As we dive into our spring semester of 2024, students are given hundreds of options for classes and locations. In today’s day and age, education is ever-evolving, offering more than just brick-and-mortar classrooms. This dynamic use of learning has shifted my attention to online and hybrid education, where students take classes either completely online, through video calls or with limited classroom time. I am currently enrolled in three online classes at the University of Idaho, and I will say that there are quite a few advantages to these learning environments. Let’s look at them, shall we?
Flexibility
I don’t know about other students at the UI, but I am a sucker for an easy-going schedule. These classes give students access to lectures and course materials when it is convenient for them. This means I can customize my schedule and study techniques to what I know will help me understand the course in a way I know works for me, not for a classroom of over 100 students. It also gives me the ability to balance out my chaotic life: school, assignments, projects, work, travel, family, errands—these online programs don’t require me to physically sit on campus at constant intervals. Frankly, this level of flexibility would not even be possible in a fully in-person class (I would know; I take those too). Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy being on campus and seeing teachers and other students in person, but I think I appreciate it a bit more when I’m not running from classroom to classroom for six hours.
Reality
I do realize it is hard for some students to focus enough to succeed in an online learning environment, but I also think that this is a lesson in itself, literally and figuratively. In real-world professions, self-discipline becomes a necessary quality. To complete projects or reports on time, students must prepare their work and send it within the appropriate time frame. Again, you are the one determining your own pace of assignments, just as it would be in a career after college. Online education ensures students will improve their time management skills. So, you’re getting education in the curriculum, but also education in important career skills.
Support
I feel what scares a lot of students away from online courses is the lack of an in-person professor. However, the courses at UI bring the assistance of traditional classrooms right into their online courses. When I think about the effectiveness of teaching in online settings, my main concern would be the professor’s presence. What if I need help? What if I have questions? What if I am completely not grasping the content? To be effective in an online setting, professors would have to be able to ensure connections with their students. These courses offer online student support services and easy access to connections with professors and advisors who help in any other way. When I think about it, I have every conversation, note and piece of feedback that my online professors have ever said to me saved right on my computer. And I can respond to them via email, Canvas comment or even video chat.
Safety
With online and hybrid learning, we can ensure that, in an emergency, students are able to safely attend class and access resources from home without disruption. The flexibility of these learning modalities becomes especially crucial in times of crisis, as exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students across the country were granted the ability to continue their education seamlessly from the safety of their homes. This meant that you could receive the full educational experience of a course without putting yourself or your loved ones at risk. Whether facing a global pandemic or dealing with more localized challenges, such as hazardous weather conditions, online and hybrid learning allow students the freedom to prioritize safety. Even if it’s as small as not wanting to drive on icy roads, students are not required to be in any physical location, ensuring safety from the comfort of their homes.
Consideration
As said before, the main concern students may have with online education is the lack of human connection. The great part about that is that UI offers hybrid-class options as well. If you are not quite confident in going fully online for a class, hybrid classes are courses that combine both the online learning environment and the face-to-face learning of a classroom. This means some sessions take place in person, while others remain online. This ensures that if students do wish to keep some of their in-person experiences, they are welcome to do so while also easing into an online classroom environment. It’s the best of both worlds!
Now I do understand that for some students, a fully in-person class will always be better than remote learning; I respect that. No matter which way you prefer to learn, if you enjoy doing it and feel like it’s the best methodology for you, then you’re doing it perfectly. If you think any of the reasons I listed are amazing, maybe consider trying an online class out; you could end up loving it.
Presley Zimmerman can be reached at [email protected]
Linda Harasim
Hi, thanks for the article. I wonder why you present online education as based on individualized learning? As you yourself note, students miss learning and interacting with peers. Individualized, “self-paced” learning relies on product, not process. It’s assignment based. Online collaborative learning emphasizes student discourse, teamwork, and group analysis. Communication and collaboration are key pillars to learning. Historically, in the 1980s the focus of online education design was collaborative learning, in schools, colleges, and universities. Individualized learning only appeared in the late 1990s, through the influence of courseware used in military and workplace training.