Charles,
I would argue with your statement that 18 year old high school students can't handle online. In fact there is a nationwide push for online education in K-12. Florida for example requires online options for K-12 students. A whole new generation of students will be coming out of ONLINE public K-12 schools in the near future. Students in traditional K-12 schools are also using online tools such as Edmoto, Ning, Moodle, Skype and others and are certainly use to the tools and resources.
Herbert Brown III
Michael,
These can be strong supporting factors, but do you really beleive online will replace traditional classes. I have seen too many students that are insisting they have the "traditionl" experience to believe online will replace traditional any time in the immediate future.
Herbert Brown III
I understand what you meant. The on-line campus always offers all the course of the program whereas the ground campus may offer a course that might have the most students. I understand that this is the budgetary strategy. However, I’ve seen blended (hybrid) students who are frustrated because they are scheduled on an on-line class, and it isn’t what they signed up for. In this case, I would give them a little more attention in the class, and I will also direct them to their advisors, who are responsible for their scheduling.
It all goes back to your audience. Remember, not all students are on-line learners. Although the stigma of on-line learning for not a credible degree granting system going away, the majority of the student still preferred in person facilitation, brick and Mortar College experience.
This is a question that’s been around ever since online instruction first began. The fact that the question exists at all is tribute to the effectiveness (and perceived threat) of the online forum.
While it may never replace entirely the traditional classroom, several things bode well for a shift to online courses:
Upcoming generations are not only comfortable with but rely on the virtual world in all its manifestations including the internet, I-Phones, Android, email, instant messaging etc. Face-to-face contact is becoming less of a factor in maintaining relationships with friends.
Many grade and middle schools now incorporate online elements not only in homework but in general communication. (Notes that used to go home with a student now go via email.)
It’s cheaper. Universities can add a CMS much more economically than adding a new brick and mortar container.
Online learning already is replacing the traditional classroom, In fact many educators believe that if facilitated correctly, the online environment provides a more advantageous opportunity for learning. The online environment draws from a more diverse pool of experience and knowledge than a traditional classroom, thereby bringing a more realistic model of group learning.
Michael Maldonado The
Online learning cannot replace the traditional classroom, especially for traditional 18 years old from High School cannot handle online education. Traditional students will still attend traditional campus for college education.
Michael,
Football is certainly important to some students. To build on that a little, many students want the social aspect of the traditional college and classroom. We can build social elements effective in to online environments, but for these students it is just not the same. Is it the same to sit in an online chat room or video chat with your fraternity brothers or sorority sisters - of course not. Many college decisions are based on more factors than just the degree or area of study.
Herbert Brown III
Michael,
Are there any other characteristics that make students effective in online courses? What about instructors, do some work better in online environments than others, what characteristics might make them effective?
Herbert Brown III
Lyn ,
I have also found that not all students want online classes. Many students come to my university just for the personal attention in classes and the traditional classroom interaction. Since I teach both online and onground I find I have to be carefully including too much online content for the traditional classes, as the students still want the classroom experience.
Herbert Brown III
I believe online and traditional learning environments will be quite symbiotic, one never entirely replacing the other. There will always be learners that will prefer the traditional setting, just as printed books will continue to draw enthusiasts.
Regards,
Lillian Lynn
No, I think both types of classes are important. It may come down to the subject matter. Some classes just need hands on training, such as those in which the student learns how to use equipment, for example.
Subject matter that is conceptual, less hands on is good for online classes.
In some curricula, I see a blend of on ground and online classes would work well. Others could be taught totally online
Plus, I think education should serve all potential learners, not all want to take courses online. Lyn
Students that are effective in the online environment are organized, independent and motivated individuals.
I disagree strongly. I find tremendous value with online learning as it is convenient, however there will always be a large segement of our society that will prefer traditional face to face education. We also cannot underestimate the economic power of the brick and mortar schools that have powerful football teams.
Guillermo,
I agree; I would be very hesitant to have a doctor conduct brain surgery on me if they only did it in a virtual online tutorial. Some students just prefer the traditional classroom and interaction, and that is fine. Variety is good, but we will certainly continue to see increases in online programs and enrollments.
Herbert Brown III
Kurt,
The second point you make is exactly what is happening now. The "flipped" classroom is just that concept. Move most of the knowledge content to the online asynch. environment and use the traditional class time for deeper discussions and analysis of the content.
Herbert Brown III
I think with society getting faster and faster I think that it is becoming a more convenient option for some. However, there is always going to be the need for traditional classroom instruction. There are also some classes that are going to require some hands on training in the traditional setting.
Cheating and fraud in traditional class rooms has always occurred in my opinion but our methods and ability to "catch" them has improved. Frats have always maintained a volume of stored exams and papers. Okay?
Fraud and cheating ..or academic honesty has not always been an issue with faculty. Online programs has improved the quality of traditional class rooms by imposing better technology in the traditional class room. Most class rooms are smart class room... all online programs are smart class rooms.
I envision a hybridization more than a replacement. There are many things, and many learners, who are best served in a traditional face to face situation. The other side of the coin would be to offload as much material as is feasible to an online, asynchronous format, to reduce the required face to face time and to make more efficient use of it.
Kurt "Trip" Bauer
Diane,
Many traditional classes do incorporate online activities and tools. For example, many instructors use the CMS with traditional classes just to manage the assignments, submissions, and grading. Many teach blended/hybrid classes that try to blend the best of online and traditional. A newer model, the "flipped" classroom moves most of the knowledge content and assignments to an online format, leaving the traditional classroom time for more in-depth discussions and interactions.
Herbert Brown III
