Effectiveness of e-Learning

During this week, I took the time to speak with three different individuals about whether
e-Learning was as effective as face-to-face or classroom-based learning. To get them to
understand what e-Learning was all about I explained that it is instruction delivered on a digital
device such as a computer or mobile device that is intended to support learning according to the
text (Clark & Mayer 2008). After I spoke with them, they each had their own idea concerning
the topic. When speaking with a former educator she expressed that she felt that e-Learning did
not give the children the same interaction as face-to-face learning. She also felt that a child/ren
being in the classroom would create less distractions and therefore allowing the child/ren to
focus on the assignments/materials being presented. Afterwards, I spoke with one of my
colleagues and he expressed that face-to-face learning worked better especially when you are
teaching children that are Learning Impaired – Moderate/Severe within the DoDEA school
system. Next, I spoke with another teacher, and she expressed that e-Learning gave her students
the opportunity to explore various websites in other areas of learning.
According to a recent article that I read from Confluence: Science, Scientist, and Society
this is what they noted: It is evident that the continuation of online teaching is leading to higher
levels of fatigue despite greater familiarity and ease of using the mode. Furthermore, they stated
most teachers feel that they are now better than before in dealing with pauses, viewing only their
own faces, dealing with students’ indifference and ever-changing technological tools, they also
feel even more irritated, demotivated, and are losing stream. This lets me know that yes e-
Learning is going to be around for a while but hopefully educators would seek to grasp and
embrace the new way of learning without the fear of being stressed out. The teacher population
is divided on the issue as well, with some educators advocating that in-person education is the
best education for their students and others insisting to administrators that, for everyone’s health
and safety, online learning is the best option. As it can be seen from my research more teachers
are for e-Learning advocating that it is keeping them safe and offering a more concerted learning
environment for them and the students.
When I took the time to go online to https://www.quora.com/How-do-teachers-feel-
about-virtual-learning I found that the teachers from this site had varying opinions when it came
to e-Learning. Some of them were for it and some of them was against it which falls in line with
how the three people that I spoke with concerning e-Learning. In conclusion, being able to
compare and contrast the aspects of e-Learning has let me see that it is now a new way of
learning and teachers should embrace the change. Many colleges have been doing it but for
early learners it is going to take some time for them to adapt to a new way of learning.
References
Clark, Ruth Colvin, Mayer, Richard, E-learning and the science of instruction: proven guidelines
for consumers and designers of multimedia learning, (2008), 3rd Ed, Pfeiffer
http://confluence.ias.ac.in/the-online-teaching-experience-at-higher-levels-teachers-struggling-
to-make-sense-of-it/
https://www.quora.com/How-do-teachers-feel-about-virtual-learning