Online Education Rationale Technology PDF

Name: Lovely Mekh E. Garimbao
Title: Online Education
Rationale
Technology is often touted as the savior of education (Collins & Haverson, 2009).
Technology has become a major component of our educational system. For instance, the
Internet has grown to be a part of our everyday lives. However, it is not simply just having the
Internet that is important but rather what the Internet allows teachers and students to do in the
classroom.
The term of online was not very appealing in 1970s and 1080s just like an airplane in the
beginning of the 20th century. Internet was in development stage in early 1990s compared to
now and the conventional wisdom about the online courses was different in 1990s than today.
We are in the 21st century where everything is possible and acceptable. For example, students
are studying at home/workplace utilizing computer which is called online schooling/learning.
Several years ago, there was widespread agreement that mobile devices and social media
should not be in the classroom however that has changed to what type of mobile devices and
which social media sites work the best (Ed. Week, 2011).
It is critical to consider both the pros and cons of online learning so you can be better
prepared to face the challenge of working in this new environment and embrace the new
opportunities that it has to offer, and that is its Strengths and Weaknesses.
According to, Zounek and Sudický (2012), E-learning practices, similarly to other
educational activities, require complex evaluation before they can be implemented in the process

of teaching and learning. An integral part of such evaluation is the consideration of specific gains
and losses of using particular education technologies, methodologies, etc. This consideration is
rather crucial: it usually serves as the basis for various decisions whether concrete tools and
methodologies could and should be applied in a specific pedagogical situation.
The present paper deals with possible positive and negative experiences of using online
technologies in teaching and learning. The aim of the paper is to highlight advantages and
disadvantages of online learning that tend to recur rather frequently in a number of pedagogical
situations and contexts.
Discussion
Worley (2000), some of the key strengths of the Internet-based distance education rest in
its capacity to provide "anywhere" and "anytime" education to learners/students. Online learning
provides an alternative for education, especially for those who cannot enroll in the program
otherwise. The low-cost diffusion of Internet technologies, new student-centered pedagogical
thinking, increasing political commitment, competition among educational institutions and other
factors will continue to drive the online education forward.
“Whether or not you’re keen on using technology for learning, the fact is that it’s here to
stay. Technology has become an essential way to handle the education, training, and retraining
needs of an expanding knowledge society” (Shank & Sitze, 2004, p. 2).
Flexibility in time and place (Johnson et al, 2001; Petracchi, 2000; Rosenbaum, 2001)
and a sense of control (Petracchi, 2000) are often among the reasons for learners to choose the
distance class. Petracchi compared the experience of students in interactive TV (ITV) and those

in on-campus class and found that both groups of students had a positive attitude towards their
learning process.
One of the key advantages of online learning is the ability of students to study at their
own comfort. For a long time, students had to leave their comfort areas and attend lecturers. This
change in environment causes lack of concentration to students. In contrast, E-learning enables
the students to choose the best environment for study and this promotes their ability to
understand. As a result, students enjoy the learning process as compared to the conventional
classroom learning.
Moreover, students can self-regulate the pace of their learning and progress according to
their skills and abilities. Yet another concept of student-centered active learning may be the
possibility to participate on the process of content creation and course building, if adopted by the
teacher.
Ease of participation is an appealing attribute of the online classes. According to
professors at Central Florida, "Introverts, who are quiet in the face-to-face class, really
participate [online]," (Garnham and Kaleta, 2002, p.3). Kupczynski, Stallone Brown and Davis'
study (2008), found student participation increased in the asynchronous environment, as there is
time to "post messages, read and respond to messages, reflect on responses, revise
interpretations, and modify original assumptions and perceptions..." but in a face-to-face class
this would not be the case (p. 6).
Accessibility to learning materials is another benefit of online learning. Students
participating in online study have unlimited access to learning materials and this makes them
have the ability to study effectively and efficiently. On the other hand, students in the classroom