Are Online Learning Experiences For You?

I started high school in the Fall of 1997 and graduated in the spring of 2001.  After high school I continued my education at UNCW from 2001 to 2005.  During my education, I was never enrolled in an online class.  I thought that online classes where for slackers who didn't want to go to real class.  I didn't think I would learn much from enrolling in an online class. 

Fast forward to the year 2010, when I enrolled in CMU's online master's program in educational technology.   After a lot of research, I decided I would take the chance with online classes.  I had nothing to lose.  It was definitely more convenient than face to face classes.   I am happy to say my experience has been a positive and my opinion has definitely changed about online classes. 

Just like face to face classes, the possibility of having a negative experience with online classes does exist.   Edutopia blogger, Heather Wolpert-Gowran, discusses importance of the teacher in the online learning experience.  To sum up her main ideas Wolpert- Gowran created a checklist, of sorts, for the 5 most important components needed for a blended learning environment.

Checklist for Making a Successful Blended Learning Environment

1.  The first meeting of the class should be face to face or, at least, real time. Use software such as Wimba, or Skype to hold virtual class.

2. Assessments should be real time with a choice of face to face.

3. There should be multiple meetings throughout the course that are synchronously conducted.

4.  Differentiate your content delivery and discussion methods.

5. Keep class size limited (Wolpert-Gowran, 2011).

All of the components do make sense and seem logical.  However, some of them may not work in every type of program, especially ones that serve students from across a large area.  Many, if not all of this components, have been incorporated into almost all of my online learning experiences.

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Works Cited

Wolpert-Gowran, H.  Blended Learning: Combining Face to Face and Online Education. Edutopia. Retrieved July 28, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-online-learning-heather-wolpert-gawron.