Can any course be taught online?
Are there some courses that cannot be effectively taught online? Justify your answer.
Joshua,
I would agree that hands on careers should still be hands on. I do not want a surgeon working on me that only did "virtual" surgeries or a mechanic that only did repairs on virtual cars. A good solution for those might be, do all you can online and have hands on sessions or on the job training, shadowing, etc. for the hands on part so it is more of a blended approach.
Herbert Brown III
The obvious answer would be any course requiring hands on experiences. For instance a course on repairing car engines would be very difficult to teach online as it requires the student to be hands on.
However, with the advancements in technology these days many activities that generally require you to use your hands can be created in a type of "virtual reality."
Even with these advancements I believe that real hands on learning is necessary to reach the student's full learning and retention potential.
Jolly,
I think you have it just right. The instructional content and objectives come first. Then we look at all of the tools at our disposal and decide the best mechanism for connecting our instructional content with our students....or best mechanisms as it may take several different strategies to reach the diverse learning styles of our students.
Herbert Brown III
No! One simply cannot assume all courses can be taught online, however, that said, using the instructional media selection process, the single most instructional component to consider when selecting the *most* appropriate medium to deliver the content are the learning objectives. The learning objectives form the foundation for media selection and development of the instructional content(REF: Instructional Media Selection Guide for Distance Learning (2nd Ed), available at: http://www.usdla.org/assets/pdf_files/AIMSGDL%202nd%20Ed._styled_010311.pdf
No, not every course can be taught effectively online. Online is not a one size fits all solution. There are a couple of key factors that online courses cannot address: interaction with materials or equipment that is not available to people in their homes where they are taking their online courses (I can't take a pottery class online since I don't have a wheel or a kiln in my house for example); presentation and evaluation of materials in which detailed craftsmanship needs to be assessed (teaching fashion design online is not a good option since it is impossible to see the quality of the stitching for the sewing exercises for example); interaction between people needs to be direct and immediate (teaching any of the performing arts where a person is part of a group that sings, dances or acts is not possible for example). With all of that being said, I do believe that online education is a great option for some things and a great supplemental option for others.
Teaching courses online requires dedication, knowledge of the subject matter, time commitment, and many more items.
Do I believe that any course could be taught online? The answer is: Yes, as long as the instructor is knowledgeable of the subject and is willing to be dedicated to the students.
My daughter actually took a speech class online. I was very skeptical about this class. However, this class taught her much more than just speech. It taught her preparation. In one of her assignments, she had to video herself giving a descriptive speech with a minimum audience of 20. She had to research on how to use the video equipment and also had to give willing participants. So it taught her interaction skills that is very important in all speeches!
So yes, all courses can be taught online.
Katherine,
These types of clinical and skills needs will contribute to the continued growth of online hybrid learning where most of the "content" of the course is completed online and the in class experiences will focus on clinicals, skills development and hands on activities that are difficult or impossible to complete without direct interaction in these types of environments.
Herbert Brown III
Nicole,
So much of the core content is covered using online tools and resources and they still have a practicum. One point I was trying to reach was what you suggest. We can teach almost anything (content wise) in an online environment; however, we are going to have to seriously reconsider the role of internships, practicums, etc. to reinforce that content knowledge in real and applied ways.
Herbert Brown III
Many courses can be taught online. However, in some areas hands on experience is required for evaluation of the students retention of the information being taught. An example of this is a nursing class. In a nursing class, the technical bookwork learning can be performed online, however the clinical piece that involves for instance taking a patient's blood pressure, drawing blood, etc. needs to be in a hands on environment to validate the student has learned the skill necessary to succeed in their profession.
My response to your example, which is really not that extreme, would be how do they currently learn? I assume it is taught in a class using videos, text, etc. and then later they practice what they learned during their residencies. So, I wouldn't want a surgeon who has never practiced under the supervision of a trained surgeon but how they learned about the surgery in the first place has little relevance for me.
There are online simulations for pilots and astronauts...why not for surgeons. I think the premise that certain topics are not practical for online delivery limits the affordances that are offered by Internet technologies. I would argue that it is experience doing whatever is learned that would make the difference between who I would want operating on me.
Nicole,
I agree the courses design has to meet the content and learner to be effective. Let me play a devil's advocate position. A topic like brain surgery could be taught with videos, texts, multimedia content, etc. in an online environment. Would you want a surgeon working on you that has only done virtual surgeries? I know my example might be extreme and might be handled with proper internships, but it seems that there are some skills based areas that for now might still be better served in a traditional way. Your thoughts?
Herbert Brown III
I believe that any course can be taught online. Some are more conducive to online than others but overall any course can be taught online. The key to success is making sure that the delivery of instructional materials is aligned with the course objectives. Also, the type of media (e.g., video, audio, or text) should be appropriate for the subject matter. For example, a graphical presentation may be more appropriate to help a learner understand principles of graphic design whereas video may be better suited for teaching dog grooming techniques.
I think this is a mistake many educators make in that they see a math course, for example, that is taught online and then use the same media and strategies to teach biology. Those are different courses with different learning objectives.
Stacy,
Yes, the technology has not yet created a viable online phlebotomy lab. We will probably be waiting a while on that one. ;-]
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
This is a very complicated question primarily because there are some fields that tend to benefit from more hands on experiences. Provided there are opportunities to have true experiential work, online courses are a viable opportunity. Still, there could be some courses, such as those that may be available in medical school, that may present with problems online.
Ashley,
Many technologies are coming to the market that are moving us in that direction. "Hands-on" kits are sent to the students' houses, webcams allow instructors to visually monitor performance and discuss the activity in real-time with the stduent, etc. While it is not yet feasible for many classes to be implemented yet, it is apparent the the technology and academic knowhow are moving toward that goal.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Yes, I beleive any course can be taught online. If the proper Instruction is outlined, the proper resources are given and if the student has the drive to complete the course, the student can learn the material.
Douglas,
Thank you for expressing the appreciation.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
David,
You and I are onthe same page. Tomorrow morning I will be poolside watching my kids swim in the pool and then will probably come home and watch them on the Wii!
Thanks for the humor along with the support.
Doug
Douglas,
Touché of the swimming idea. However, other forms of PE seem to be making their way to the computer screen (on the Wii, etc.), but your point is well taken. Excellent post. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
