ENGLISH III

INTERNET LEARNING: THE FUTURE?

When I was struggling with my chemistry class last semester, a professor suggested
that I join a study group or get a tutor to supplement what we were studying in class ... I
couldn't afford a tutor and my schedule at university was so erratic-I
couldn't arrange anything with classmates, especially ones I
barely knew. Then a friend suggested going online. I can't
believe I didn't think about it earlier! Online learning is perfect
for me because it offers so much flexibility. Whenever I have
free time, I can seek out lessons that revisit what my classes
have been covering. And unlike being in class, I can pause
the videos or watch them many times until I understand the
concepts
Another great thing about online lessons is that there are so many different educators
out there, each with their own unique style and perspective. So if one teacher's
approach doesn't work for you or you need a different viewpoint, you can always try
another site. Each site also specializes in different subject areas. When I want to learn
about a science or math concept, I visit the Khan Academy website, which explains
topics using simple language and diagrams. For arts or philosophy, I go to TED-Ed,
which offers lectures from experts all over the world. These sites have become so
popular that prestigious universities like Harvard and Stanford have started offering free
online courses as well.
I love online learning so much that I'm going to do a full online course offered by 25 my
university. I know that this requires an attention to deadlines that free lessons don't
entail, but the freedom to work when I want will be so helpful when scheduling my other
classes and getting a part-time job. Going on line has opened up a whole new world for
me-I think it's a trend that's here to stay.
This spring I had an internship in Paris. Since I had time, I
decided to take a couple of university courses online. I also
looked for study material online to supplement my course, as
recommended by a professor. At first, I found that resources
online were plentiful and varied. However, I spent a lot of time
locating lessons that offered reliable content, and for the
specific topics I was searching for. When I did find classes with
helpful material, I often felt there was something missing.
soon realized that I was missing the teacher-student and
student-student interactions of a conventional classroom and it was having a negative
effect on my learning. I realized I learn best in a social environment with lots of
opportunities for discussion; Studying on my own was boring and there were too many
things to distract me online. I also didn't have the motivation or encouragement you get
from teachers and classmates. Because I assumed I could study any time, I almost
stopped studying completely until everything was due at the end of the semester! I think
I'm the kind of person who needs the pacing and regular deadlines of a class.
To be fair, I certainly found material that was very helpful. But I was spending as much
time on these lessons as I was on my own classwork and didn't have anything to show
for it. I hear there are now online courses available where you can get your work marked
by professors and be awarded a certificate if you pass. But I can't see people choosing
to do these courses as a replacement for an actual university course and degree. It'll be
a long time before employers and companies recognize such on line credits or degrees.
It's really great that quality education is being made available for free, but for me, online
lessons probably work best as something extra to support my classroom experience.