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.