There has been plenty of negative news about distance learning, but it is unfair to judge distance learning based on what we have seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike students who choose at the beginning of a course, not all students had access to the technology needed to complete online coursework. Teachers, some of whom never had training in creating distance learning courses, had days to shift their physical classrooms to a digital space. Teachers also had to keep in mind the stress that their students may be feeling. Under these conditions, how could it be expected for students to continue to meet rigorous standards?
However, I have hope that there may be an increased interest in online classes now. There are many benefits to online courses that many students and teachers can benefit from when 1.) courses are designed intentionally 2.) it is the students choice (so it can be assumed that students will have the appropriate equipment to participate) and 3.) the stress of a pandemic is not looming over them.
I have never taught an online course, only taken them in both high school and college. After teaching in the classroom for 5 years, I decided that I wanted to make the jump to the virtual classroom. But I recognize that there are many things I need to learn before this shift can be made.
I found an editorial through my RSS feed, then looked it up through the FSU library because I needed full access. "Hybrid learning spaces- Design, data, didactics" by Cohen, A., Nørgård, R. T., & Mor, Y. Within, there are many links to articles and studies conducted that explore learning with technology. I have browsed through a couple, and it has done is show me how much there is to learn so that I can create a functional and efficient online course.
Take a look if you are interested! I have the citation below with the Journal
References:
Cohen, A., Nørgård, R. T., & Mor, Y. (2020). Hybrid learning spaces Design, data, didactics. British
Journal of Educational Technology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12964
Thank you for sharing! I will have to check this out. I agree that I found the current circumstances to be an unfair judge of what an online course can be and worry that the hasty conditions that brought everyone online may have left a sour taste in the mouths of students and instructors alike moving forward.
ReplyDeleteIn transferring from Indy to Florida in high school, I was required to take a few courses online via FLVS to get in all requirements within a normal timeline. I found myself enjoying the online classes so much more than those in classes. In subjects I enjoyed and had previous experience in, such as US history, I was able to complete an entire semester's work within only one month.
While I think businesses and employees have found they enjoy/are more productive/save so much time and money with remote work, I fear some in education will be more leery of this in the future. Will this will have any impact on how many K12 students today will enroll in an online or blended class later on?
Great post. I agree that comments about online school have to be taken in context. The recent pandemic put us in emergency distance learning, not just online learning. In most cases, students would choose to do online learning and would be prepared for it and have all the required elements to do it. That make a difference. Online classes are created with a purpose and centered around the learning in an online environment. I have taken online classes with FSU for 2 years now and have had a great experience. The school I work at, has created an online summer program that is similar and we are going to see if this is something we can use going forward to create a separate program and section of our already established school. I will be teaching online classes this summer for the program and I am excited to see how this works. Many people don't realize how much work goes into planning for online class though.
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