The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning Habits

Definition of Online Learning

The nonexistence of a physical classroom, flexible schedules, and reduced personal interactions

Online education is a type of distance learning---taking courses without attending a brick-and-mortar school or university. Instead, online students and teachers interact over the Internet.

According to the U.S. Department of education, online learning is learning that is undertaken on a computer by means of the Internet.

Types of Online Learning

Distance Learning Cyber Schooling Home Schooling Blended Learning Online public Education (K-12) Online Secondary Education (college

and university classes) E-learning M-learning

Online Public schooling –vs- Home Schooling

Online public schools differ greatly from traditional home schooling, where parents design their own curriculum that is not sanctioned by states or school districts.

Currently, Home schooling is dwarfing enrollment in online schools by 6:1, but cyber education is expected to catch up in the next 5 to 7 years.

Online Public schooling –vs- Home Schooling

Online schools and digital learning tools also cater to the way students are learning today.

Enrollment in online public schooling supported by software provider K12 has grown from about 1,000 students 10 years ago to more than 100,000 today.

Study Island – supplemental education software that makes frequent use of learning games, is designed for digital natives who are accustomed to using keyboards and being online.

Blended Learning

This is where students attend traditional school on a part-time basis and complete their classes online

This model is used as a way for school districts to curb overcrowding issues, and avoid the costly process of building new schools or expanding existing campuses.

Online Secondary Schooling Nearly 30% of colleges and

university students now take at least one online class

Online learning enrollment is up nearly 1 million students from the year before (2010)

The phenomenal growth of online education is presenting uncharted challenges for academic institutions.

Online Secondary Schooling Online programs follow standards,

but the academic expectations differ greatly

Online education can be as effective than in-class instruction

M-Learning

M-Learning is the way to learn the tools of communication involving mobile wireless, which creates the premises of an area spreading messages on a global scale.

Mobile telephoning has evolved so much that now allows connections to computers and making consistent data transfers.

M-Learning is a new educational paradigm that creates an environment in which pupils access to course materials, instructions and applications anytime and anywhere.

M-Learning

Advantages: Students can study anywhere as long as

there is access to an internet connection Can work at own pace Can accommodate different learning

styles through different activities Flexibility in class time M-Learning is relatively cost effective

M-Learning

Disadvantages: Lack of personal community and

connection (bad for blended learning) Focuses on memorization over learning

core competencies Underutilized talents and facilities Too much downtime Mobile can be an “issue” in itself No way to ground social networking and

web 2.0 tools

Collaborative Learning

Facebook Twitter IM Email Wikispaces Edmoto Etc.

Online Learning:

In a recent survey of 1,021 experts, 60% agreed that by 2020 “there will be mass adoption of teleconferencing and distance learning…”

“On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction” – Steve Lohr, New York Times, 2009

Advantages to Online Learning:

Automatic retention – you do not have to take notes**

Fosters more interaction among students and instructors

The knowledge you want first

Learn at your own pace, flexibility

Anytime, anywhere, accessibility

Advantages to Online Learning:

Work-Ability

Applicability

Speed

Variety

Cost Effective

Advantages to Online Learning:

Promotes online and computer skills Reduces travel time Can work around work, family and

other activities Helps to build self-knowledge and

self-confidence and encourages student responsibility

Ability to test out if interested

Disadvantages to Online Learning:

Learners with low motivation and bad study habits can easily fall behind

Lack of routine structure Students may feel isolated from

classmates or instructor Instructor may not always be

available Slow Internet connections or older

computers make accessing course difficult

Disadvantages to Online Learning:

Hands-on or lab work is difficult to simulate in a virtual classroom

Lack of student customization Lack of personal community and

connection Lack of quality assessment and

feedback, which may hinder learning A lot of downtime and “play” issues Digital divide may short circuit

improvement

Disadvantages to Online Learning:

Underutilized talents and facilities Cost is still equivalent if not more

than brick and mortar school Course availability Employment Working Alone Missing out on non-verbal

communication

Disadvantages to Online Learning:

Potential for less networking opportunities

No facilities to use or access

Exclusion of fun campus activities

COMMITMENT

Overall Findings:

Overall, there are both positives and negatives to online education.

The student chooses

Good Experience

Not for everyone

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Borden, Jeff. The Future of Online Learning. Elearn Magazine: August 2011. web. 5 October 2012. http://elearnmag.acm.org/archive.cfm?aid=2024704

Baker, Jason and Woods, Robert. Social Dynamics of Online learning: Pedagogical Imperatives and Practical Applications. 18th Annual Conference on Distance Learning: 2005. web. 5 October 2012. www.uwex.edu/disted/comference/

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