What’s the difference between online v on-ground class?
This may seem like a simple question with a simple
answer. Online classes you use a
computer and on ground you don't....that it?
Of course, there is more to it than that. Online course
delivery offers great advantages to students by providing flexible scheduling
of class activities. Online courses
allow us to use more of the resources that are available, to facilitate
collaboration with peers, and to assess students based on their abilities to
correctly and uniquely solve problems.
Rather than memorizing a specific skill, students can "learn how to
learn" and problem solve through practice in course activities.
Because the online environment does not provide the
"body language" feedback to the instructor, course designs should concentrate
on "over-explaining" (versus under-explaining) the policies,
expectations, learning goals, and methods by which a student will be assessed.
This is prime reason why we need to have superior written skills. This allows the students to be more
comfortable and reduce their amount of stress. One difficulty in the online
environment is determining if students are staying on-task, and another
difficulty is trying to avoid academic misconduct (primarily plagiarism and
"hired people" to take tests for students). The online environment also provides a much
greater opportunity for students to do collaborative work through discussion
tools, including peer evaluations of projects and writing and group project
activities. All of these benefits of the online environment come with the
expectation that students and instructor have a high degree of comfort with
technology and have ready access software and hardware required for course
activities.
Finally, the online environment provides much greater
success potential for students with accessibility issues. When course materials are well designed,
students who have vision, hearing, or mobility impairments will find it much
easier to be independent (not requiring translators or coordination with disability
services to arrange for special testing and conversion of course documents).
Information in online courses is electronic and can be made to work seamlessly
with assistive technologies for the blind (screen readers, movable Braille
devices, etc.), and students with hearing impairments can simply read the
lecture notes of the instructor (rather than having a need for a sign-language
interpreter for translating classroom lectures).
These are just a few of the key differences that between
online and on ground classes that are important to understand.
We will discuss these and many more topics in the members
videos.
Take a look at all of the Free
Videos that we offer that discuss how to teach online and online education!
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Thanks for your time my friend,
 |
Brian Robison, M.S. Next Level Educator www.nextleveleducator.com President Contact Me Now! Free Online Classes |
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