The Pro's, Con's & Implications of the Online Classroom

Learning isn’t just about acquiring facts and knowledge; it’s about finding and developing meaning. In order to make sense of the things being taught, the role of the educator is to guide students to formulate a more enduring understanding of the subject matter. This is true education. Knowledge and skills must be applied and used, and discussed, and in this sense, learning is a social activity. Teachers are not only responsible for presenting the facts, but also packaging them in a way that nurtures true understanding, a substrate for processing and formation.

Educational institutions spend millions upon millions of dollars on technology. Why? There is actually no concrete data linking technology to improved learning outcomes.

Part of the massive media hype around technology involves promises of transformation. However, it is essential to keep in mind that it is not the technology itself that holds the transformative power, but how it is used- the interaction between the student and technology.

This being said, the pros and cons of online learning and blended classrooms have much to do with the role of the educator. "Teacher" is a special title. It is our role and responsibility to guide our students along their own unique learning journey. In an online setting, most of this connection tends to get lost, as there is so little student/teacher interaction, especially face to face. Educators are less able to help students who may be struggling, and less in touch with how students are progressing.

The learning environment is such a complex and dynamic setting, with so many factors at play, effecting how students interact and experience. In an online or virtual setting, these facets and characteristics are muted, if not lost alltogether.

Aside from this, there are several main arguments against the use of technology in Education:

CONS:

• Expense- Costs for divices, subsriptions, servers, storage etc. can be in the millions

• No guaranteed effect on learning outcomes

• Misuse of Technology in education can have a negative effect on learning (confusion, bias, skewed outlook/expectations)

• Fosters a dependance/ reliance on technology

• Overstimulation and screen addiction

• Exposure to questionable content (violence, social media, pornography, etc)

• Some recent studies are suggesting that increased exposure to technology impairs the memory and causes depression and lack of sleep.

• Some argue that technology impedes connection to the human condition and meaningful social interactions

• The Digital Divide- larger and clearer gap between people who have access to technology, and those who don't

While it is important to keep these limitations and disadvantages in mind when discussing technology in the field of education, there are also many undeniabe advantages, not limited to the ones listed here.

PRO's

• Increased access to education- online classrooms, distance education, inclusion of flexible schedules

• Increased interaction between student and teacher- contact is easier

• Access to online resources and tools

• Increased ability to share documents/images/ideas etc.

• Access to online learning programs (Khanacademy, Rosetta Stone, etc)

• Facilitated collaboration and discussion

• Instant access to information and databases

• Accomodation for all learning types, and tools for struggling/disabled students