Online learning may be the immediate future of education for K-12, but not all online instructors are trained as online teachers. This lack of proper training and support for those who teach online often results in a text-heavy experience that does not take advantage of virtual instruction or its digital aspects. It fosters a preconception of students sitting in isolation reading large amounts of text and then submits their work to a faceless teacher.

This, of course, is not the way the online structure is utilized to its true benefit! Online learning is a robust set of creative modules designed for individual student learning and achievement. For teachers who are moving their course online, It is a complex endeavor to determine the learning needs of students but, there are some guidelines that will help.

• Learning should be developmentally appropriate to the student’s age and/or grade.

• Provide academic content to students in multiple formats to meet the needs of all learners

• Students learn best when they can apply what they learn to their own lives.

• Performing authentic tasks makes for a richer learning experience than rote memorization of formulas or facts.

• Due to the social nature of students, they learn best when discussing content and ideas with others. (collaboration is key)

What does the research suggest?

Research further reveals that students have different learning motives than college students or adults. Online learning seems to contradict adolescent learning motivations and needs, it does not mean learning does not occur in isolation. It is not a new concept that teachers have a great deal of influence on students in a face-to-face setting.

Research has shown that K-12 learning online is as important as face-to-face when the teacher is more “visible” through online contact. Whether online or face-to-face students do not learn when the teaching practices fail to meet student individual learning needs.

To Be Synchronous Or Asynchronous?

The online instructor has to decide which to use, synchronous or asynchronous or use a combination of both. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages the instructor must decide how to use each for maximum learning benefits for each student.

Synchronous is defined as “requiring the simultaneous attendance of the instructor and student” similar to face-to-face classroom attendance. This method requires that both instructors and students attend the online class at the same time in accordance to a preset schedule. Thus, fostering an atmosphere where both students and the instructor can interact as a single classroom, quite similar to webinars held by large corporations.

Asynchronous does not require everyone to attend at the same time giving credence to education anytime, anywhere aspect of online learning. Online instructors and students can utilize email, blogs, and discussion boards and so on to facilitate learning. Not having to respond to class content instantly gives the student time to formulate a cognitive in-depth response.

Asynchronous method of online learning allows students who may struggle to keep up during synchronous sessions to keep pace with the rest of the class. The real key to the online schooling of students is to balance the use of both synchronous and asynchronous methods that best utilize students’ time.

There should be a time for all students to attend and a time where students can login receive or post assignments, get or post emails, post blogs, etc. There are certain components that should present on all online learning websites:

• Places to locate the instructor’s contact information.

• A place to locate the course syllabus, expectations, policies and procedures.

• A place to locate assignments and due dates.

• A place where course content can be found.

• A place where students can collaborate on assignments either synchronous or asynchronous.

Many schools and teachers have been forced to go online and this process can be a challenge. eLearning takes practice, training, and ongoing support to students and teachers. We have to get this right, the next generation of students are counting on us. As for school districts, who have made the switch, it is imperative that the website is up-to-date, easy to navigate, have clear and concise instructions for students to succeed, and your Learning Management System is able to sustain the shift.

Sources

David Schouweiler. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA

Wayne Journell. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA 

Hrastinski, S. (October-December 2008). “A study of asynchronous and synchronous e-learning methods discovered that each supports different purposes.” Educause Quarterly 31(4): 51-55.