I believe that we are going to have both going parallel for the sake of people's preference. As mentioned above, we will see a lot of the hybrid method being implemented even in the most traditional set ups. So we are more leaned to the online learning however, traditional classroom delivery should remain as a choice.
Absro
I don't believe so, although online learning is gaining in popularity. Some students prefer the traditional classroom, mainly due to their learning preference.
I do not believe online learning will replace traditional classroom delivery. I do believe that it will become a standard offering in all universities. Online learning meets the needs of some learners just as classroom delivery meets the needs of others. If a university intends to meet the needs of society, it will offer courses through both avenues.
John Lofton
Antonia,
We are seeing a strong growth in blended or hybrid environments and online still is growing; however, I would agree that online is unlikely to completely replace the traditional classroom. In addition to preference, skills programs such as welding, surgery, and such would require a substantial in person presence.
Herbert Brown III
John,
Good point, most universities have realized that online is not going away and have created at least SOME online programs. The trick is for the university to find the "niche" programs that they can successfully put online. Blended and hybrid environments are also becoming very popular with universities.
Herbert Brown III
Hello Herbert!
I do not believe that traditional classroom (aka "ground") learning will ever go away. There is a place for both the online and ground learning environments.
Individuals learn in different ways. While some students prefer the convenience of online degree programs, others benefit more from being in a physical space with their professor and classmates. Some folks even like the concept of hybrid learning; a degree program with classes in a ground dynamic and others online. Hybrid programs can benefit someone who really prefers a traditional classroom but offers some flexibility with optional online classes within their program (can be helpful in order to work around family or work scheduling conflicts).
Thank you for the opportunity to share my feedback, Denese Downing Phillips
Denese,
Blended and hybrid learning environments are growing rapidly in popularity because of the power of online tools being used in traditional learning environments. I think we will see most learning environments go to at least a hybrid model to benefit from the useful online tools.
Herbert Brown III
EL 102 Forum 2
The cost of tuition and cost of living are skyrocketing. Is the easy answer yes to online education, yes. But, there are social and economic aspects to the questions that can’t be omitted. The question is basic but this could be part of a dissertation or book. In more feminine, low power distance countries, education will easily transition to online. The opposite is true for high power distance cultures, the haves and have nots, the gaps will widen and education will be for only the wealthy and the trades will increase but not at the current cost of for profit institutions. This is the idea of capitalism, is it not?
EL 102 Forum 2
The cost of tuition and cost of living are skyrocketing. Is the easy answer yes to online education, yes. But, there are social and economic aspects to the questions that can’t be omitted. The question is basic but this could be part of a dissertation or book. In more feminine, low power distance countries, education will easily transition to online. The opposite is true for high power distance cultures, the haves and have nots, the gaps will widen and education will be for only the wealthy and the trades will increase but not at the current cost of for profit institutions. This is the idea of capitalism, is it not?
Daniel,
Interesting perspective. I would agree with much of what you mention. There are pros and cons of online delivery. However, the research does show that clearly Online is still growing as well as web hybrid or blended classrooms. I personally do not believe that online will completely replace traditional; however, we will continue to see growth in the areas most easily transferred to online environments.
Herbert Brown III
I think that online learning will eventually replace the traditional classroom as technology has made this possible. The traditional classroom is great, however, today's students want the technology. They are very savvy with it and want to incorporate it into everything they do. Students like short bursts of information and they want it quickly. Sitting in a traditional classroom for an hour is boring to students and they quickly become disinterested.
Jeannine Wieland
Jeannine,
Online learning is still growing and blended/hybrid learning environments are growing rapidly as well. I am not sure online will completely replace traditional learning, as I would not want a surgeon working on be that did only "virtual" surgeries; however, blending the online content with hands on skills development will continue to be a norm and will grow in skills-based career pathways.
Herbert Brown III
I think will is incorrect word. I would say Online has replaced traditional classroom delivery. Some of the largest for-profit universities together have several 100 thousand students. Public universities have added online or hybrid classes.
I taught for 9 years in F2F classrooms and said I would never teach online or distant learning classes. Well, not I teach 100% FT at one university (9 yrs) and PT a hybrid class at another college (4 yrs). In addition, I designed and taught a 4 hr online class for a non-profit organization.
Now, I am not totally saying online classes will replace ALL traditional classrooms. Would you like your Doctor to perform heart surgery on you who has never seen a live heart or person, and received all his/her training Online? I don't think so!
There are some professions that will require hands-on training. You can build a car with rebots for example, but can it replace your water pump? Or do you need a machanic? It might! I also realise some surgery now is done by robots, but by a person operating the robot. You need some hands-on training.
Would you want to fly in a commercial airplane where the pilot learned to fly from online classes or simulations?
You may think I'm getting off the subject, but my point is in my opinion computers cannot replace man who has to have hands-on training in some disciplines.
But will Online classes outnumber and replace many traditional classes? Yes, because we can serve more students online than in the F2F classroom, asynchronous lectures are more convenient, and the student can learn at his/hers owm pace.
Technology like YourTube, Adobe Breeze (etc), videos, computers, internet, search engines like Google and Bing, and others will all get better and faster. You can now Google instructions for just about any topic.
Bill Falls
Hello Mr. Brown,
I don't think online learning will take place of traditional learning because we have students with different needs. Online learning is not designed for all student populations. While I love the online platform, many of my friends do not.
Catina
No, I do not agree with this statement. I do believe that more and more traditional classes will be offered online at traditional colleges and universities. The transition to an online learning platform may depend upon the subject as well. For business classes, it is relatively easy to teach online. For math and science classes, it may not be as easy.
Catina,
I agree, but online learning is still growing rapidly. Blended and hybrid learning environments are also growing rapidly as faculty realize the power of the online learning tools that can be used in any environment.
Herbert Brown III
I agree it will replace classroom for some courses.
However,there are many other courses that require hands on and online learning can not replace it.
Amgad,
We are certainly seeing a continued strong push in online learning, but the other area of strong growth is the blended or hybrid models where completely online may not work. It allows you to offer as much content as possible through online mechanisms while still maintaining an in-person presence for the critical and necessary hands-on elements of a course.
Herbert Brown III
I don't think online learning will every completely replace traditional classroom instruction because students will always crave (and need) face-to-face interaction and hands-on experience. In the field I work in (Audio Engineering), there are certain things that simply can't be demonstrated fully online– operating a mixing board, studio experience, etc. However, there are many aspects of the audio industry (beat making, music production, sound design) that can be taught quite effectively "in-the-box."
I do not think online learning will replace traditional classrooms. Online learning is another option for students to learn and continue their education. I teach both traditional and online settings. Many students prefer to go to a traditional setting to view their instructor and to interact with their classmates. However some of these "traditional" students may have one vitural class per term.
Online learning is an option but will never replace the traditional classroom experience.
