Myths and Facts About Learning Online (continued)
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: School and Academics, Children and the Internet, Parent's Guide to Understanding the Internet
Myth: There are no support systems for online learners.
Fact: Not necessarily. Online schools vary, but often they have virtual incarnations of the same resources that traditional schools have, such as labs, tutors, and libraries.
Online classrooms provide a level of interaction and give-and-take that is not always possible in a traditional classroom. Both the breadth and the depth of student engagement can be increased.
In terms of breadth, it is common for all students in the class to see each other’s assignments. That can be a little hard to accept at first and you may feel intimidated, but keep in mind, the other students feel the same way!
In terms of depth, there is greater time and opportunity to review the work of others, as well as your own thoughts. You will have time to really review one another’s messages and assignments because these will be posted and remain in the newsgroups for the duration of the class. This differs from the need to respond immediately that is typical of face-to-face classroom discussions. Assuming it is not a scheduled discussion, an online student who needs time to process information can read the material, go for a walk while formulating a response, and then return and respond.
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© 2009, Prentice Hall, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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