Karen,
The research does continue to show steady growth in online teaching and learning. Another area of tremendous growth is the blended classroom. With the tools already in place, many faculty are using these tools to restructure their traditional classes with strong web/distance components in to blended or hybrid classrooms. We will continue to see growth in both of these areas.
Herbert Brown III
Karen,
I agree that organization is important for the instructor and just as much for the students as well. Instructors can get very overwhelmed very quickly with the workload and faculty expectations for feedback. I try to stagger assignment due dates between my course sections so the structure helps to organize my workload. That way I don't get 100 assignments in one day when each class has the same exact dues date.
Herbert Brown III
Yes, perhaps the growing online educational experience maybe better served for certain classes than others. However, the economic push for schools is often motivated to save money. This would include building or repairing buildings that contain classrooms, etc. Also, included in this would be teaching tools such as media related materials.
Being organized and detail-oriented is so important to my online teaching experience. When you have multiple classes with 15-20 students an instructor has to have a method created that would accommodate teaching this number of students. I have organized plans and am constantly jotting down notes that help fill-in specific needs of the students. Details are so important to account for.
Actually, I disagree that it will replace traditional classroom delivery of instructions. Nevertheless, the online educational methodology has claimed its place in the academic arena, and will continue to grow competitively.
I believe a form of online learning may replace the traditional classroom.
With technology like Skype and FaceTime on Iphones and Ipads, you can be anywhere and access anyone at anytime. Why not open up the classroom doors to the world?
I think it is exciting to think about nontraditional ways to learn. With so many resources like public museums, landmarks and public and government institutions with educational resources available and the latest technology, online learning can make the educational environment much more real and dynamic.
I disagree with the statement that online learning will eventually replace traditional classroom delivery of instruction. I do think that larger number online courses will become available for students but I feel as though an online education setting is not conducive for every student seeking an education. Students enjoy having the college experience and all the friends and memories it provides. Online courses may allow you to obtain the education, but you truly miss out on the experience. This college experience, in my opinion, will ensure that physical colleges and universities will not be taken over by online courses going forward.
corinne,
I think your final statements sum it up...it works great for some...for other maybe not. Online is growing and will continue to grow as will hybrid online/on ground courses. Technology can also help with the global perspective. There are many technologies that can automatically check for plagiarism (although some professors use the software incorrectly) and new companies that are forming to provide secure "testing" structures. Where there is a need, someone will come up with a solution.
Herbert Brown III
I don't think it will completely replace the traditional classroom delivery. I guess it depends on what type of education the student is seeking. If it's a trade school, then it's likely they'll need the traditional style to get the hands-on training they'll need.
With depleted funding and budgetary constraints, will our public school system be able to achieve goals of higher attendance and better graduation rates? President Barack Obama has outlined that he would like for American students to take education one step further by thriving in the global economy It is not uncommon that public school officials nationwide are meandering over alternatives that will meet the needs of its students in light of the financial climate present within our economic downfall.
In order to compete educationally our shortcomings must be noted within our social systems while we simultaneously devise a construct of global communications within the school systems. Technology seems to be a direct link (no pun intended) to providing both. Nationwide, school systems are forecasting the advent of interactive classrooms, originally designed to enhance the learning environment. Just how far will school systems allow technology not only in the classroom, but also as a viable means of education overall?
The American classroom, with a full room of students who were originally allowed more severe discipline tactics in the 20th century, has evolved into one that lacks the fervor of its predecessors. It is quite clear that we are living in a different age and time, as student achievement pales in comparison to the likes of that from divers Eastern cultures. Likewise, with the advent of technology, English writing skills have diminished, though relationship building and networking skills have advanced.
If students lacked the discipline in a traditional school setting, will they be well equipped to perform at the same standards required by each state as they use technology primarily to "attend class"? Typically, within higher education, students are given a choice; however, there have not been any definitive studies done on the level of integrity that these students exhibit when they are not under the direct watchful eye of an instructor.
