Ways Online Courses have Revolutionized Education
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Online Courses have Revolutionized Education
- Introduction
In the recent past, there has been a proliferation of universities and colleges offering online classes. The growth of internet technology and the convenience and affordability associated with online learning has been cited as the main factor behind the increase in people taking online classes. This essay explores the various perspectives surrounding online classes. In particular, the benefits and pitfalls of online courses are discussed.
- Thesis
Online classes for college are revolutionizing education and enhancing the quality of learning because of the following factors:
- Online classes provide convenience that cannot be given by the brick and mortar establishments
- Online classes are more affordable than courses offered by brick and mortar establishments
- Online classes improve accessibility to education more than traditional learning establishments
- Online courses are more flexible than the traditional courses
- The quality of education provided by online classes is of a higher quality
- Online courses enable people from underprivileged societies to access high quality education more than the traditional classes
- Online courses reduce the strain on physical facilities and help more people to learn at the same time.
Theme 1: Online classes provide convenience that cannot be given by the brick and mortar establishments
Online courses provide more convenient learning than traditional classes. The barrier of geographical distance is eliminated and students need not travel to learn. Students in far away countries can get quality education in more advanced institutions located elsewhere without having to leave their countries or towns (Arlene 1; Carla 1). Additionally, lessons can be taken at one’s own time and place. This is convenient for employed people who find it hard to get time to attend brick- and- mortar school. With online classes also, there are no hassles of commuting and beating the traffic jams. Online courses make it possible to multitask and the student can learn while doing something else (Walcoff 1).
However, opponents of online courses opine that this mode of learning makes students lonely, as there is very little one-on-one interaction with the faculty and fellow students. This can hamper learning especially for courses that are best learnt in groups or where physical interaction aids the learning process (Arlene 1). It is argued by others that brick and mortar establishments are highly impersonal based on their sizes and the population of students and faculty. They opine that online classes are more personalized and enhance greater interaction between students and faculty. Their argument is premised on the tools and gadgets present in many websites that facilitate greater communication among students and between students and faculty (Karen 1).
Theme 2: Online classes are more affordable
Unlike the traditional courses, online courses are more affordable as travel costs are reduced or eliminated (Larry 1) and tuition fees are lower. There is no need to cater for accommodation fees as one can learn from home. Additionally, fees levied do not include building fees (Carla 1). All these make online courses more affordable but the affordability has been questioned. In many societies in the less developed nations, internet penetration is not only very low but also expensive. Access to learning materials such as computers and subscription to online libraries and bookstores is costly. The high costs associated with online classes in such societies further pushes them away from the education sector and runs counter to the argument about online classes being more affordable.
Theme 3: Online classes improve accessibility to education
Accessibility is one of the main strengths of online courses. Online courses are accessible to populations that find it hard to spare time to attend college. This is especially true for people with full time jobs and families who want to learn (Arlene 1; Larry 1). A counter argument to the accessibility of online courses is that in many societies in the less developed nations, internet penetration is very low and this makes it hard for people living in such societies to access online courses. Additionally, internet speeds are low and interactive classes cannot be conducted, as it is impossible to stream live some bandwidth-intensive courses. Moreover, many places do not have electricity or where electricity is available; its supply is often erratic and characterized by frequent power blackouts. This observation negates the argument about the capacity of online courses to make learning more accessible to marginalized people. Many people especially from underprivileged societies are not computer literate, which bars them from accessing online courses.
Theme 4: Online courses are more flexible
Online courses are more flexible as they provide learners with the freedom to learn at their own pace and time. This flexibility is important for some learners as it helps them to understand concepts quickly and gain a deeper understanding of issues more than they would if they were to sit in a formal classroom. Students benefit from the immediacy of feedback from the lecturers as well as the highly interactive sessions. A different perspective on this issue is that online courses lack the discipline that is associated with formal classes. Students taking online classes are more prone to copying and this informality can be highly destructive. Online courses are inappropriate for students who are not self-motivated, those with poor study habits as well as those without self-discipline (Arlene 1). Finally, the flexibility of online courses makes it hard for students to get personalized learning and this is a minus (Carla 1).
Theme 5: The quality of education provided by online classes is of a higher quality
Many people worry that online classes have compromised the quality of education being provided. They contend that the education provided in brick and mortar establishments is much higher than that provided online. The quality of online education is further reinforced by the lack of accreditation of many online colleges (Mike 1). Additionally, online classes are associated with very poor completion rates. According to some findings, only 4% of those who take online classes actually complete them. Many students drop off after one or two weeks while nearly 50% of students view at least one lecture (Carla 1).
Theme 6: Online courses enable people from underprivileged societies to access high quality education
People from underprivileged societies such as those living in the third world are able to get an education that is of high quality just as their counterparts from the developed or well-endowed countries receive. This helps to narrow down the disparities in education between the rich and poor countries and is a veritable catalyst for development of human skills and economic growth in poor societies. However, the usefulness of online classes in helping bridge education disparities and skills in less developed countries has been called into question. According to a study by researchers at the Penn Graduate School of Education, a large number of students enrolled in online courses are people who hold college degrees and are pursuing online courses for purposes of career development. This means that very few of those taking online courses are from underprivileged societies hence the classes are not as useful as thought with regard to the development of human skills in underdeveloped societies (Krosky 1).
Theme 7: Online courses reduce the strain on physical facilities
Universities all across America are facing the challenges of increased demand for education yet the available facilities are not enough to cater for everyone. This has led to overcrowding in higher institutions of learning. An example of such overcrowding has occurred in universities and colleges in California. Online classes are beneficial because they help enroll many students at the same time without causing a strain on the physical facilities that are available (Carla 1). Thus, online classes can help address the challenges of inadequate physical facilities and high education demand (Kokemuller 1).