Description of Online Learning from the English Department
Online courses differ considerably from courses taken in the traditional
classroom. While the student is responsible for learning in both instances,
in the classroom situation the teacher has a much more active role. That role
is reversed in the online class, where the student becomes almost totally responsible
for the learning which takes place. The teacher in the online situation becomes
more of a “facilitator,” that is, the teacher selects the materials
to present in the course (reading material, virtual lessons, virtual handouts,
PowerPoint presentations, even audio or visual files), and from that point
on it is completely up to the student to maintain the schedule of activities,
read all of the course postings, and do all of the assignments. There is no
teacher to meet with two or three times a week during the semester, so if a
student has a question, it is the sole responsibility of the student to ask
for assistance. It’s very difficult for a teacher in a classroom situation
to tell when a student needs help, but in an online situation it is impossible.
Aside from being a facilitator, the teacher is also an “evaluator.” In this case, the role is much the same for the teacher in either situation, but for the student—again—in the online class he or she must assume the responsibility for gaining feedback. Assignments are often graded electronically and grades are posted, sometimes with little or no comment from the instructor. If the student is paying attention, quite often questions will arise that will need to be addressed with the instructor, but it is the student who must initiate the discussion.
Reading is probably the single most important aspect of the online class. Some of the lessons in a class may be audio files, some may be visual/video files, and some may be PowerPoint presentations, but the vast majority of the learning material will come to the student in the form of reading assignments. Online students need to be careful, critical, and accurate readers. In addition to reading all of the assignments, online students also need to be sure that they read everything connected with the course. Almost all online courses have message boards which frequently carry messages from the instructor. If an assignment is changed or an addition or deletion is made in an assignment, the changes will be delivered to the student via the message board, or occasionally vie email or both. It is important to check the online course at least once a day. It is equally important to read all of the peripheral material that the instructor posts to the online course. In a typical online class, such peripheral material might consist of a syllabus, a list of assignments, a grading policy statement, notes about submitting assignments, directions for emailing questions or information, frequently asked questions, and the list goes on and on, all important information that needs to be assimilated by the student.
The emphasis in online learning is on the role of the student. Once the instructor has selected the material to be studied and the practical assignments to go with it, there is no way for him or her to know if the student is understanding the material or having difficulty until the assignment arrives for assessment. By that time, if the student has been having problems or if the student has not been able to maintain a proper pace, it will be too late for the instructor to help. So the burden of the learning process falls upon the student in the online situation.
Maintaining a schedule without being prompted, being able to read sophisticated material accurately and critically, and taking responsibility for one’s own learning are the hallmarks of a student who will be successful in an online class. It’s not an easy situation, but if mastered, the online class can free the student for extracurricular activities, internships, cooperative experiences, even jobs. Classes can be taken from dormitory rooms, apartments, homes, workplaces, libraries, virtually anywhere in the world. All one needs is a working computer and an Internet connection. With the right equipment, you could take a course from the deck of a sailboat off the coast of Belize! But regardless of where the course is received, the student is the part of the partnership who must shoulder the responsibility for making the experience successful.
Below are 7 questions dealing with taking online classes. If you answer YES to 4 or more of the questions, you are probably ready to take an online course.
- Do you have a working computer and Internet access? If you do not, are you willing to obtain them?
- Are you willing to commit at least the same amount of time (if not more time) to an online class as you would to a regular classroom class?
- Are you a self-motivated person who can manage your time effectively and efficiently?
- Are you able to read quickly, accurately, and critically? Are you able to sort out the writer’s points?
- Are you able to learn on your own, using written instructions?
- Do you feel comfortable communicating in writing?
- Are you comfortable seeking help when you need assistance in understanding something?