After reading and analyzing this week’s article, “Teaching Online: A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice,” about online learning and its progress towards including it in our educational systems, I gained more advanced knowledge of the work that is put into developing and constructing an online learning environment.
Personally, I have not always understood why some students prefer online or in person learning, when I asked my fellow classmates, they always said because it is more social to be in person. However, after reading this article, I came to the realization that it comes down to the learning style that each individual encompasses. For example, I enjoy online learning because it allows me to access and complete assignments when I am able to, in accordance to the due date etc.
After hearing others opinions and perspectives upon teaching online, I couldn’t help but to think that everyone’s experience will always be different with online teaching/learning, whether it be open or distributed learning. I have received majority of positive feedback for online learning as it comes with many benefits which may include a denser communication center, an opportunity for self-learning to grow, and the ability for other interests to thrive within an individual. In addition, a student may also feel unmotivated to work on their educational classes at a certain time of day, which in this case, they are able to return to their work and course material when they feel most motivated during the day. However, there were also several valid advantages to in-person education, which for example may be a lesser chance for distraction (phones, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube etc.,). This is when you must take into account how students will retain information best and if they should be given the option of open/distributed, online or in person learning.
This article provided that online learning comes with many challenges and steps in order for it to be executed successfully. I enjoy online learning atmospheres because it allows for feedback to be a more permanent part of the course. It also gives access to the students to review their feedback and prove the opportunity to better their writing or formulas, depending on what course they are taking online. For me, I am a sociology major, and have enjoyed online courses because it gives me a space to receive feedback on my writing style and it gives me something I can always refer back to.
            To conclude, I have found that online education works best for me and my learning style, as there may be some time in the day that I feel least motivated, therefore, with online education, I can choose a time in the day to mentally prepare and “zone in” for a time of learning. To reflect, I solely believe that it is up to the individual student and their learning style, major, or personality that determine whether they are fit best for distributed, online education or open, in- person education.
Major, C. H. (2015). Teaching Online – A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/detail.action?docID=3318874(pp. 76-108)
