Module 4: Benefits & Challenges of Online Learning

This week's module focus was on the benefits of online learning and the challenges as well. Our readings focused on two main areas: the instructor experience and the student experience. Finally, we wrapped up the week looking at the overall concerns and benefits of incorporating technology into the educational system.

Instructor Experience:

It seems that there are some wonderful benefits to being an online instructor, but it also does have some drawbacks. My biggest take away is the importance that new instructors understand what the whole job will entail. Being an online instructor does offer the ability of a flexible schedule and remote work location, but for many it is still a full-time job. Although instructors do not need to deal with discipline and classroom disruptions they still need to have strong classroom management skills. Instructors are often expected to manage the online learning environment which is a bigger job than they think. They have to maintain the course content and ensure hyperlinks and embedded videos work properly. This can often be time-consuming. Making connections and monitoring student progress is also a big task. Instructors can not assume students are self-motivated and can manage the course on their own. Instructors need to recognize that they still need to check-in and montoir student progress and understanding of the content. Balance is another struggle for online instructors because they have flexibility with their schedule they often don't have normal work hours. Although this can be a postiive some instructors find that they struggle to set up appropriate limitations to how much they work. Isolation is another concern for instructors. Many did not realize how lonely and isolating they would feel from their peers and fellow faculty members.

For the most part school districts and programs can help to relieve some of these challenges and drawbacks for online instructors. The most important thing is training. Offer online instructors ongoing training on how to run an online course. Online programs should also create some type of online professional learning communities for their instructors. This would allow their instructors to create a network of teachers who they could share ideas, concerns, and frustrations. Building this community of instructors would help teachers not to feel alone and know who they can reach out to when they want to share triumphs and struggles. Exactly what teachers do in a brick and mortar school. Finally, it seems that managing time can be a struggle for instructors. Again programs can help to alleviate this challenge. It could be providing an example schedule, asking for instructors to create a tentative work schedule, and they could offer support on checking course content maybe have an intern or graduate student help maintain the course for hours/credit. Overall, school districts and programs can support the growth and happiness of their instructors by supporting them with training, virtual faculty, and management tips and support. If school districts invest in their online instructors they will ensure they keep their staff and grow a stronger online program.

Student Experience:

Research on student achievement has indicated that online instruction is as effective as face-to-face instruction. That being said there are some challenges for student success online. It seems that the failure and drop our rate of courses is higher for online courses than in brick and mortar schools. This could be for a variety of reasons, but it seems mainly students lack the tools to be successful. Again just like instructors we need to let potential online students know what exactly is expected of them if they take a course online. Online courses are not for every student. Students need to be highly motivated and self-driven in order to be successful. For the most part, a lot of young students do not have the skills yet. It is up to the instructor and the school program to help motivate, organize, and monitor student progress online in order for them to be successful. Programs and instructors can not assume that students want to or should be left alone to do their work. Just like in a brick and mortar school instructors need to montoir student progress and interact with them regularly. They can not wait until it is too late to reach out to a student to offer support.


Although this video below highlights a flipped classroom it does show how extremely important it is for the instructor to monitor student progress. Modeling expectations that are developmentally appropriate for the learners that lead to student success and engagement.

Concerns & Benefits of Incorporating Technology into the Educational System:

Being a part of the FCPSOn pilot program I recognized a lot of the concerns that are brought up in the videos and articles. Stakeholders are concern about exposure to technology impacting students developmentally. They believe it will impact students intelligence. Finally, it is replacing teachers and we are now just having the computer teach our students or they are just playing games all day.

Educating your stakeholders is important. We all want the best for our students. The biggest concern or misconception is that stakeholders feel that students will be on computers the whole day and playing games. That is just not true. Below is a video of fellow FCPSOn teachers sharing what exactly a one to one classroom really entails. Giving every student a computer is just adding another tool to the teacher's toolbox. Having computers is allowing us to prepare our students for the future. Finally, having computers in every classroom does not replace the importance of good teachers. Teachers are still the ones creating the curriculum, differentiating the material, and assessing student progress. Computers and technology are just one more way teachers can help individualize their teaching and lessons to reach every learner in the classroom at their own level.

Module 3: Who's Teaching Online?

This week our focus was on the instructor and their responsibilities when teaching online.

 

What did I learn?

I learned this week that the relationship between the instructors and their students is very important. It can impact the success of a student in an online course. As stated in the article "Virtual Schooling", it is important that instructors establish a strong online presence in the course. It is important that the instructor creates a supportive and welcoming environment for all of their online students. Instructors need to create a strong teacher-student relationship by assessing student work and providing timely feedback. A teacher needs to be actively involved with monitoring and engaging students in discussions on a regular basis. Making oneself available on a regular and daily basis is important for students. Students need to know that they are not alone and if they need support it is there. Instructors also need to monitor student learning constantly, make adjustments and modifications for students to ensure that every student is successful in the course.

