Online Teaching: Strengths and WeaknessesA Review on Introduction to Online

Teaching of Technology –Based Courses by Lee Chao (2008)

Fransisca Endang L23 September 2014

Background• Media and methods would impact teaching and

learning (Kozma, 1994)• 1990s gaining momentum of the use of Web

as a teaching and learning tool• Computer-Based Training (CBT) vs Web-Based

Training (WBT) CBT has started long before the internet was founded (Hall, 1970)

• Online courses are growing rapidly > 100,000 distance education courses are offered today

e.g. D:\Online Course\joining_nicenet-newuser.pdf

Developing an online computer lab

• Complex?• Yes– Various technology needed– Carefully designed– Personnel to manage the lab– Training for users

• In language teaching is it needed or not?

WWW functions in teaching and learning

• Post teaching materials• Manage online courses• Support collaboration activities• Perform hands-on practice

(Hands-on: human interaction, often with technology . It implies active participation in a direct and practical way.)

e-learning

• What is e-learning?general technology-based teaching and learning (Lee, 2008)

Teaching and Learning Qualities:Online VS Traditional Which one wins?

Sloan Consortium (2005) online instruction is equal to or even better than the traditional instruction

E-learning is not the best in all aspects gain here, but at the same time lose somewhere

Present and future e-learning

• Chat rooms• Online discussion• Blogging• Virtual classroom+ FB+ e-class + etc?

Strengths

1. Far-Reaching Availability2. Greater Flexibility3. Cost Efficiency4. More Maintainability5. Learning Enhancement

1. Far-Reaching Availability once it’s created, it can be accessed globally traveling to campus is not required; students may also take classes at the time that is most convenient for them.

2. Greater Flexibility no classroom is necessary

Can use weekends and holidays to catch up with their classroom work

Can go through the same lecture as many times as possible

Instructors can give lectures any time

3. Cost Efficiency

• Saving on travelling• No need to build new buildings• Physical lab can be replaced by virtual labs

and simulation

4. More maintainability

• Grading process is easier• Students can tract assignment record online• Communication is easier

5. Learning Enhancement

• Students learn how to use technology which will be useful in e.g. job hunting

• Students may use their own styles in learning• Students can learn using their own pace (+)

Weaknesses

1. Lack of Face-to-Face Communication2. More dependent on Technology3. Increase of Work Load for Instructors4. More effort needed from students5. E-learning is suitable for independent

learners.

Weakness ≠1

Lack of Face-to-Face Communication No direct assistance when something goes wrong Question and answer sessions won’t be as

effective as traditional one

Weakness ≠2

More dependent on technology Requires highly reliable servers Security constraints Lack of adequate equipments

Weakness ≠3

Increase of work load for instructors Time consuming for material production process

40%-50% more preparation time (Brown, 1990) than traditional teaching

Time consuming for updating constantly

Weakness ≠4

More effort needed from students Slow down the learning process

20%-40% more time to learn than traditional classes (Kroder, Suess, and Sachs, 1998)

How to overcome e-learning weaknesses

• Requirements for students– Well prepared– Well organized– Self-disciplined

The fact is most studentsare not ready for a lot ofindependent works..\..\OnlineCourse\rubrics_compare_20100106.pdf

• Requirements for instructors– High demand for e-

learning– Strong support from

administrators

Faculty is resistant to e-learning. Reasons?

Reasons for a faculty member’s resistance to e-learning

1. Not familiar with the e-learning technology or lack of computer skills

2. Concerns about students’ performance in an outline course3. Lack of time to develop online courses4. Not enough support from administrators and computer

service personnel5. Less favorable course evaluation which may hurt their

annual performance evaluation6. Administrative obligation7. Ideological reasons