ONLINE Vs. REALITY: OPTIMIZING EXPECTATIONS IN EDUCATION.

Online Vs. Reality: Optimizing Expectations in Education 

One influence that has characterized today's world is the use of the  inter-connected networks popularly called the Internet.

This has caused a major shifts in daily activities.

Its development has spurred new and innovative ways of doing things across every sphere of life.

But despite these developments, there are some preference for physical interactions than an online platform.

Let's see the impact of this in the educational sphere.

The Online(Virtual) Environment

The Online(Virtual) environment is a learning experience with online tutors and a virtual classroom using online softwares applications/technologies.

It is used across various levels of learning.

 Some characteristics of Online Education includes...

1. Learner-centered and self-paced.

2. Time and location flexibility.

3. Cost-effective for learners.

4. Potential available to audience.

5. Unlimited access to knowledge.

6. Archival capability for knowledge reuse and sharing.

The Physical classroom on the other hand presents a more interactive learning experience for students. It is the place where teachers engage students, encourage participation from the entire class and expand on the thoughts and ideas raised by students. These interactions cannot really be experienced in a virtual classroom.

Compared.

Online or Offline, students learn in the context of their lives and students retention in digital learning is becoming more complex and challenging each day. 

The Offline Class environment presents opportunities of physical monitoring of students that cannot be achieved in a virtual class.

Whether we are talking about Massive Open, Online Courses (MOOC), distance learning amplifies the challenges of college education.

The result is that the opportunities of online education are often beyond the grasp of those who would benefit most.

While it might seem that online courses are a good way to knock off college prerequisites, a study, published about online learning shows that students in online introductory courses have the highest risks of dropping out.

Additional research indicates that non-traditional students, including older students returning to school after a multi- year absence are more likely to take online courses. The asynchronous nature of online courses is attractive to someone with work and family responsibilities.

In comparison of online and in-person classes, however online classes aren't as effective as in-person classes for most students.

In essence for a new education system, a blend of both online and in-person educational pattern should be considered for optimum delivery in impacted knowledge delivery.

Compiled by Lake Brienz, SPRING 3 LDH.
20th  June, 2020.