6.6 Assignment Critical Reflection Journal – Blog
What makes an online program successful?
Write a reflective blog post on this week’s readings, Roundtable dialogue, and/or action research learnings. The blog writing may be your choice, but it must be substantive, including outside scholarly works.
What makes an online program successful?
Successful online programs must include an effective curriculum, facilitator, and learner-focused technology. Though online programs have gained popularity in higher education today, the online environment offers unprecedented opportunities for learners with limited access to education; online programs have both significant and negative benefits. One of the main advantages of asynchronous online learning is that it allows learners to participate in quality learning environments from anywhere in the world, provided they have a computer and Internet connection.
Time efficiency is another strength brought by the online learning format. The Virtual Classroom is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Asynchronous communication through technology like Zoom, Webex, and Google Meet allows learners to maintain a work-school-life balance to participate in class discussions. This is especially beneficial for those needing to reread a lecture or take more time to reflect and review the material before moving on. The online format allows an active interaction between the instructor and the students. The students and the instructor can contribute to other students' course discussions and comments. The rich dynamic in the student-centered Online Classroom is one of the most unique and vital traits of the online learning format.
Though online programs have considerable strengths and offer unique accessibility to quality education, weaknesses in using this learning modality can pose possible problems with the success of an online program. Miller and Husmann (1996) identified elements affecting the quality of online education, including consideration for course delivery, instruction quality, student participation, involvement, course, program administration, and the culture of learning and teaching.
Before any online program can be successful, it must have students who can easily access the online learning environment. Lack of access due to financial or logistic reasons will prevent students from accessing the course. Internet accessibility can be an issue for students that live in rural and lower socioeconomic areas. Students and facilitators must possess minimal computer skills to function successfully in an online environment. If either does not have these technical skills, they will not be successful in an online program; a student or faculty member who cannot effectively function in the LMS (Learning Management System) will likely struggle to be able to complete the required coursework.
While an online method of education can be a highly effective alternative learning modality for the self-disciplined student, there needs to be appropriate support and resources for learners who need additional assistance. Online asynchronous education gives the learner control over their learning experience and provides flexibility for non-traditional students; however, the responsibility falls on the student to be actively engaged in the learning process. To be successful and engaged in an online program, students must be well organized, self-motivated, and possess a high degree of time management skills to keep up with the pace of the course.
The curriculum of any online program must be carefully designed and developed to be successful. Often, an institution hesitates to establish distance education programs due to needing more personnel to design and develop the courses. Additionally, a successful, on-ground instruction curriculum and teaching methodology can be challenging to translate into a thriving online program where learning and instructional models differ. An effective online curriculum must include an enriching dialog among students (via an online discussion board) and engagement with one another. Online education programs of the highest quality are ones where the curriculum has been developed to meet the student’s needs.
We live in a fascinating time where technology and education intersect. Online programs offer technology-based instructional environments that expand learning opportunities and can provide high-quality education in various formats and modalities. Adult learners especially have unique needs as they desire to continue their education; online programs offer a convenient solution to work, family, and study schedule conflicts. Institutions of higher education, both public and private, have found that online programs are essential in providing access to education worldwide. For an online program to be effective, efficient, and enriching, the curriculum, the instructor, the technology (LMS), and the students must be an integral part of the strategic program development plan and effectively use the strengths of this learning modality and, at the same time, avoid difficulties that come from its weaknesses.
References
Miller, M. T., & Husmann, D. E. (1996). A holistic model for primary factors in the ecology of
distance education course offerings. Journal of Distance Education, 11(1), 101–110.
