Online learning is becoming increasingly popular among college and universities and is even reaching further into elementary and high schools. According to U.S. News, “Online college education is expanding—rapidly. More than 4.6 million college students were taking at least one online course at the start of the 2008-2009 school year. That's more than 1 in 4 college students, and it's a 17 percent increase from 2007.” eSchool News has also reported that “more than 1 million K-12 students have taken online classes during the 2007- 08 year.”
According to AllOnlineSchools.com, PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations)1960, was the early precursor to Distance and Remote Learning. In 1969 ARPANET, a communication system, was developed and was the beginning of the Internet. Later on down the line in 1989, “Tim Berners-Lee, a British engineer, conceives what he called ‘a web of notes with links, “ which he later changed the name to what we now refer to as, the World Wide Web. Then in 1993 “Jones International University becomes the first accredited college to exist fully online”. In 2003 the Internet moved to 3-D with Linden Lab’s creation of Second Life, “a 3-D virtual world wherein users create ‘avatars’ to represent themselves. ”AllOnlineSchools.com asserted Linden Lab believes, “by 2009 over 200 colleges and universities—including Harvard, Princeton and Stanford—will teach courses in virtual classrooms or conduct research within this realm.”
As of today, there are two different ways to use online education. The first type is to have all interaction between students and teachers occur entirely online. The second is to have the course “blended,” meaning some of the class meets face-to-face and the rest takes place online. eSchool News, wrote in their article, “that the most effective approach might be a combination of face-to-face teaching and purely online instruction.” Whether this statement is true or not is up to the student and their approach to learning.
Some schools are already moving into their own Second Life, with the creations of their avatars they are able to discover by virtually traveling and learning in their Second Life world. The future hold for online education is uncertain, but continually progressing. AllOnlineSchools.com believes “adult education online may in the future become a hands-free, multi-sensory experience,” with the use of implanted sensors into the brain and skin. One can only imagine how innovative this will become.
Links:
All Online Schools- Online Adult Education: A Look Back to the Future
U.S. News- Study: Online Education Continues Its Meteoric Growth
eSchool News- ED: Blended learning helps boost achievement
Edutopia- The Virtual Classroom: Online Learning
eCampus News- Interest in hybrid courses on the rise
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Online learning I believe is the wave of the future. People enjoy the freedom and flexibility that online learning gives them. Many students enjoy going to class or going on line when it is convenient for them. There is not a real set time except when an assignment is due. My only concern with online learning is what is going to happen to social skills? Will people of the future know how to interact with other people or hold stimulating conversations in person? Great History!
ReplyDeleteGood work on setting the stage for Online Teaching for the 21st Century Art Teacher! Can you edit your posting so it says that PLATO was an early precuror to Distance Learning and that ARPANET was the forefather of the Internet.
ReplyDeleteGreat research...I want to be the skeptic and look at what may be some of the downfalls, or negative aspects of Virtual learning, what are people saying? I just am curious to see how these innovations will set the stage for what is coming and how individuals, teachers, students, etc. will factor in, and really pay attention to the reasons why, how, and when significant changes in our educational settings will take place. Again nice job on your research.
ReplyDeleteGreat background info! It'll be a great start to the class blog! I snagged your summary and linked our viewers to your blog for more info. I love the links you added at the bottom- just wish the eSchool News one didnt require a login.
ReplyDeleteI always thought art would be difficult to teach online but I have started to change my mind about the topic after doing some research of my own. Online education has come a long way since its beginnings and I am sure we are far from the height of its origins. Thank you for sharing info on its progression over the past few years. Its hard to imagine online education as a passing fad and it seems clear that it is not going away anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the roots of online education, one could definitely see that it has improved over the years. Thanks for sharing this post. Many people will be aware and enlightened at the same time.
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