I would have to disagree. Although I believe that online learning will continue to grow in popularity and use, I don't think it will ever completely replace traditional classroom delivery. For one thing, there are courses which are impossible to effectively teach in the online environment. Courses in health care or auto mechanics, for example, are better suited to be taught in the face-to-face environment. Maybe in the future and with improved technology, these courses may eventually be effectively taught online.
Second, there are people who cannot learn in the online environment no matter how well the course is developed and how excellent the instructor is. They simply need that face-to-face interaction.
I agree. Online learning can be a great supplemental to the traditional classroom. In our institution, we have the traditional face-to-face instruction, the fully online instruction, and a combination of both which we call hybrid. In the hybrid classes, students get the best of both worlds.
Hi Tim. I agree. I have actually recommended to students that they attend a face-to-face class because they struggle online. I really feel that you have to have excellent academic skills and need to be very self-directed to be successful online. Tina
Online learning will eventually replace traditional classroom delivery of instruction? Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
I don't believe it will ever replace the traditional classroom, but feel it will perhaps be as equally a powerful learning environment depending on the person taking the course.
Since joining the school I instruct at, approximately eighty percent of my training has been done by online learning modules. I enjoy the learning experience of online training, but having an actual person in front of you that will almost instantly respond to a question or clarify material as it is presented, is a major draw to classroom learning for me.
Herbert,
Your observation are in agreement with a number of studies reflecting a strong preference for face-2-face teachers when the time and proximity are convenient enough. The choice of online for the majority (not all) of students is almost always the time/distance logistical convenience/difficulties. Many agree that traditional education will be around for a long while. (Just a thought to ponder - What about PE online? - Could the Wii technology be adjusted to take vitals while monitoring a person's tennis, golf, etc. activity online?) How much further can kinesthetic learning go in the online forum?...
I believe there will always be the traditional classroom, however, due to budget cuts, there will be more classes moving to the internet, especially in high schools. This will prepare students for more internet classes at the college level. In one program that I teach, when a class is offered in the traditional setting, no one signs up for it. However, when the same class is offered online, the maximum enrollment is reached with 24 hours. The typical student is changing and we must meet their needs.
Daniel,
Times are changing. An online instructional tools, techniques and activities are becoming more and more robust to encompass many more learning styles. While the current format of most online classrooms is primarily text based, more interactive, scenario-based, immersive technology, adaptive learning activities and adaptive learning assessments are being developed to accommodate many more learners'success in the online environment. These are immense changes that are currently underway in the online environment to meet the changing needs of our postsecondary student.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
My experience so far tells me there will always be traditional classrooms. I have seen many students, who perform well in a classroom, fail online because they lack the discipline to do the work on their own.
Joseph,
Yes, the maturity of the learner can make all the difference in the online classroom.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
