Decision Constructing

Decision Constructing In today’s society there is a huge debate on whether teaching should be in person or online. Technology is part of everyday life. Now, everything can be done through network such as job applications, applying for school, filling out the paper work, enrolling in classes, and online courses where teaching can be done through network supply. Beetham says, “Regardless of how institutions or individual teachers choose to use networked technologies learning takes place in an environment saturated with information and communication. Learners are increasingly networked” (Beetham, 2008). Everything is acceptable, because the United States is high tech. However, how can students learn or can they be taught to something through virtual environments. Online learning should not be forwarded or touted as beneficial to college students, because learning is often more difficult in an online environment. Many students learn better in a face-to-face class per learning styles and because most human circumstances do not take place in a virtual environment. Learning is frequently more challenging in computer-generated environment for a number of reasons. According to documentary Comparing Student Learning Styles in an Online Distance Learning Class and an Equivalent On-Campus Class by David P. Diaz and Ryan B. Cartnal, authors discussed that one of the distinguishing features of the most distance education classes is the absence of the face-to-face social interaction between students and teacher. Absence of emotional and social interaction in an online environment makes the leaning more difficult (Diaz and Cartnal). According to the documentary it shows the importance of having an interactive discussion between classmates and an instructor; because it is always easier for a person to explain ideas in face-to-face conversations rather than in online dialogue. People can use body language, eye contact, and can be active listeners in face-to-face conversations, while in an online environment. A person loses any chance of explaining themselves and eventually the conversation loses its value. In a personal interview with Ms. Amrulayeva, a Boise State student, she says that “In a regular class setting it is lot easier to communicate and be more social instead of in online class. It is easier to explain and deliver your messages to the instructor and classmates in a traditional class setting, because you can use your body language, eye contact, and a person can correct or be more specific in case of misunderstood or miscarried information” (Amrulayeva). According to Ms. Amrulayeva’s thoughts in traditional class individual’s speech is more valuable, because the sender can observe the quality of the message and how it is being received by the class and instructor. This helps the message or lesson to be corrected immediately if necessary. Effective listeners are more likely to respond in operational technique. Being an active listener and responder is very significant in conversation. The ability to listen enables a person to receive and respond to discussions, which adds value and quality to the conversation. According to Schutz and Lanehart, “The late conception allowed emotions to be organized and shaped, and because emotions and social interactions can convey valuable information and enhance cognitive processes, they have become viewed as integral to the learning process” (Schutz and Lanehart, 26). Since student and instructors cannot really observe and comprehend each other’s feeling being behind a computer screen, there is a lot less chance of understanding the true meaning or context of a conversation; which makes the online environment inflexible. In a personal interview with Jordan Illet, English teacher at Boise High School, she says “For me, a traditional setting is easier. I enjoy integrating technology into my classroom, but I would absolutely hate being behind a computer screen for most of my day. It is just so much more powerful to interact in person with the learners” (Illet). Subsequently, in online class settings students and instructors cannot have deep and meaningful discussions through a computer, because there is no inflection of voice and no visual or emotional cues. Most of the difficulties can be elucidated in the face-to-face discussion. Face-to-face conversations are more valuable, have higher demand, and have more impact on students in the long run. According the journal Students’ Perception of Value of Interactive Oral Communication as Part of Writing Course Papers, it identified that students are able to discuss complex ideas relatively easily in spontaneous conversation, than when students attempt to express complex ideas in a written paper. In their study Kruch-Appelbaum and Musial provide evidence that students perceive value in actively talking with others about their paper, rather than writing down their ideas about the paper. As well most students prefer face-to-face conversing with a classmate as compared to non-interactive written peer feedback (Krych-Appelbaum and Musial, 133). This evidence shows that when students are talking about classmate’s papers, the peer reviewer will give constructive and honest advice. Although, the learner does not have this chance in the virtual environment, because the learner does not see their classmates, so a peer reviewer does not take the responsibility seriously. Thus most students tend to disregard the provided information by other students, and they do not pay close attention to the material delivered by the fellow student, because the reviewer does not carry the full responsibility of the assignments. It is clear that in an online class setting conversation lose its value. Since, most of the time responders do not fully understand the main point of the conversation. Also people change their mind over time. To produce effective dialogue it is important to have active sender and an active sender and responder at the same time. College life is stressful. Every college student knows how it is hard and frustrating when they, as a student, cannot find the open class that it is essential to be taking during a specific semester to keep up and get the requirements done quicker. For most college students it is a problem to find open classes. If a student was late for some reason to enroll into general education classes earlier when those classes were available, it is very difficult for them to find open spot. Likewise, some classes fill up really quickly, thus student needs to enroll at that time when it is obtainable, and otherwise student will not be able to get in. Everyone wants to take basic classes first and finish up with their requirements, so general education classes fill up really quickly. A student then is forced to take online classes, such as English, math, and science in order to fulfill the requirements. This can be extremely frustrating because students are paying for a class without a live teacher, less instructions and often times more work. College life is stressful and every student wants their class to be on the same day, have closer buildings and many other reasons. Students put in so much effort to reduce this anxiety level. These elements are more common on the students first year in school, especially if they are undergraduates from a different state or country. While students are trying to adapt to a new environment, there are