Online learning and virtual schools have changed the way
students seek an education. Students
attending college or High School want a variety of options, and the internet is
offering those choices. Individuals can
take courses at home at their convenience and still get a valuable
education. Virtual schools allow High
School students the capability for learning at home and the flexibility to
learn at their pace. As more colleges
offer online classes, more students take the challenge of virtual learning. It is becoming more the norm in education to
take a classroom anywhere.
There can be many reasons why students still in High School
take online classes. They learn at their
pace, and classes are programmed according to their interests and unique learning
styles. The convenience of not having
to attend a typical classroom provides more time for extra curriculum activities
or job opportunities. Even so, signing
up for virtual courses has its pros and cons.
The student has to be self-discipline to fulfill their obligations and
responsibilities. This type of
environment may not be for everybody because of the unusual arrangement. In the long run, this exposure will prepare
students for college schedules. But
regardless if they choose to opt for online courses, students should receive
support at home in order to be successful.
It seems that colleges are offering more online courses than
ever before. As I reviewed the classes I
needed to take this semester, it seemed like there were more courses being
offered online than the previous years.
I took my first online course during the summer and liked the
flexibility it provided. Among the many
advantages, I did not have to drive to and from the campus, not only did this saved
me time, but money on gas. I opted to
take more classes online for the fall semester, and as it turned out, I am
currently taking three courses online. I
like the convenience and flexibility that online learning offers, but I would
have preferred to have taken at least one course on campus. The one I had chosen got canceled, and the
only other option was to take it online.
I am getting used to the demanding schedule, but I admit that there are
some weeks that I just want to give up!
I will struggle on because I made a commitment to myself and my
education.
Each student’s learning
capabilities are different, and some may need supplemental instruction, so I
applauded those of us who have decided to join the revolution and be a part of
online learning. I did not think that
online classes were my cup of tea, but as it turns out, they are not so
terrible. As long as you are
self-disciplined and able to multitask, anybody who decides to take online
classes should be just fine. I realize
that some courses should be taken in person, but the possibilities of learning
anywhere and anytime is growing. We live
in the technology age and should take advantages of its conveniences.
Resources
Maloy, R.W., Verock-O’Loughlin, R.E., Edwards, S.A., Woolf,
B.P. (2014) Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Upper Saddle River:
Pearson
Online classes definitely demand self-discipline on the part of the learner, but I also think they help to create a more versatile and 21st century-prepared citizen as so much is done via the internet, students need to know how to navigate independently and communicate in a variety of asynchronous ways that a face-to-face class often does not address with the expected weekly schedule of teacher availability, etc. That said, I think there is still value in meeting face-to-face when possible, i.e., blended classes, but with the current set-up of online classes, it would most likely be difficult to get everyone to meet at the same day/time!
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