College Crunch

With the increasing rate of students choosing to complete courses for their degree programs through the internet in lieu of traditional classroom settings, researchers have taken an interest in the process and begun to analyze certain aspects of online learning. Among the factors researchers have evaluated include the student-peer relationship and the effectiveness of online teaching. Researchers, educators and students alike want to know for certain whether online learning is as effective as traditional teaching methods; whether students obtain and retain the same amount of knowledge and skills as those who learn in the classroom environments. The findings of these investigations have revealed promising, even astonishing, results.

The format of online courses can vary substantially. The type of learning system used by the college can affect the format of the courses. One popular learning system is Blackboard; a virtual classroom considered a leader in the area of distance learning. The learning systems used often determine how the course materials are presented and accessed and the type of tools available to students. Blackboard offers an online tutoring system labeled smarthinking, conference tools and voice tools. Other learning management systems may offer similar tools or a variety of others. Some provide live classroom where students will adhere to a synchronous schedule or just recorded lectures permitting asynchronous scheduling. Harvard uses a streaming video technology and standard internet browser software for their online courses.

Classes taken online are actually very similar to those attended in actual classrooms. The live classroom allows students to listen to the instructor teach the content live. Students have the opportunity to ask questions during the lecture and to participate in classroom discussions, just as they would in a brick and mortar classroom. Courses presented to students in prerecorded lecture format do not allow for live questions and discussions at the time the information is being viewed. But students are able to interact with their instructors and classmates through discussion boards and emails. The streaming video is basically a recording which is sent to you as you are viewing it. You do not download it to the computer; instead it is compressed so it is not a full size image but should not have any pauses while you are watching. Harvard University offers the opportunity to watch a course video so that individuals can have the opportunity to experience a portion of what taking an online course might be like. You can either try them out by downloading to your computer or iPod at iTunes U, Harvard Extension School. Or you can watch one of several lectures offered at: http://cm.dce.harvard.edu/2009/01/13227/L01/ or
http://cm.dce.harvard.edu/2009/02/22883/L01/ or http://cm.dce.harvard.edu/2009/01/13075/L01/

Course material is presented online; assigned usually weekly. Students are expected to complete assigned reading and other assignments and projects in the same manner as traditional students so they are prepared for their next class. Group projects are sometimes assigned. Students are able to collaborate with their fellow students through various virtual means; email, discussion boards. Completed work is expected to be turned in to the instructor, sometimes by uploading the assignment files, by the assigned due date. Tests and quizzes are completed online. Students are allotted a specific amount of time in which they are expected to complete the exam. The workload for online students is comparable to traditional students.

Researchers have found that students who complete courses or entire degree programs online garner the same benefits, if not more, than traditional students. Online learners have to control their own educational experience. Traditional students are expected to attend scheduled classes, complete assignments and tests. Online students are expected to do the same but must independently manage their course requirements. The additional flexibility requires online students to autonomously manage all of their course assignments and attendance without the ‘presence’ of an instructor to monitor their progress. This generally has a motivating effect. Online students are usually self motivated and have been reported to attain and retain more knowledge than their traditional counterparts. And the online student peers develop a more intimate relationship than enjoyed by those who attend physical classes together.

Though there are many perceived differences in courses completed online versus those completed in a traditional classroom environment, the experience is actually very similar. Online students attend class lectures, only it is done through the computer instead of in person. Online students must complete assignments and adhere to due dates just like traditional students. Online students have the advantage of their coursework and lecture material already being recorded for them instead of having to hand-write it out while in the classroom; risking losing, missing, or incorrectly recording information. Tests and exams must be finished within a specifically allotted period of time. And class discussions are common both in the traditional classroom setting and with online conferencing. If you are considering taking an online course or completing a degree program online, you can check out many of the college’s websites to take a free online course or navigate a demo of one. Carnegie Mellon is one of many colleges which offer free online courses. Take advantage of the opportunity to experience it first hand by trying it out.