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[amcs925]

I've had a significant degree of experience in distance education, and I've found that while technology is a major paradigm shift in instruction, and they do require new skills for both the instructor and the student, the quality of the course and the degree to which students achieve the learning objectives is increased in the online environment due to a variety of factors. Online courses shift the focus from teacher-centered to learner-centered, but the quality overall can be maintained. Thoughts?

Definitely!  I don't think online programs are well-suited for the traditional undergrad--they need to have that face-time with their instructors, learn social skills, presentation skills, public speaking, that you simply can't replace with online instruction.  I think a hybrid course or two would work for this group, though, in order to give them experience with the medium.  IMO, fully online courses are most effective for the adult learner (undergrad or grad) and graduate programs.

Yes and yes.  The fact is there will always be a need for face to face learning.  Distance education is not for everyone, although it works well for many, like myself.  Students who are not self-motivators and good at time management will inevitably have a tough time with a DL class and will prefer an in-class scenario.

[edl1680]

I have to agree that face-to-face will never go away - and it shouldn't.  The human touch is an important aspect of learning and no matter how hard we try, it does not replace being f-2-f whether it is learning or visiting.

I video conference with my granddaughter in Alaska.  You better believe if I had a choice, I would be f-2-f.  I think that 1-2-1, f-2-f is perfect but it isn't always realistic.

[daurousseau]

I have to agree that face-to-face will never go away - and it shouldn't.  The human touch is an important aspect of learning and no matter how hard we try, it does not replace being f-2-f whether it is learning or visiting.

I video conference with my granddaughter in Alaska.  You better believe if I had a choice, I would be f-2-f.  I think that 1-2-1, f-2-f is perfect but it isn't always realistic.

Can we take it for granted that because something is useful, important, and needed that it won't go away? Education is provided by administrative units, whether public or private. Unless we individually or collectively control education then we don't know where it is headed. Schools today run along business principles--cost-benefit assessment, where the benefits have nothing to do with the people taught. (And nevermind that the culture of self-assessment was itself only a fad in business, with a track record of abysmal failure in key industries, e.g. auto.) Education is all about power and control; online education is easier to monitor than face-to-face learning.

[lindakrzy]

I think we can take for granted that somethign that is useful, important and needed will continue - until something is created that is more useful, easier to use, more important, has more perceived value added, or satisfies the need in a better way.  So the question is, is this happening to education today and is distance learning adding value to F-2-F or is it perceived as providing better/more value than F-2-F instruction? 

[edl1680]

So the question is, is this happening to education today and is distance learning adding value to F-2-F or is it perceived as providing better/more value than F-2-F instruction? 

I think each of the two options F-2-F and online have some advantages and disadvantages and it depends on why you are taking a course a certain way.  Is one means the only way a course is offered?  Is the motivating force behind taking the course convenience?  Are you one who prefers one means over the other because of the speed at which you learn?  Is there a kinesthetic aspect that requires F-2-F interaction?  Perhaps blended (hybrid )learning would be a better way to offer some courses than offered as 100% online.  The value added is in the eyes of the student. 

[cms12]

I agree, with the idea of constructivism how have face to face learning not be part of a well rounded education?  I understand constrictivism can be use in on-line courses but I question if it as effective in that environment? 

[dpch292]

Perhaps blended (hybrid )learning would be a better way to offer some courses than offered as 100% on line.  The value added is in the eyes of the student. 

Are there any examples of this "hybrid learning" that come to mind? Perhaps more on line studying tools for existing classroom content versus entire on line courses are the way to go?

[zharkov]

Do many high schools have online courses offered to  give students online experience and ready them for online courses in college?  I am not talking about students in high school taking college level courses.  I am talking about high school students taking high school courses from their own or other high schools?

Some states have online public high schools.  Students can either go 100 pct online or just take selected courses. (Example: an AP course not offered in a small HS.)

Most HS students don't take online classes in 2008, but thousands of school systems use Moodle and similar systems, so students are at least becoming familiar with some components of online learning.  I expect a dramatic increase in 5-10 years in online HS learning.

[maries]

Who says online learning is better than face to face?  I have read research to the contrary.  I've also taken a lot of online courses.  IMHO, they suck.

[king_ghidorah]

An awful lot of very new posters weighing in - I have seen this phenomenon commented on before by elder, wiser forumits - are we in the midst of a spam-storm?

I know virtually nothing about on-line teaching myself, but I did have a number of students (at a business school) who took on-line courses and were extremely disgruntled about the experience.  And I knew an exclusively on-line instructor at the CC where I taught who was, herself, extremely disgruntled about the pay (which depended on the number of students enrolled) and the amount of work involved for which she felt she was not adequately compensated.  Her take was that on-line was a cash-cow and she was the sacrifice to the Cow God of On-Line Teaching.

It's coming, of course, and eventually the computers will simply take over.  Personally, I'm looking forward to this stage of civilization.

[larryc]

Who says online learning is better than face to face?  I have read research to the contrary.

Citation, please?

[maries]

Who says online learning is better than face to face?  I have read research to the contrary.

Citation, please?

I notice neither you nor anyone else asked the original poster for any kind of citation, nor even questioned the original assumption that online learning is better than face to face.  Most of this thread looks suspiciously like an ad for the University of Phoenix. 

Sorry larryc, but I don't have a rolodex of handy citations for everything I've ever read.  I'm sure you have the skills to come up with your own citation, if you're interested enough. 

As for the post above larryc's, I'm not convinced that spending a significant part of one's free time (or perhaps time when one should be researching or writing) qualifies a forumite as either "elder" or "wiser."

[larryc]

OK, I found an article:

How Does Distance Education Compare With Classroom Instruction? A Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Literature
Robert M. Bernard and Philip C. Abrami, Concordia University

Yiping Lou, Louisiana State University

Evgueni Borokhovski, Anne Wade, Lori Wozney, Peter Andrew Wallet and Manon Fiset, Concordia University

Binru Huang, Louisiana State University

Abstract: A meta-analysis of the comparative distance education (DE) literature between 1985 and 2002 was conducted. In total, 232 studies containing 688 independent achievement, attitude, and retention outcomes were analyzed. Overall results indicated effect sizes of essentially zero on all three measures and wide variability. This suggests that many applications of DE outperform their classroom counterparts and that many perform more poorly.

http://intl-rer.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/74/3/379

Underlining mine. I have served on the distance learning committee at my school for a decade, taught a few thousand students online, and read a ton of literature on the topic. And the finding that online education is equal (not superior, equal) to classroom instruction is so thoroughly documented in the literature that I was quite surprised to find someone saying that there were studies to the contrary.

[moonmoon]

i have not tried to learn online.

[king_ghidorah]

I'm not convinced that spending a significant part of one's free time (or perhaps time when one should be researching or writing) qualifies a forumite as either "elder" or "wiser."

Actually, it does.  I've read about it online.  Can't quite remember the citation, however...but that may just be the dain bramage ...