Online Education

Those who struggle to get a college education will struggle much more with online education. The recent times have forced the rapid growth of online education and school closures. So can online learning replace traditional in-class time?

It's not that the internet is not a learning tool; it's that students don't have as much time in the real world to learn as they have on the computer. This means there is a shorter amount of opportunity for students to build the academic foundation they need. Online courses also do not offer as many opportunities for group work and classroom interaction as traditional classroom teaching does. Students do not have access to the personal support they receive in a traditional classroom setting when they are trying to learn. That support comes from instructors and classmates who will work with them and their coursework as a team.

What about the possibility of online courses being too hard for some students? Some online classes may be too difficult for some people, especially if they are not accustomed to taking online classes. They can feel overwhelmed, not understanding what the teacher is trying to teach. When a student has to take too many tests, and they can't take a break between them, it can be stressful for the student. In addition, they may be not able to keep up and may forget something.

Another concern for some students is that their time will not be valued. A lot of online programs will ask students to spend longer hours in class. There's no way a student can keep up with this schedule, especially when it's been established that most students will have time in their busy schedules. Students also have a hard time making the decision whether to continue or drop out. They have never taken an actual class like that before, so it can seem overwhelming to them. If they want to move forward, they need to make the decision to move forward. If they don't, then they can be easily discouraged.

Of course there are some benefits to online courses as well. There are often very flexible schedules and many students can finish a degree in less time than it would take them to complete a traditional class. There are fewer disruptions to a student's regular schedule. There are also usually less rules and more flexibility as far as who is responsible for what needs to be learned in the classroom.