Online courses and classes have become increasingly popular for post-secondary students. But what are the pros and cons to this type of learning? It the most recent years, the want and the need for online courses and classes have increased for a number of reasons, and a number of benefits.
Sandra Neubauer is an E-Learning Coordinator at Fanshawe College and has a great deal of intelligence in this topic, and knows the benefits for students.
“I think students benefit in a lot of different ways. It sort of bridges a space and time gap for a lot of them. So, it may be mature students, working students, students that are a distance or live in far away places where they don’t have easy access to an education.”
Unfortunately, a problem many students have with online courses is how much reading it is, and not much else. What is trying to be done about this issue?
“I can say that in my experience here at Fanshawe, and as we evolve and become stronger in the way we offer online courses, we are actively training our professors and building in ways to make our courses a lot more interactive,” Neubauer explains.
And although there are positives to taking online classes and courses, that type of digital learning isn’t exactly for everyone. Such as Drew Tetley from Western University, who took an Environmental Science class online.
“I don’t like having readily resources available to me, I like to be able to interact with my instructors to understand what I can improve on and what I’m doing well on. Where online, you’re just given straightforward instructions to blindly follow, and for me that wasn’t really my learning style.”
Tetley added that it was difficult for her to discipline herself and do the work while at home. She says she would often forget about her assignments, since she wasn’t reminded during a classroom setting. But she said she had another issue with not being in a classroom with others.
“I go out of my way to try and make one interaction in every class so that you do get other people’s perspectives on the material that you’re learning, whereas I lacked that through a computer screen.”
Whether you decide to take a class or course online, or in an actual classroom or lecture hall setting, it really ends up winding down to your personal learning style, what fits into your schedule, and if you’re able to discipline yourself into doing the work.
