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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning Habits. Definition of Online Learning. The nonexistence of a physical classroom, flexible schedules, and reduced personal interactions
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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
Works Cited: • Goff, Brian. Collaborative Learning: Benefits of Online Learning. Rochester Institute of technology: 2012. web. 5 October 2012. http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching strategies/collaborative learning/benefits.cfm • McLaughlin, Mark. Online Grade Schools Becoming a Popular Alternative. CNBC.com: 19 September 2011. web. 5 October 2012. http://www.cnbc.com/id/44255406/Online_Grade_Schools_Becoming_a_Popular_Alternative • 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/
Works Cited: • Banciu, Viorica and Gordan, Mircea. The Social Benefits of E-Learning in the Study of Foreign Languages in Romanian Education.International Conference on Management and Education Innovation: Lansit Press, Singapore. 2012. web. 5 October 2012. • Schwartzman, Eric. 4 Advantages of Online Socila Media Training Over Classroom Learning. 12 September 2012. web. 5 October 2012. http://socialmediatoday.com/ericschwartzman/803011/4-advantages-online-social-media-training-overclassroom-learning • Whitaker, Kari. 7 Benefits of online Education. Online Education benefits: 2 April 2007. web. 5 October 2012. http://www.classesandcareers.com/education/2007/04/02/7-benefits-of-online-education/ • Na. Advantages and Disadvantages of eLearning. eLearner: n.d.web.5 October. 2012.http://www.dso.iastate.edu/asc/academic/elearner/advantage.html
Works Cited: • James, Gary. Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning. N.p.n.d.web.5 October 2012. www.allencomm.com/events • na. Challenges and Disadvantages of E-learning and Distance Learning. Compassion in politics: 26 September 2009. web. 2 October 2012. http://compassioninpolitics.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/challenges-disadvantages-e-learning-and-distance-learning • Na. The Disadvantages of Online Learning. Elearning-Companion: Supporting the Implementation of Elearning. 2011.web. 2 October 2012. http://www.elearning-companion.com/disadvantages-of-online-learning.html • Georevich, Don. 5 Disadvantages of E-Learning. N.p.n.d. web. 2 October 2012. http://www.jobinterviewtools.com/blog/5-disadvantages-of-e-learning/ • Na. 5 Disadvantages of Online Learning. Online Learning Marketplace. N.d. web. 2 October 2012. http://www.onlinelearningmarketplace.com/5disadvantagesofonlinelearning.html