Hearing the term “on-line student” often conjures up images of anti-social shrinking violet hermits holed up alone in their darkened studio apartments lit only by their monitor’s dim light as they “attend classes” in complete solitude. Those Bo-Radley types couldn’t cut in interactive classrooms with lively discussions where they’d actually have to interact with their classmates, we reason.
Not so, say both teachers who have lead on-line classes and students who have attended them. Rather, both say there are many opportunities for students to interact with the teachers, as well as other students.
Many on-line classes compensate for the lack of live interaction between students by requiring them to post their thoughts on the class on discussion boards set up by the teacher. These requirements actually make it more difficult for students to “hide” than traditional bricks-and-mortar schools where a shy student can sit unnoticed in the back of the classroom.
The course’s instructors disseminate the “lectures” to students in a variety of ways. Some may provide simulcasts of the lecture. Others may offer recorded class seasons available on the web. More commonly, teachers will upload their lecture notes and study aides on the web.
However the student views the lecture on the site, the teacher will always be available for follow-up questions. Often times, the learner can e-mail the instructor, and the teacher replies back with the answer. Others keep regular office hours where they can be reached over the phone to answer questions.
Some programs even feature group projects where students bridge the gaps of geography by using the web or teleconferencing to work collaboratively. This approach enables students in New York, Bismarck, North Dakota and Los Angeles to work together on the same project.
Rather than being isolating, taking an on-line course can connect you to people you wouldn’t meet in a traditional classroom.
By David Plowman