Online education has made learning more engaging, interactive, accessible and affordable. It is perhaps for these reasons that many learners from around the globe are now opting to study online, instead of traditional classroom learning. Although online learning offers several benefits to the learners, but there is a learning curve and attaining efficiency is an ongoing process.
Providing Enhanced Learning Opportunities
It is imperative that our students stay in the educational system in order to make sure that everyone can access education that will enhance their effectiveness in today’s competitive world. Moreover, after primary and secondary education students need to worry about rising tuitions and growing student debt if they wish to pursue higher education. This requires that we seriously consider how to deliver and offer better learning opportunities for our students, especially regarding web-based learning.
Is Traditional Learning Better?
According to a recent study by researcher Lamont A. Flowers of Clemson University, in-class science courses apparently provided better learning gains to students than science courses offered by online distance learning. The findings of the study, which reveal growing interest of students in traditional learning, were published in the latest issue of Black History Bulletin. Remarkably, African-American learners pursuing traditional science courses claimed higher learning gains as compared to students pursuing online science courses.
The objective of the research was to evaluate the impact of online learning and discover the perceived learning outcomes of African-American students in science courses. The study was sponsored by a donation from the National Science Foundation, offered to Clemson University by Fayetteville State University.
The lead author of the study, Lamont A. Flowers, said, “Given the dramatic shift in the way that many postsecondary institutions now offer educational programs to students, it is imperative that we examine the effects of online distance-education programs on student outcomes.” Prof Flowers is the Executive Director of the Charles H. Houston Center for the Study of the Black Experience in
Education at Clemson.
Cognitive Effects of Online Education
The researchers claimed that the growth of online courses in mathematics, engineering, technology and science disciplines creates challenge for the higher study community to analyse the efficiency of online distance courses on the learning outcomes of students. Flowers added “It is imperative that researchers continue to conduct studies that employ rigorous procedures to examine the cognitive effects and educational impact of online distance education experiences institutional types, including historically black colleges and universities.”
The study accepts that teaching online involves more than just delivering study materials to learners digitally and performing virtual sessions. However the researchers suggest that online educators “may need to incorporate innovative instructional designs that enhance student-faculty interaction in online courses.”
Flowers further commented “The statistical results indicate that faculty should develop strategies to ensure that online courses provide similar learning gains as traditional face-to-face courses by utilizing instructional approaches and educational technologies to strengthen online distance education.”
The study suggests that online students have as much to learn from these courses as the educators have to learn about teaching in a digital environment. The key to learning successfully online is proper communication and incessant exchange of ideas between students and faculty.
What do you think about online education? Would you prefer digital learning or would you stick with traditional methods? Feel free to share your opinions, views and concerns. We would love to hear from you.
