CCT205+-+Response+Jan+19th

E-learning definitely shows the advances in technology that we have today. Commuting times, classroom sizes, and personal schedules will be a lot more convenient, and students can work in a space that is comfortable and effective for them. If you glance over these cons, you might think that E-learning is ideal. To add to that, there are even virtual universities or learning spaces available nowadays on websites such as second life. These websites allow for interaction and participation that would otherwise be lost.
 * E-Learning vs. Classroom Learning? **
 * //Response # 2 //**

Even though websites such as second life help out with the participation and interaction factor, I believe that it is not ideal. For one point, the clip shown on the university on second life made me feel like it would waste my time. The student would have to virtually open doors, enter classrooms and put up his/her avatar’s hand. This, while it might look like fun, violates the time factor of E-learning. The time of commuting and such that otherwise would have been gained is now wasted in transporting the avatar around. Also, as mentioned in class, there is no facial expression or body language that can aid in the true feelings of the discussions present in the virtual classroom. Another valid point argued in class that I liked was the fact that discussions could be made at the student’s own time (which would most likely be the last day possible) and therefore not much of a discussion would exist.

On another note, there is no direct feedback in an E-learning space. Therefore the student would be unsure how he/she did on for example a discussion. Even right now, I have no idea if someone is really listening to me. And how do I know if I’m getting my point across? And how do I know someone is actually reading this? Reading this entirely, and not skipping to the end? I think that even though E-learning might be handy for some students living far away, I do not think that it should be integrated fully;the personal interactive aspect of learning is cut down significantly if not completely lost.

Humans are social animals, they need interaction and feedback and emotional signals from others to completely understand eachother. No matter how much faster, nicer, and beautiful new technologies become, a classroom setting will never be the same as a virtual one. And I haven’t even argued procrastination; a huge issue. With laptops in class nowadays, it is a lot easier for students to become distracted.Imagine just being on your personal laptop all the time? To be completely honest, I would probably make a Facebook account and my second life character would most likely be dozing off more often than not.

On another note, my roommate’s mother is taking a couple courses at the university. She handwrites all her assignments and takes notes by hand. Her marks are actually significantly higher than any of my or my roommates’ marks. I believe that this shows that our generation already has a setback in studying and doesn’t know how to effectively study. Now I’m not saying that we should all write out our assignments first, but the amount of accuracy and work put into studying by previous generations is significantly more and pays off in the end. If we, as our generation are already "impaired" in these skills, I really think that an online school is the last thing we need, because the skills that we already don’t posses as good as it can be will be even cut down further. I actually tried taking an online course back in high school; biology. This subject was so frustrating at the end, because there was no immediate feedback, proper support or social interaction which at the end made me pretty unhappy about the whole process. If I knew the struggles I would have gone through I definitely wouldn’t have taken the course. So my conclusion is that E-learning is not for me, you have to definitely be very disciplined, determined and motivated to successfully complete a course.

Ps. if all our classes were online, I believe that SOPA will shut them all down due to copyright and we wouldn’t be able to learn online at all.