What Do You Like About E-Learning?

If you have taken online courses, I would like to hear your thoughts on the positives of e-learning.

Intentional Teaching

One of the articles that I read while researching this topic, "Rethinking (e)learning: a manifesto for connected generations", by Roderick Sims (2008), refers to design and teaching theories that parallel early childhood theories and teaching practices. Intentional teaching is a balance of teacher facilitated and child initiated activities. Teachers plan activities and provide materials for exploration based on what children know and where they are developmentally (physical, cognitive, social/emotional, and language). Children use materials available to them to explore and discover the world around them and to make sense of their world (we call this play). Because a group of young children in a preschool classroom are not all on the same developmental level and also have different learning styles, teachers must plan activities that help each individual child have successful experiences. Adult learning is similar to that of children - we use materials available to us to explore, discover, and make sense of the world around us - we just don't call the process 'play'.

As with children, adult learners have different learning styles and are on different developmental levels. As in preschool, it is unlikely that the same instructional approaches will work for each adult learner. Sims suggests that, "a combination of bottom-up (learner-prompted) and top-down (teacher-prompted) strategies become appropriate". Incorporating these strategies for e-learning effectiveness, rather than trying to replicate traditional classroom practices makes sense.

Perhaps it would be beneficial for all adult educators to spend a few hours observing a preschool classroom. Children can teach us a lot about how we should teach adults and this knowledge can carry over into the design for e-learning. Maybe we should call it e-play!

Course Design

When course designers take into consideration the elements that are important to adult learners, the students have a greater chance for course completion and success as eLearners. According to Restauri (2004), there are a few key variables related to success of students enrolled in an online course: administration must evaluate their target audience to understand the needs of the students; assess the students for learning styles and behavioral tendencies that would facilitate success in an online class; and incorporate student training modules relating to software and hardware needs. Restauri (2004) goes on to say that obtaining feedback from faculty members relating to needs they may have in the creation of high quality “courserooms” will provide administrators with the most insightful information. Those who design online courses must be aware of the needs and expectations of adult learners. Mason (2006) surmises that online learning is particularly appropriate for adult learners: it is more flexible than face-to-face classes, it supports a self-directed approach to learning, and it facilitates choice and the use of a wide range of resources. Online courses appear to be growing in popularity for working adults who are interested in post-secondary studies and for those who are seeking options for professional development related to their career choices. In your experience with online courses, have you experienced a course design that was more user friendly that others? Have you experienced any that were extremely challenging to use? What element made one design better than others?

Interactive Tools

The social environment in a face-to-face classroom setting appears to be very important to many students. How important is the social environment to those students enrolled in online courses? According to Smith (2005), cognitive psychologists such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bruner, emphasized the social nature of learning. Humans are social beings – even in the preschool classroom, creating a positive social environment is one of the most important things a teacher can do. There are many tools that a course designer can use to create a community of learners in online courses. Blogs, e-mail, wiki pages, SKYPE and discussion boards are just a few tools that are available to instructors and students. Tools such as these also allow that student who is not comfortable interacting in a face-to-face class to express their opinions with more confidence. What is your favorite interactive tool and why?

Skills, Tools, and Strategies

There are many skills, tools and strategies necessary for success in online learning. Learning styles and preferences must be taken into account in order to assure success. Menchaca & Bekele (2008), through a study involving learners and instructors, identified the following as significant: the availability of multiple tools which added flexibility to the learning environment; technology tools that appeal to multiple learning styles; collaboration, reflection, and creating a learning community were important strategies supported by multiple tools; and participant satisfaction, appropriate prerequisite skills, and faculty and administrative involvement ensured programmatic success. What influences adults to enroll in online courses? Much of the current research indicates flexibility and the opportunity to reflect on instructor and student comments before giving feedback as important components in an online class, along with being able to ‘attend’ class whenever it is convenient, rather than having to physically drive to a building and sit in a classroom at a specified time. What are some of the difficulties that adult learners encounter regularly? According to O’Lawrence (2006), the most significant drawback for some adult learners taking classes online is lack of self-discipline and time management skills? In taking online classes, what has been the most significant skill, tool, strategy, etc. for your success and satisfaction and what has been the most significant drawback for you?

Factors Affecting Adult Learners

There are many factors that affect adult learners and their ability to be successful in an online class. Donahue, Fox, & Terrance (2007), state that eLearning makes demands on adult learners that are quite different from the demands of a face-to-face classroom. According to Donahue et al. (2007), many adult learners come to their first online learning experience with a mixture of curiosity, excitement, apprehension, and fear. There is a feeling of excitement because of the convenience, flexibility, and desire to connect with the other classmates and instructors, and the anticipation of gaining new knowledge. There is an apprehension due to concerns about a lack of technology skills and experience, and the fear of the unknown. Please share the feelings and emotions that your felt when embarking on your first online learning experience.

Success Rate in Online Courses

Our daily lives are touched by the rapidly changing landscape of technology and learning. Many adults are being introduced to the vast array of online and eLearning opportunities to further their education. Although some research indicates a less than favorable success rate for adults taking online courses, there are indicators pointing to an increasing number of adult learners returning to school via online programs. Most major colleges and universities now offer eLearning opportunities, with some offering entire degree programs online. Many schools offer blended learning programs that combine online and face-to-face programs, and some schools only offer online programs. According to Hinds (2001) more adults drop out of distance learning programs than traditional courses and those who quit cite feelings of isolation and complain about the faster pace of online courses and technical difficulties. In your experience with online courses, do you agree with the statement concerning feelings of isolation, faster pace, and technical difficulties? If you are an online course instructor, are you seeing an increase or decrease in adults completing online courses?