The Advantage & disadvantage

of Online Learning

Maurice Wigley
 The nonexistence of a physical classroom, flexible
schedules, and reduced personal interactions

 Online education is a type of distance learning---

taking courses without attending a brick-and-
mortar school or university. Instead, online
students and teachers interact over the Internet.

 According to the U.S. Department of

education, online learning is learning that is
undertaken on a computer by means of the
Internet.
 Distance Learning
 Cyber Schooling
 Home Schooling
 Blended Learning
 Online public Education (K-12)
 Online Secondary Education
(college
and university classes)
 E-learning
 M-learning
 Online public schools differ greatly from
traditional home schooling, where
parents design their own curriculum
that is not sanctioned by states or
school districts.
 Currently, Home schooling is dwarfing
enrollment in online schools by 6:1, but
cyber education is expected to catch up
in the next 5 to 7 years.
 48 states and the district of Columbia
have virtual schools, while 29 states
 Online schools and digital learning tools
also cater to the way students are
learning today.
 Enrollment in online public schooling
supported by software provider K12 has
grown from about 1,000 students 10
years ago to more than 100,000 today.
 Study Island – supplemental
education software that makes
frequent use of learning games, is
designed for digital natives who are
accustomed to using keyboards and
being online.
 This is where students attend
traditional school on a part-time
basis and complete their classes
online

 This model is used as a way for school

districts to curb overcrowding issues,
and avoid the costly process of
building new schools or expanding
existing campuses.
 Nearly 30% of colleges and
university students now take at
least one online class
 Online learning enrollment is up
nearly 1 million students from the
year before (2010)
 The phenomenal growth of online
education is presenting uncharted
challenges for academic
institutions.
 Online programs follow standards,
but the academic expectations
differ greatly
 Online education can be as effective
than in-class instruction
 M-Learning is the way to learn the tools
of communication involving mobile
wireless, which creates the premises of
an area spreading messages on a
global scale.
 Mobile telephoning has evolved so much
that now allows connections to
computers and making consistent data
transfers.
 M-Learning is a new educational
paradigm that creates an environment in
 Advantages:
› Students can study anywhere as long
as there is access to an internet
connection
› Can work at own pace
› Can accommodate different learning
styles through different activities
› Flexibility in class time
› M-Learning is relatively cost effective
 Disadvantages:
› Lack of personal community and
connection (bad for blended
learning)
› Focuses on memorization over learning
core competencies
› Underutilized talents and facilities
› Too much downtime
› Mobile can be an “issue” in itself
› No way to ground social networking
and web 2.0 tools
 Facebook
 Twitter
 IM
 Email
 Wikispace
s
 Edmoto
 Etc.
 In a recent survey of 1,021 experts,
60% agreed that by 2020 “there will
be mass adoption of
teleconferencing and distance
learning…”
 “On average, students in online
learning conditions performed better
than those receiving face-to-face
instruction” – Steve Lohr, New York
Times, 2009
 Automatic retention – you do not have
to
take notes**

 Fosters more interaction among

students
and instructors

 The knowledge you want first

 Learn at your own pace, flexibility

 Work-Ability

 Applicability

 Speed

 Variety

 Cost
Effective
 Promotes online and computer skills
 Reduces travel time
 Can work around work, family and
other
activities
 Helps to build self-knowledge and
self- confidence and encourages
student responsibility
 Ability to test out if interested
 Learners with low motivation and
bad
study habits can easily fall behind
 Lack of routine structure
 Students may feel isolated from
classmates or instructor
 Instructor may not always be
available
 Slow Internet connections or
older computers make accessing
 Hands-on or lab work is difficult to
simulate
in a virtual classroom
 Lack of student customization
 Lack of personal community and
connection
 Lack of quality assessment and
feedback, which may hinder learning
 A lot of downtime and “play” issues
 Digital divide may short circuit
improvement
 Underutilized talents and facilities
 Cost is still equivalent if not more
than brick and mortar school
 Course availability
 Employment
 Working Alone
 Missing out on non-verbal
communication
 Potential for less networking
opportunities

 No facilities to use or access

 Exclusion of fun campus activities

 COMMITMENT
 Overall, there are both positives
and
negatives to online education.

 The student chooses

 Good Experience

 Not for everyone