Lyhus, R. (2010). Forum: Has the quality of online learning kept up with its growth. The chronicle of higher educatio... - 2 views

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  #1 Emily Boulger on 24 Jan 13

   

  In this forum found on the Chronicle of Higher Education website six people were asked to "assess the quality of online-learning programs, and to discuss any issues that concerned or encouraged them." Alexander C. McCormick, associate professor of education at Indiana University made the point, Little is known about quality in face-to-face classrooms, therefore they were incomparable.
  
  The question of "what defines quality?" was brought up, and that one cannot assess quality in higher education if one doesn't know what it means. Several people shared the view that, there isn't a difference in quality between face-to-face classrooms if the same standards and curriculum is being provided. Carol A. Twig, president and CEO of the National Center for Academic Transformation stated, "An overwhelming body of research tells us that the quality of online learning is, in general, as good as that of face to face learning." Early on online education was built to model the traditional classroom, but now online education is providing components that cannot be used in the classroom and has become innovative. These innovations include class sizes of thousands of learners around the world working on the same goals, e-collaboration with experts in specific fields, the use of avatars, simulations, cutting edge assessments, individualization, and mentoring.
  
  George Veletsians, assistant professor of instructional technology at the University of Texas at Austin stated, "Online learning versus face-to-face learning. The tendency to compare the two prevents us from seeing the unique opportunities offered by online learning." This blog shared a summary of people who are in the field of higher education that got to the core of the infrastructure of online education and it's ability to grow into its own entity out side of the traditional face-to-face institutions.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">In this forum found on the Chronicle of Higher Education website six people were asked to "assess the quality of online-learning programs, and to discuss any issues that concerned or encouraged them." Alexander C. McCormick, associate professor of education at Indiana University made the point, Little is known about quality in face-to-face classrooms, therefore they were incomparable. <br /> <br /> The question of "what defines quality?" was brought up, and that one cannot assess quality in higher education if one doesn't know what it means. Several people shared the view that, there isn't a difference in quality between face-to-face classrooms if the same standards and curriculum is being provided. Carol A. Twig, president and CEO of the National Center for Academic Transformation stated, "An overwhelming body of research tells us that the quality of online learning is, in general, as good as that of face to face learning." Early on online education was built to model the traditional classroom, but now online education is providing components that cannot be used in the classroom and has become innovative. These innovations include class sizes of thousands of learners around the world working on the same goals, e-collaboration with experts in specific fields, the use of avatars, simulations, cutting edge assessments, individualization, and mentoring. <br /> <br /> George Veletsians, assistant professor of instructional technology at the University of Texas at Austin stated, "Online learning versus face-to-face learning. The tendency to compare the two prevents us from seeing the unique opportunities offered by online learning." This blog shared a summary of people who are in the field of higher education that got to the core of the infrastructure of online education and it's ability to grow into its own entity out side of the traditional face-to-face institutions.</div>

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