In the last 5 years or so, there has been a new reform in education based around computers. Though it is good to be tech savvy in the modern society in which we live, it upsets me to see that students now prefer to learn from a computer rather than a qualified educator that can impart their first-hand experience and expertise.
Though the instruction from the computer based classes is formulated by a qualified instructor, the message of the instructor’s lecture is diminished. You cannot ask the computer questions if you still don’t understand something after reading the lesson countless times nor are you able to form the student-teacher relationship that sets the tone and the qualifications of the course into motion. Most importantly, computers do not inspire students to go out into the world and apply what they have learned to real life situations such as money management or writing a resume for a job.
JFK once stated that "man is still the most extraordinary computer of all." The truth in this statement is evident as computers cannot do groundbreaking research that finds a cure for cancer or write a ground breaking novel worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Online education is a growing trend, and it is alarming to say the least. We try to use computer-based classrooms as an opportunity to find a middle ground, but registration for these classes is low. As a result, we no longer offer College Writing I as a computer-based class during the long semesters, and we lost one of our two computer-based classrooms.
ReplyDeleteAnother alternative is a blended course, which I particularly enjoy. The idea is that you spend approximately half (or less) the typical time in the computer lab, and the remainder of the class takes place in interactive learning modules online. You still have face-to-face interaction with an instructor and a classroom, but you are also allowed some of the freedom that comes with taking online courses.
As a person who enjoys taking online classes, i would have to say that they have their good and bad points. The good in my opinion is that you can do them on your own time for the most part. They also help you become organized because you have to keep up with your assignments on your own.
ReplyDeleteThe drawbacks are that you do not get face-to-face interaction with the instructor, however most are really good about answering questions through email/chat, and that makes it more personal than one would imagine.
Most people are under the impression that online classes are easier, in my experience, they are not.