other dilemmas elevates such as finding open classes. Thus, good timing is really imperative in academic existence. On the other hand, many others say that online classes are beneficial for students. Classes are easier to obtain, because the majority of students look for regular class before online when they search for classes. No need of attendance to class, having a lot more time to finish up with homework, all the supplies available through network. Student can complete their homework as long as students are connected to network, and distance learning gives more education about the progressing technology. Stinson says that “I can be in a hotel, or in an airport, or anywhere in the world, and I can get my work done. I'm very satisfied with the quality of the program — I think I'm getting more out of it than I would have at a traditional school”(Stinson 25). According to the expression as long as a student is connected to the network, they can get their assignments done anywhere in the world. While even though students can get work done anywhere and they do have entrance opportunity to any supplies through network, sometimes homework does not make sense. Student’s needs to ask instructor for clarification and this back and forth emailing will take longer time; which puts student into a situation where students cannot get their assignment done. Student may experience the same issue in the traditional class as well. While students know the instructor personally, know their office hours and phone number, so in traditional class it is easier to get a hold of teachers than in online class. As well as if student cannot get a hold of instructor then student can get help from other classmates. Even though in an online class setting a student has access to all of the supplies, then again the student does not have opportunity of making friends as in a regular class setting. In online class, students are less likely to build the friendship bonds. The ability to not attend class is one of the advantages of online classes. In a personal interview with Ms. Amrulayeva, she said that “One reason why I like online class is you do not have to attend to class, and you have one full week to finish and turn in your assignment, but on the other hand it is bad not having specific due dates, because you procrastinate, and think that you have whole week, therefore I will get this homework done tomorrow or after tomorrow, but end up doing it at the last moment most of the time” (Amrulayeva). Even though students do not have to attend class, have access to supplies, and have a lot more time to finish their homework, most of the time homework end up being last the priority in an online setting. According to the article “Review of Procrastination in Online Course” by Andrew M. Taylor, the author discusses that most of the online students are procrastinating and leave their homework to the last moment. Also the author states that procrastinators perform more poorly in online courses verses a traditional class (Andrew, 4). Another great example was discussed by the Elvers, G.C., according to an article “Performance and Attitude Differences” the author Elvers, says that “Procrastination is a larger issue in online courses than in traditional courses, and is more closely related to performance. This may be in large part due to the self-directed nature of online courses, and the fact that they do not have “the advantage of distributed practice that came from listening to lectures twice a week, every week” (Elvers, 162). The nature of online class, with so much reading, these classes tends to take more time than a traditional class. An online class modernizes the intensive reading and the extensive time commitment. Cristopher Conte says “Hundreds of studies suggest that computers can be effective teaching tools, though not dramatically better than other technologies or traditional instructional methods. Nevertheless, most of this research has focused on earlier, self-contained uses of computers, and therefore may be of limited value to the current debate over networking” (Conte 5). According to expression network makes learning easier, because student can search at any time as long as students are connected to the system. While according to Combating Plagiarism documentary by Brian Hansen, the documentary discusses that online students are more likely to cheat on their homework and tests than traditional students. Also Hansen explains that even though the plagiarism rate is high in high school students and in college students, he says that students in virtual environment are more likely to plagiarize, because of the internet connection while they are doing their homework or taking test (Hansen). It appears that since online instructors cannot follow the students, while students are taking quiz or test, the student has more freedom of access to their material and to the internet so it is easier to cheat in online class,which is not beneficial in future classes. If a student does not study or is forced to study, they are more likely to use all the supplies on the quiz/test; thus these basic education classes will not affect students in a good manner in future orientations. The fact is that most students are different. The individual must weigh the pros and cons and decide which class choice is best for their learning style. Then again traditional class is more advantageous and provides more upright outcomes than online class. Whereas, computer-generated classes’ limits individuals’ face-to-face interactions, by making students spend more time in front of computers, than having direct communication. Even in a world of technology virtual lessons are not beneficial, because the general public loses focus on the passion, voice, and social interaction in the real world.

Works Cited: Amrulayeva, Zulya. Persnal Interview. 2 Oct. 2011. Andrew, M. Taylor. Procrastination in Online Courses. Texas Wesleyan University, Texas. Nov. 12, 2006. Print. Beetham, H. Learners’ Experiences of Learning: Experiences of UK Universities Proceedings of 6th International Networked Learning Conference. Halkidi, Greece, April 2008. Print. Conte, Christopher. Networking the Classroom. CQ Researcher. 20 Oct. 1995. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. David P. Diaz and Ryan B. Cartnal. Comparing Student Learning Styles in an Online Distance Learning Class and an Equivalent On-Campus Class Cuesta Community College. The CQ. Researcher. Washington, DC. Sep. 1999. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. Elvers, G. C., Polzella, D. J., and Graetz, K. (2003). Performance and Attitudinal Differences. Teaching of Psychology. New York Press. Feb. 3, 2003. Web. 07 Nov. 2011. Hansen, Brian. Combating Plagiarism. The CQ Researcher. Congressional Quarterly. Sept. 19, 2003. Print. Illet, Jordan. Personal Interview. 28 Sept. 2011. Krych-Appelbaum, Meredyth and Musial, Joanna. Students' Perception of Value of Interactive Oral Communication as Part of Writing Course Papers, Journal Articles. ERIC via U.S. Dept. of Education. Alabama. September 1, 2007. Print. Lyons, Linda. Should High School Require an Online Course? Gallup. News. Oct. 18,2005. Web. Sept. 29, 2011. Schutz, P.A., and Lanehart, S.J. Introduction: Emotions in education. Educational Psychologist. ERIC via EBSCO, LiLi. New York, Apr. 2002. Print. Stinson, Matt. Distance Learning. CQ researcher. December 7, 2001. Web. 24 Sept. 2011.