Chapter 1: The Wired Classroom
"Nothing endures but change." — Heraclitus
First, in the online learning community there are no physical classrooms. In other words, your studying will be done entirely from your home, your office, an airplane, or anywhere else your travels take you. That is one of the tremendous advantages online learning provides students; that is, flexibility. You are in complete control of your schedule. For example, morning people can focus on their homework in the morning while the night owls can do their work late at night. It’s really all up to you.
Reading comprehension is a must
Another noticeable difference is that your learning comes mainly by reading. You will still have lectures, but you will download and read the lectures. While voice technology might change this in the future, today reading comprehension is a critical skill you must master. I recommend you download and print all the course materials. Next, read them. You will be surprised at how many students never read the course syllabus. I know that is true because I often receive emails asking for clarification on class admin issues or assignments that are specifically explained in the syllabus.
Facilitators become a bit frustrated when students do not read the important materials posted on the class website. But I am confident your approach will be different in that you are going to be fully prepared, and you will do that by making sure you keep up with all the readings.
Online classroom platforms
Recognizing the potential of the online learning environment has resulted in better platforms for the virtual learning community. “Software developers claim the online classrooms they create will dominate the market because they have the technical know-how to create a comfortable interface for students and professors to meet together online” (Howd, 2000). Some of the popular platforms include Blackboard, eCollege, and WebCT. Those vendors are listening to the feedback of the growing number of clients and customizing the product and service to meet the changing demands.
Despite the many bells-and-whistles provided by some of the vendors, most adult learners are interested in platforms that are reliable and allow the student the opportunity to maximize the online learning experience. I refer to this as “Contact Experience.” More specifically, this defines the time when we use the online platform for the following reasons: (a) reading and downloading assignments; (b) reading discussion questions; (c) posting responses to the discussion questions; (d) using the built-in chat service; and (e) taking online quizzes or exams. The key for online students is to have a high-speed connection to the Web and learn the quickest ways to navigate within the platform. That practice alone will increase efficiency dramatically and simultaneously lower the frustration and anxiety levels.
Your home learning office
Since you are no longer going to a traditional campus for your education, you must have a place to study. I recommend that you create a Home Learning Office. We’ve all heard of home offices for individuals who work out of their homes. The approach I recommend here is the same; this is a private place in your home where you can focus on getting your homework done. Since you will communicate with the facilitator and fellow students via the Internet, it is advisable that you have a computer and fast-connection to the Internet. I still have some students who use a dial-up connection. My recommendation is that you invest a few more dollars and get a high-speed Internet connection. The time saved will easily justify the expense. I’ve had some students get so frustrated with a slow connection that they fail to submit work on time.
In your Home Learning Office you will have a computer and other resources that help you maximize your study time. That, of course, includes your textbooks, grammar books, office supplies, and telephone. What I am proposing here is to take your student work seriously. This is a tremendous commitment, and you must put in an effort that matches that importance. If you take your online learning lightly, your grade will be a reflection of that (lack of) commitment.
The online advantage
One of the powerful advantages to online learning is the immediacy of receiving feedback from the facilitator. A critical success factor stressed during facilitator training is providing constant and quick feedback to students. Dr. Jama Bradley, Director of Faculty Recruitment and Training at DeVry University Online, understands that providing meaningful and precise feedback creates a powerful learning environment: “They don't have to wait ‘till the next class session’ to get an answer, express an idea or draw everyone's attention to a recent event that mirrors what we are studying.”
Another great aspect of online learning is that it inherently takes advantage of the enormous resources provided by the Internet. For example, many facilitators provide discussion questions focusing on current events. With just a click of a hyperlink, the students immediately have tremendous resources readily available. “They do not have to trudge several blocks to the library, search the shelves or find that someone else who has the materials at the moment,” says Dr. Bradley. “Learning and access to resources becomes real time!”
The “real time” effect is an undeniable advantage of online learning. Many of the online Web platforms include an electronic grade book. Once an assignment is graded, the facilitator provides feedback to the student and assigns a grade, which the student can view at once. Top notch facilitators provide immediate and specific feedback to students. Dr. Bradley notes that the grade calculation tool is an excellent resource for students, as they can determine exactly where they stand at any time during the class. In other words, when the final grade is assigned, the student is never surprised.
Key Points …
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Your success as an online learner is largely dependent on your ability to capture what you read.
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Take the time to practice and become an expert with the online class platform used by your college.
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Create your Home Learning Center and insist that others honor your need for privacy.
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A huge benefit of online learning is the real-time and specific feedback provided by the facilitator.
