Online learning has been promoted as being more cost effective and
convenient than traditional educational environments. This type of
distance learning has been defined as any class that offers at least
part of its curriculum in the online course delivery mode, or as a transmission of information via the Internet without instructors and students being connected at a university or college location.
However, as with any learning environment, there are some
disadvantages. Some critics claim that digital learning is not as
effective as traditional classroom learning because of its lack of face
to face interactions. When
considering the challenge, researchers have to ask themselves if it is
really the physical presence of the instructor and students that is an
essential element of learning; or, if not, then what element are critics
denouncing? Perhaps the kind of interactions that take place between students and instructors should be the focus instead.
To this end, for online learning, research shows that interaction among participants is critical in learning and cognitive development.
It is an interactive group process in which learners actively construct
knowledge and then build upon that knowledge through the exchange of
ideas with others. This indicates that there is a "better" model for online
courses. The model should not only present the information and
materials to students but also incorporate social aspects of learning in
both the design and instruction of online courses.
Given these facts, instructors and designers of online courses need
to take into account the mechanisms and behaviors by which social
presence is conveyed in an e-learning environment and integrate those
aspects into all of these kinds of courses. These ideas, moreover, align
with the literature on online learning which states that the idea of a
"many-to-many" communication tool can support and facilitate active
online learning and collaboration, which, in turn, can increase
students' motivation and satisfaction. The literature also identifies
interaction among students as critical in learning and cognitive development.
In addition, some theorists characterize learning as an interactive
group process in which the learners actively construct knowledge and
then build upon that knowledge through the exchange of ideas with others
and the feedback of other students.
Email Id:-deepa.singh@soarlogic.com
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