Sunday, April 3, 2016
Post Number 2- Online Learning
Based on the readings we were required to read, I feel as if I covered a basic amount of what online schooling actually is although, I did miss a lot. I researched deeper then the articles that we were required to read and saw that many different places offer a full-time online program although an article we were required to read talks about cyber learning, I never felt as if there was certain times you were required to be participating in a online program.
When starting college in 2006 I was super excited to take an online course because I always heard about the number seven myth that online classes were much easier. With it being my first year of college I was super excited to have an easy class, but that defiantly was not the case my online course was a million times harder and required a tremendous amount of participation and interaction with classmates, I definitely agree number 7 is a myth.
I've always said I would never want my children to participate in a online school because they would be socially awkward especially at such a young age, with that being said I am totally wrong. I know agree with the truth about number 4, now that I have been taking more and more of these online course I feel as if I have gotten to know my classmates way better then I've ever gotten to know any of my classmates in a class setting, you are required to interact much more with students in a online course. Also, I believe with the fact that typically most students only take 1 or 2 classes this allows students to focus and give their fully attention to these courses.
Online schooling has come a long way and follows all state standards and requirements, I definitely have changed my views about online schooling and would consider having my children take online courses in the near future, they are looking to build a future for all different types of students.
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Online learning has definitely taken education by storm and it actually seems quite difficult to avoid taking an online course these days. I'm noticing more and more people seem to be warming up to online learning and that makes me happy! I am an avid online learner and would love to never step foot in a classroom again!
ReplyDeleteI also had many of the same views as you when it came to online learning. I thought the classes would be much easier (so wrong!) and I also thought the interaction with my peers would be minimal, but you're totally right, the interaction in many online classes seems much higher. For example: How often in an online class have you had to make an introduction post about yourself versus how many times you had to stand up in a face to face class and tell your peers about your life? How often were you REQUIRED to respond to two other peers in an online course and make meaningful conversation compared to in a face to face course? The interaction is definitely there!
Agree, I never had to talk about my life in front of my classmates all we were ever required to do was introduce ourselves as Vanessa Zeer and say one thing about ourselves. Not only do I get to know my classmates better in a online environment but I also get to learn from them and hear their different point of views that they bring to the table, it's amazing on how much I have picked up from my peers. I totally agree with you about stepping foot in a classroom again I feel as if in a classroom I totally doze off and lose concentration, with an online class I am able to fully focus and concentrate on my work when I start loosing concentration I can stop and come back at a later time.
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ReplyDeleteVanessa,
ReplyDeleteYou offer some great points this week in your post. I appreciated hearing about your prior views about online learning and how it has changed with personal experience. I agree that online classes offer students an environment where they can learn from their peers and interact in more ways than they sometimes do in traditional settings. The number of students in traditional classroom settings continues to rise. Being in a class with 35 other students can limit the amount of thoughtful and meaning interactions that take place. The online platform provides a natural avenue for collaborative participation.
Agree, being in a class with so many peers becomes a bit difficult for the teacher to focus all their attention on students. When being in a online class your teacher has your full attention at all times.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Vanessa, in that I have certainly expected online courses to be "easier" and to require less involvement. But I've found out that they're more involved--than expected, from both sides of the computer. I still like the convenience of being WHEREVER I want to be and still have access, however.
ReplyDeleteI thought is was quite interesting that you feel more connected to classmates online than in "brick and mortar". I personally feel more connected during face-to-face. However, I can see why you feel the opposite. There seems to be much more collaborations online, and during those collabs, it isn't difficult to "get to know" your partners at all. Different strokes for different folks, eh?
You said you've changed your view and now would consider letting your children take courses online. Would you consider a full-time school like a "K12" for instance, or would you feel more comfortable if he took online courses while sitting in a classroom?
I would not consider a full-time school from K-12, although students are getting full interaction with classmates I still feel that students need a physical interaction with classmates especially being at such a young age. With the growth of technology I feel as if kids are already loosing their involvement with other children and I would never want my kids growing up and not having recess.
DeleteI completely understand that. I do believe, however, that in a few years, parents like you and I won't have a choice. When you think about ALL the money that could be saved in paying full salaries, electricity, heat, supplies, furniture, etc. I think its only a matter of time, when "brick and mortar" classrooms will be a something of the past. I just hope to get my 8 and 12 year old graduated, before the change takes place.
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