Educational Technology: Online Learning in the Classroom

          In today's education, many teachers and instructors have changed their teaching styles in their classrooms by incorporating online learning with students of different ages whether they are children, teenagers, or adults. This essay aims to describe the importance of online learning in education as well as its benefits and enrichment for students and the community to improve their English every day.

          To begin, we must know and understand the main concept of what online learning means. It is defined as learning that takes place partially or entirely over the Internet. This definition excludes purely print-based correspondence education, broadcast television or radio, videoconferencing, videocassettes, and stand-alone educational software programs that do not have a significant Internet-based instructional component.

       Firstly, online learning offerings are being designed to enhance the quality of learning experiences and outcomes. One common conjecture is that learning a complex body of knowledge effectively requires a community of learners (Bransford, Brown and Cocking 1999; Riel and Polin 2004; Schwen and Hara 2004; Vrasidas and Glass 2004) and that online technologies can be used to expand and support such communities. Another conjecture is that asynchronous discourse is inherently self-reflective and therefore more conducive to deep learning than is synchronous discourse (Harlen and Doubler 2004; Hiltz and Goldman 2005; Jaffee et al. 2006).

         Secondly, online learning can accommodate different learning styles. An instructor can also present these materials in many formats to adjust different types of learning styles. For example, if an instructor puts both lecture notes and slides online, both visual and auditory learners benefit. Additionally, students who prefer to focus on "listening" and "watching" during lecture do not have to worry that they are missing important concepts while scrambling to take copious notes. They can focus on understanding the material and concepts as they are presented. Likewise, students with attention difficulties or those who get overwhelmed by organizational tasks also benefit, because materials provided show how the instructor has grouped and prepared materials in the handouts, and indicate what items are most important.

      According to researchers from Cornell University, “the web provides significant new functionality in transmitting information to the student and providing forums for exchange. The web is revolutionizing some areas of study through increased opportunities for learning and alternative formats for information.” (Dwyer, Barbieri, and Doerr, 1995). Therefore, the advantages of online education make a significant impact in higher education today and, as technology evolves, promise to deliver even greater benefits in the future.

         Thirdly, online learning can facilitate accessibility to students to complete their assignments without hurrying. For instance, Courseware can be accessible for students when they need it. Students can review lectures, discussions, explanations, and comments, and then reply them to their classmates. Likewise, individuals can also share notes with each other to help facilitate community learning.

    Fourthly, online learning saves money for students and encourages to perform online communication with their teachers. Educational instructors can be more approachable in the online setting. In addition, students may feel more comfortable talking openly with their teachers through online chats, emails, and newsgroup discussions rather than face-to-face. Hence, online correspondence also cuts out having to wait for office hours that may not be convenient for either party. Students may be able to save money by not having to physically attend classes. Therefore, online courses may help individuals cut down  costs of transportation, babysitting, and other expenses incurred by attending classes in a traditional setting.

        Lastly, online learning offers a wide variety of online courses that fits in the learner's educational background. They could help to increase student interaction by allowing everyone to have a voice, share their ideas, and grow diverse as well. Students can also think longer about what they want to say and add their comments when ready. In a traditional classroom, the conversation could have moved past the point where the student may be willing to comment.

        In conclusion, online learning allows students to strengthen their knowledge as they increase their motivation and interest on what they learn. Likewise, the advantages of online education make a significant impact in higher education today and, as technology evolves, promise to deliver even greater benefits in the future.

References

Dwyer, D., Barbieri, K., and Doerr, H. (1995). Creating a Virtual Classroom for Interactive Education on the Web. The Third International World Wide Web Conference. 

Riel, M., and Polin, J. (2004). Online communities: Common ground and critical differences in designing technical environments. In Designing for virtual communities in the service of learning, ed. S. A. Barab, R. Kling, and J. H. Gray, 16–50. Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge University Press.

Bransford, J., Brown, A., and Cocking, R. (1999). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Schwen, T. M., and Hara, N. (2004). Community of practice: A metaphor for online design. In Designing for virtual communities in the service of learning, ed. S. A. Barab, R. Kling, and J. H. Gray, 154–78. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.

Vrasidas, C., and Glass, G. (2004). Teacher professional development: Issues and trends. In Online professional development for teachers, ed. C. Vrasidas and G. V. Glass, 1–12). Greenwich, Conn.: Information Age.

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