At the secondary school level, the blackboard is being replaced or supplemented by the Smart board, an interactive whiteboard that allows a teacher to access the Internet and many other teaching tools for curriculum enhancement. Unfortunately, there is no way to systematically allow for student to student interaction, classroom supervision, and proper identification of students.
Will online teachers have the ability to masterfully interject when a student's work seems like it is not his own? Will he or she get to know students and be able to identify a student's true identity and works? These are questions that only time will tell, as we are faced with the possibility of having technology utilized much more heavily in the classroom.
My son was in high school and when he got to his sophomore year he was failing however the next year I was able to send him to a school which had an online program and it worked. He got caught up with his credits and was able to graduate with his class this year.
Online learning may replace a lot of different subjects that could be delivered online over the years. However, it probably will not replace the traditional classroom.
The growing of online education is partly due to the demand from working professional to obtain their education or an advanced degree without leaving their full time job. This provides an alternative to the working individuals as they don't have to commit to be physically in a classroom certain hours per week. It is also applicable to students that have to support themselves out of high school, and therefore online program seems to fit their needs better.
However, on the other end, we have a lot of older individuals that go back to school because of layoff or other reasons. The traditional classroom will be a better mode for them to learn as this model is what they are comfortable with.
I would say, as long as there is demand for the face-to-face interaction or online learning, these two models will continue to be the educational choices for each individual student.
Hello
I really think that there will always be some form of traditional learning (face-to-face) within the educational field. If there is going to be a phase-out of the traditional classroom it will begin with older children 5-6 graders through college who will utilize the online environment. How will a computer teach a kindergarten age math, spelling and writing skills.... or perhaps the technology will become that advanced?
I think that online learning will continue to gain market share in the education landscape. But, I do think that traditional learning will remain a viable option, and probably the most popular option for many. Online learning must overcome centuries of traditional before it could ever "take over" the primary role for educating.
Richard,
Blended/Hybrid courses are very popular. Even an instructor using a CMS for management of course content and assignments is great as it provides accountability to everyone. I would use a CMS for every course and gather ALL work through an electronic process so I don't lose papers and assignments and students know that they submitted it or not, when the submitted it, and have ready access to their grades. By posting materials on a CMS the students have 24/7 access to all course content and can't claim the lost it or didn't receive a copy. I teach all of my on ground courses in a blended mode and love it.
Herbert Brown III
Richard,
The research supports that online and blended learning continue to grow at very strong rates. We should continue to see this growth in to the foreseeable future.
Herbert Brown III
I think a mixture of online and on ground may be the best alternative. Some schools are doing this now.
I doubt completely, but Online is gaining fast. Also, the coast of on ground education is very high.
Online can help students anywhere in the world. I have experienced this my self!
Kids are growing up nowadays with computers, forums, discussion boards, etc. For them online learning will be natural. Also online learning can give great opportunities for those who could not participate in a traditional classroom for different reasons. In my opinion traditional classrooms can't be replaced totally, but more and more online learning will be present in the future.
Scott,
I would suggest that we are probably at the 50/50 split or more now or very soon. If you include hybrid learning (online/class mix) then we are there and beyond. Some brick and mortar schools may feel that way, but when you have schools like MIT and Harvard GIVING AWAY online courses to name a few...there is a continuing strong shift toward online. The hybrid models is growing as fast or faster. Will it replace it completely...not any time soon, but it is growing exponentially and the schools that decide to completely ignore the shift might not be in business 10 years from now.
Herbert Brown III
This is a very interesting question. Assuming for a moment the traditional classroom and online classroom split is 80/20, I would think that online and traditional will split 50/50 at some point but probably not more than that. I think that brick and mortar traditional colleges still look their noses down at online learning and believe that being on campus is the only way to go. UVA just had a debate over this very issue.
I do believe that the on campus experience is more than just academics, so as long as there are football Saturday's, there will be on campus education. That being said, I also see online learning becoming more and more part of the mainstream as people become more comfortable with the technology.
Scott
