Online Learning

Synchronous and Asynchronous online classrooms are gaining popularity given all their proven benefits. While the jury is still out for adolescents,working adults are embracing this method of learning as an alternative to the traditional classroom. Online learning has the following benefits:

• Often more affordable than most classroom learning
• Self-paced to allow for different learning styles and abilities
• Flexible schedules to work around the students other life activities
• One on one instruction when needed
• One-stop shopping for learning resources
• Geographic indifference
• Offers the capability of interaction
• Facilitates student centered learning
• Provides a clear planning path to meet the students class and education goals
• Has the tools to engage and motivate the student

Here are some of the tools that can be used in an online classroom to enhance the students learning experience and retention:

• Live chat: allows the student to discuss topics or assignments with instructors and students to add the constructivism theory approach to online learning as well as live interaction and validation.
• Audio: provides a means to simulate classrooms in a synchronous environment as well as playback into an asynchronous environment such as presentations and seminars.
• Video: Allows the instruction the advantage of using the student's visual channel to view animations or connect with the expression of an instructor or speaker who is presenting material.
• Breakout sessions: Allow the facilitators to group learners in a synchronous environment into work groups so they can discuss and work their tasks in groups; the instructor can present or talk to these individual groups
• Polling: Allows the instructor to question, assess, poll, and request responses that will ensure engagement and give a measurement of participation and learning retention to the instructor so he or she can adjust strategies if necessary.
• Uploading and Downloading of files: Allows the instructor to send supporting materials to the students in either setting and allows the students to send work back to the instructor for review and/or grading.
• Hand raising: elicits immediate responses from students in a synchronous learning environment cuing them to pay attention and be ready.
• Remote log-in: Lets the instructor connect students to a 3rd virtual classroom machine to use its specially loaded applications. This prevents the cost and technical difficulties of having applications loaded to every students machine.
• Mobile capabilities: Allows students to access their classroom and materials from their mobile device virtually anywhere they can get phone or internet service. This provides more student flexibility by not restricting access to their laptop or PC.
• Dashboards: provide a 'Home' familiar page for the learner where they can quickly identify what needs to be done and where to go to do it.

These are just some of the great advantages and features that online learning provide the school, instructor, facilitator, IT, and the students in today's virtual classrooms.

Brian Goodsell