Some of the positives of being an online instructor are the ability to work from home, not having to deal with classroom management, working with students on their individual needs, and being able to meet everyone's needs. The one thing I am wondering about is classroom management. I think they mean discipline issues because even though your course is online a good teacher is still going to set up class expectations and responsibilities. I think this falls under the umbrella of classroom management. 

Some of the negatives of being an online instructor are the lack of student discipline to complete assignments and projects. Having a difficult time encouraging students to improve their effort in a course.  Lack of support from the student's school and parental units.  Insturctiors also note that low pay, lack of professional development and technical support are also negatives to online teaching.

Why is it important?

My one word for this week's module is dedication.

To be a successful online insturctor you must be dedicated and self-motivated. Communications is extremely important to the success of an online course. Instructors need to be approachable, present and provide honest and supportive feedback. You need to be actively monitoring the course and student progress daily. Providing prompt feedback to student assignments and assessments. This provides the instructor with the ability to modify activities, resolve any confusion, and ensure student success before it is too late.

It is also important to provide students with opportunities to collaborate and connect with their peers online. Taking an online course can feel isolating and lonely. It is the instructor's responsibility to provide students with opportunities to connect with peers in order to avoid these feelings. Instructors also need to provide opportunities for students to experience the content of the course in a variety of different and engaging ways.

How can I use this information?

As a librarian, I don't see students on a daily basis. Creating an online presence to support their learning is an extremely helpful way for me to connect to all my students. That means that I need to make sure I am responding to student questions and issues promptly and provide them with feedback quickly. When students are researching I need to be timely with providing resources online and monitor if students are understanding the content. If it seems they are struggling I need to make adjustments to my lessons and activities just like I would face to face.

Module 2: What is the Online Learning Movement?

This week's module was a refresher for me. I have been in the program for two semesters and a lot of my assignments had me creating and developing. This week's readings and videos helped me revisit and reflect on the why. Why do this? Why is blended and online learning important?

What did I learn?

At this time online learning is available in the majority of the United States. The majority of participants in online learning courses in K-12 are high school students who are looking to take core subjects and world languages. The type of student taking online courses varies from those who want an accelerated or more challenging course load to those who want to take courses that may not be offered in their local school. Online courses can be beneficial to those students who need or require an alternative learning setting. These can be students who are traveling too much to attend their local brick and mortar school to those who are homebound.
Although the type of students who take online courses may vary it seems the skills they need to be successful are the same. Students need to be self-driven, organized and have the digital learning skills required to complete a course online. Unfortunately, it seems that we still struggle with equity in student representation in areas of online learning. Minority students are underrepresented in online learning as are free and reduced population. These digital learning gaps are something we need to be concerned with as the online learning movement continues.

In Fairfax County, we do offer online learning programs predominantly to our high school population. To assist with closing the digital learning gaps FCPS has launched FCPSOn. This program provides students with their own computer for academic purposes. I have been a part of this pilot program for the past three years. We have issued laptops to all students in our elementary school. This year Fairfax County expanded the program to all high school students by providing them all with their own laptop for academic purposes. I have seen first hand how this can be an amazing tool for students but is also still necessary to teach students how to use it properly.

Why is it important?

As technology becomes more integral in our education system some people question why do we need libraries and librarians. If everything is at your fingertips on the computer there is no need. This week's readings help reinforce the why for me. Just because students have been exposed to technology from birth does not mean that they can use it in a way that helps them learn and understand. They need to be taught the skills. As stated in the article "Do Learners Really Know Best? Urban Legends in Education" research has shown that students who have grown up with technology do not get to college with skills beyond the basics (email, word processing, surfing the internet). We need to stop assuming that our students are "digital natives". They need to be taught how to use technology in an educational way. This is where educators and librarians come into play. We need to recognize that we have to teach the skills necessary for students to be successful in an online or blended learning setting. We can't just hand out the technology and that is that. Below is a great video explaining why libraries and librarians matter in the digital age. I think it really reinforces a lot of what was shared in our readings and videos this week just with a library media focus.

How Can I Use This Information?

As I read over the assignments for this week I reflected on the fact that we need to make sure we don't assume our students know how to use technology properly for academic purposes. As a librarian, I am a specialist that supports not only students but teachers. As the school librarian, I have the privilege of being able to interact with every student and teacher. This gives me access to the front line to educate and model to my students and teachers proper digital learning skills. I can also show how we can properly integrate technology and blended learning into our curriculum at all levels to support all learners.