What do I want from online education?
Above all else, I want to learn from online education!
I will admit that I am sometimes glad that I have an online class…I can wait until the last minute to do something and not have to fret about getting to class on time, dressing for class, or even doing my homework during the day. I can wait until the wee hours of the morning to work on homework. However, my personality tends does not allow me to do this; I try to work a week ahead or at least a few days! Nevertheless, I do have that luxury if I need it by taking online classes.
The reasons that I take online classes are that they are easier to take with my schedule. I work full time and need to take classes either at night or the online classes. The evening classes are good, but I can usually only take one per quarter. With online classes, I can take a few of them each quarter and hope that this speeds up the process to graduate.
Looking at the following website http://www.googobits.com/articles/p4-1977-the-pros-and-cons-of-online-college.html, I didn’t even consider a few of their cons that they list. “No social interaction.” I used to feel sorry for the kids that I knew that were being home-schooled because I thought they were not getting the opportunity to meet new people with all types of backgrounds. I guess you could say the same for online learning.
There are times when I miss having a “live” class. Just as the presentation stated about losing the ability to ask questions and hear answers to other questions that you might not think of to ask. Not only the questions and answers, but also the expressions on people’s faces can help sometimes when we are attempting to learn something. In addition, you can get the results from quizzes or tests immediately and not have to wait or look online daily to see how you did on something.
This website, http://www.quintcareers.com/distance_learning_pros-cons.html, has a list of pros and cons when deciding if you are a person that would benefit from online learning.
I’ll just keep plugging away at both types of classes and really hope that I accomplish my goal…learning!
I will be doing my entire Bachelor's degree online after Spring quarter. I really don't mind them for the most part. I do agree about the questions that I might not think of though. On the subject of homeschooling, I know a few kids like that. They have a really hard time with social interaction now. Great post and thanks for the links. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy online classes as well the only classes I wouldn't care to take online would be a math class I learn better with a teacher showing me step by step. I agree though with the goal to me it doesn't really matter how i take my classes as long as i'm learning something new!
ReplyDeleteHi Andie,
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts on online education are very interesting. I can see where in class learning can be more beneficial in some ways, but I tend to float towards your statements about online classes working better with schedules. I like the freedom to do my homework whenever, as long as I turn it in by the due date. I was raised being home schooled and I feel I learned more in that time than when I was in the brick and mortar. I may not have had some experiences that other students' have had, but in more ways than not, I am very glad I didn't have many of those experiences. Either way learning is fun, but I have to say online learning is far better...at least for this girl. =)
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