{"id":2139,"date":"2011-11-04T09:19:22","date_gmt":"2011-11-04T14:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=2139"},"modified":"2011-11-04T09:19:22","modified_gmt":"2011-11-04T14:19:22","slug":"4-critical-unresolved-issues-of-online-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2011\/11\/4-critical-unresolved-issues-of-online-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"4 critical unresolved issues of online learning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Worldwide, many programmes have been implemented to increase learning through the Internet, but there are a number of consequences in unduly relying on this medium. Four are discussed.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2152\" style=\"width: 171px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Child-using-computer-Sigs240651.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2152\" data-attachment-id=\"2152\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2011\/11\/4-critical-unresolved-issues-of-online-learning\/child-using-computer-sigs24065-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Child-using-computer-Sigs240651.jpg?fit=161%2C163&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"161,163\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Child using computer &#8211; Sigs24065\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;(Source: Sigs24065, Flickr)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Child-using-computer-Sigs240651.jpg?fit=161%2C163&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Child-using-computer-Sigs240651.jpg?fit=161%2C163&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2152 \" title=\"Child using computer - Sigs24065\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Child-using-computer-Sigs240651.jpg?resize=161%2C163\" alt=\"\" width=\"161\" height=\"163\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2152\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Source: Sigs24065, Flickr)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Last week, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.time4lime.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">LIME<\/a> announced it would be involved in delivering an interactive curriculum, based on the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC). The curriculum, called <em>\u201cLearning on LIME\u201d<\/em>, will be distributed through mobile devices, television and the Internet. LIME is partnering with FaberVision Studios and Pearson to develop the programmes. A key approach that will be employed to deliver the curriculum is storytelling. According the collaborators, and as reflected in statements made by Gary Goldberger, President of FableVision Studios,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>[b]lending technology and storytelling is a powerful way to improve education\u2026 by adding leading edge mobile devices, LIME is moving learning beyond classroom walls to where learners live and play.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Without a doubt, Internet proficiency is absolutely essential in today\u2019s world, and students can benefit from new and different learning tools and approaches, including those that can be implemented in an electronic format. Benefits that can be realised from using online tools include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>providing remedial assistance to slow learners<\/li>\n<li>encouraging students to participate more fully in their own learning by engaging in knowledge creating activities<\/li>\n<li>catering more fully to students\u2019 varying learning styles or preferences, and<\/li>\n<li>using modalities (e.g. images and sound) that are more appealing to learners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, we must also appreciate that there are a number of issues that remain unresolved and are even exacerbated by an unduly high reliance on the online environment, not just for learning, but also for other activities. This post highlights four key issues that should be considered.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1.\u00a0 Lack of face-to-face interaction<\/strong>. Even today, computing devices \u2013 PCs, smartphones, tablets, etc. \u2013 are designed for individual use. Although social networking has eroded some of the boundaries between people online, use of computers and similar equipment is still an individual pursuit. There are a number of essential social and collaborative skills that are inherently learnt in a classroom, and when working in groups. These skills are not only essential to everyday life, they are crucial in the workplace, where complex working relationships often exist, and persons are regularly required to work in ad hoc or established groups to achieve desired outcomes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2.\u00a0 The risk of isolation and stunted social development<\/strong>. Coupled with the previous point, the absence of face-to-face interaction does lead to some degree of isolation, which, for students, could undermine the entire learning process. Over the last 10 years or so, the link between the Internet and social isolation has received wide debate.\u00a0 Some of the findings suggest that the medium can provide a platform for building new relationships, especially among the middle-aged population, who otherwise might be isolated. However, the risk of stunted social development is of a particular concern with today\u2019s children,. They are not as active as previous generations, and increasingly, are choosing to spend whatever free time they have online and\/or playing virtual games, which is reduces their physical exposure and contact with others. The anticipated result, which is already becoming evident, is socially inept citizens, which in turn can exacerbate feelings of isolation, can increase stress and potentially, can trigger depression.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.\u00a0 Writing is still an issue<\/strong>. Although literacy applications do exist to help persons to improve their reading and comprehension skills, the ability to express oneself in words: to present one\u2019s ideas in fluent, coherent and well-constructed sentences, is becoming a dying art.\u00a0 Typically, learning software applications are developed for subjects and topics where there is a \u201cright\u201d answer. Composition and essay writing are subjective: they require practice and feedback for those skills to develop and improve.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Costs<\/strong>. Across the world, and even in the Caribbean, the cost of quality education, at all levels of the education system, is high. Although Governments across the region readily acknowledge the importance of education, frequently they end up cutting the budget for this sector in order to make ends meet. However, key initiatives currently being implemented across most Caribbean countries, are expanding Internet access to schools and providing students with low cost computers (laptops). Although these schemes arguably usher education and learning into the digital age, they are extremely costly to implement (to expand infrastructure and procure equipment), and to maintain those systems once established.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, the online environment is becoming increasingly integral to our every day lives. However, it ought not to be considered a panacea or a replacement for physical interaction or learning in the \u201creal world\u201d. With regard to education, computers and the online space should not be considered a replacement for teachers and the physical classroom. That setting not only fosters academic learning, it also provides a crucial backdrop for developing and mastering social and other essential life skills.<\/p>\n<p>___________<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Worldwide, many programmes have been implemented to increase learning through the Internet, but there are a number of consequences in unduly relying on this medium. Four are discussed. Last week, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[17,27,11],"tags":[64,49,14,32],"class_list":["post-2139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-caribbean","category-computing","category-ict-tech","tag-children","tag-education","tag-ict4d","tag-information-society","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-yv","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2139"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2162,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139\/revisions\/2162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}