggest that in addition to posting the bio, you also post, at a reasonable time before you want students to begin questions, a transcript of what the Guest lecturer would have said had he or she been delivering the lecture in the classroom. Allow enough time for students to read, assimilate, process the information, and come up with intelligent questions before you initiate the Discussion session. The results you would achieve in this manner is far more extensive than can be achieved when a Guest Lecturer comes into a traditional classroom setting, speaks for 45 minutes and only fifteen minutes remain for the question period.
Satrohan
I can think of two ways that this would work. I could use a synchronous chat; however, there would be concern over those who could not attend. If the lecturer where willing, I could also use an asynchronous chat for a period of time allowing the guest to answer the questions posed by the students. Most guest lecturers are brought to a classroom setting for their knowledge in a particular area. While you may lose the dynamics of their voice and face, by placing a picture of them with their bio on the web before the session, you can generate the same enthusiasm that can exist in a classroom environment.
James:
Your point about having more time to cover the course content is well taken. Question for you.
Question
If you had a guest lecturer in a traditional classroom environment, how will you handle that on line to ensure that your students derive the most benefit from this guest lecturer?
Satrohan
Paula:
Knowledge of the content domain is mandatory; so are all of the other instructor qualities you mentioned. Other factors that should be taken when evaluating the amount of effort are:
Grading of Assignments
Managing Group Projects
Managing Individual Projects
Providing constructive feedback in a timely manner.
Monitoring Discussion Forums and providing periodic feedback as well as summaries.
Satrohan
