The connections within an online community can be rather daunting at first if one has not experienced the power of learning online. Many students are fearful of the unknown and entering the realm of a virtual community shatters their ideas of traditional learning. Others won't even make the attempt because they are certain that learning cannot be accomplished. Well, to those who do not believe I say "to believe is to succeed."
I entered the realm of online learning seven years ago thinking that it would be easy and convenient. Convenient, yes - easy, no way! For me it is the most convenient way of learning without having to waste time traveling, being away from my family and especially not driving during a snow storm in the middle of the night. The easy part just never happened. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to spend most of my time reading, discussing and writing. In my first class I actually missed a deadline for a test. My instructor took pity on me because it was my first class of any kind in over 30 years and allowed me to make it up. I was really lucky that time.
If anyone had told me seven years ago how exciting the journey was going to be I don't think that I would have believed them. I don't get to be in just a class with local people. I meet people from all over the world with a passion for learning and achieving the goals they have established for themselves. Online learning is nothing to take lightly. It is an amazing process that opens up new information, idea sharing and a community that works to help each other. I have yet to meet anyone that has been disrespectful. Quite the contrary there is a respect shared between all of the online learning community; between teachers and students that cannot be compared to anything else.
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Great points Arleen,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first set of classes I have ever taken online and I am still getting into the groove of how everything works. As each session progresses I feel myself getting more and more comfortable. As far as communication it seems students are able to have deeper conversations than the typical school atmosphere. For one, it is very difficult to interrupt someone! Which in my opinion the opposite of talking seems to be --getting ready to interupt to tell someone what one feels they should know--not what it should be, which we all know is listening. Common courtesy seems to go further when typing to each other verses conversations between classroom walks. I also agree with you in that I can do my school work while my children are sitting at the table doing theirs. What a great motivating tool for them and me! They get to see dad studying even though he has a fulltime job. I think it promotes lifelong learning for our families as well. Great post Arleen. Shawn Avery
Like you Arleen, I've had the opportunity to experience learning in a traditional sense as well as on-line, and I have to say I enjoy the on-line format much more. On-line one is able to express oneself at a much deeper level, and as Shawn stated, without interruption. One isn’t restricted by the guidelines of the traditional classroom, and you’re actually given the time to conceptualize the subject matter. It’s a wonderful format that has only begun to scratch the surface of its potential.
ReplyDeleteYour comments really touched a chord with me. I love your line "to believe is to succeed." I was terrified when I began my first online course. But with the encouragement of my family, I began to believe and did succeed. Thank you for your insight.
ReplyDeleteHi TifsGrndma!
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people take online classes thinking the same thing you were thinking at the beginning, that it would be easy and convenient, only to find what you did, that it may save time commuting back and forth to class in, at times, inclement weather, and being at home doing the work instead of being in a classroom that may be too cold or too stuffy. But the workload is almost always much more than what you would find in a face-to-face class.
I think some online instructors feel that they need to design the class to be harder to legitimize the courses, to ensure that students will not view them as a way to avoid doing the work of an on-campus class. But I think that online coursework should have just as much rigor as coursework in a traditional class, not more or less. In fact, learning how to navigate the online environment alone can add a level of difficulty on its own.
I agree with you, however, about the advantage of being in classes with a diverse group of people from, sometimes, all over the world. And my experience has also been that the students’ approach to their classmates has always been helpful and respectful.
Jim
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIt is great that the online journey has been so exciting for you. I am fairly new to the online learning environment but I have watched two of my daughters during the process of taking online classes. One of them absolutely loves the environment while my second daughter strongly dislikes the environment. It appears that it has to do with their personalities and styles of learning. Both daughters express, as you do, that it has been wonderful meeting people from all over the world.