Today in class we had 2 presenters come in and talk to the class about web based courses or WBC. I have never used a web based course before. But they are used a lot here in Manitoba. As Donald and Sophia mentioned there are basically 4 ways to use web based learning,
1. As part of a blended learning environment
2. As a teaching resource
3. With a face to face class
4. With actual distance learners
Web based learning is a great alternative for rural school divisions that don't have the numbers to support upper level courses like pre-calculus, calculus, physics, etc. Web based courses can be used by a few students in a number of high schools and they can all video in and talk to the teacher and learn that way. This is a better option compared to not taking it at all. Another great reason for web based learning that was talked about was credit recovery. This means that if a student failed a course, they can take the units that they struggled with online without having to re-do the whole course. WBC are also a great alternative for someone who is motivated but cannot succeed in a classroom environment.
As with anything there are concerns with this type of learning. As a pre-service teacher that will be looking for a teaching job in the next couple of years, having the web based courses cuts jobs. There is only one teacher needed for 5 different classes instead of 5 teachers, one for each class. All of this technology is great and it has so many benefits especially for those students who cannot be in a classroom for various reasons. Yet the concerns for me and my Bachelor of Education class are many. Now I am just wondering what your thoughts on this are. Should web based learning be promoted more? Are my concerns legitimate?
-LB
When I was in highschool there were only 2 online course offered at the school, and they were grade 11 and 12 French. The classes had maybe a total of 4 each a year, so the school didn't want to hire a teacher, or take away a prep just to teach that. Therefore, they went online. To be honest the people I knew that took it hated it haha. They missed the interaction between the teacher. But, sometimes in a rural community it has to happen.
ReplyDeleteWith IITV courses you get to have screen to screen interaction with a teacher, so the technology is getting better to include personal interaction in distance learning.
ReplyDeleteAbout web courses taking our jobs away, if the course isn't mandatory and only has a few people register for it it won't be offered. I didn't get to take German in high school because of this, even though I registered every year. If many people can register from many schools for an online course it creates a job for a teacher and allows for more learning opportunities for students.