Critique: The excellent Inevitability of online course

Name: Ximena Escobar

On-line classes provide a new perspective on contemporary education.
On-line classes have increased in recent decades, but formal institutions have not been easy to
decide how to incorporate the online courses modality to their specific process which include
missions and vision, admission etc. In the article “The Excellent Inevitability of online course”
Prof. Margaret Brooks (2009) describes how the newest technologies have been introduced little by
little to the educational system and all benefits the students may obtain through this new modality.
Brooks (2009) details 3 types of perspective about Online Classes. One of them is that opponents of
the online instructions believe that the traditional way is always better. Second one called pragmatic
opponents that consider the online instructions depending on the external situations and they could
be in favor that the online teaching is the second-best option. And the last one that is focused on the
article, outright supporters think that the internet provides everything students need e.g., a platform
for learning and communicating. Basically, online courses are impulse by students who develop
their skills with technology and integrate their knowledge into their daily lives. This interaction has
made online education grow together as society does. There is no doubt the huge interest in online
teaching and learning systems.
Brooks mentions 8 reasons that her colleagues gave to her why they supported the idea of online
learning as an excellent option for different kinds of students and their needs. It is important to
highlight that the author tries to explain with a lot of details, describing that such a system is almost
infallible, but something created by human beings will be perfect?. According to the author the
reasons are sufficiently effective to be considered by the educational system.Many of them are
really attractive, because the classes are affordable at home. The students can be more independent,
manage their time and learn by themselves. In times of crisis they can spend more time working if
they have financial difficulties. Another point of this system is about how students perceive their
teachers, this relationship could be closer than usual and obviously this situation would have a
positive impact on the students.
In my opinion, this article shows diverses options to be in agreement with the online system. Many
suggestions mentioned are being implemented in regular classes in the universities and they are not
really new. all the theoretical material will be studied in platforms or courses and the autonomous
study will reinforce the knowledge of the students. However, what about the practical part? how the
students will be able to perform a surgery or in general, things which are required to be done in
person, it will be hard for them. Additionally, educators should consider to mix the system with the
traditional one with the online sessions in the case that some students can not attend the class. The
educational institutions must have the capacity to give to the students all the possibilities and not to
miss classes, online classes are a good option for this purpose.