Socialization . . . Does it Matter in Education?
OBJECTIVE:
Can we get the same level of social learning by taking online courses as we can by attending a university or college and does it really matter that much? This is a question that throughout this course, has been nagging at me. Jose Antonio Bowen states that “for most students, college is an important time of socialization and social growth.” (Teaching Naked, pg. 228, 2012) In my opinion, this is a true statement, but college is also the place where students need to get the education they require to be an integral part of the workforce, so if they can do this for less money online, why wouldn’t they?
According to an article from Best Online Universities when speaking about online learning compared to traditional learning “the end result is the same — a diploma that will help you find a job in your field — but the learning environment is very different between the two platforms.” (Retrieved from http://bestonlineuniversities.com/key-differences-between-online-learning-and-traditional-campus-based-classes/) Is the learning environment that is provided at college enough of an argument for some to continue to fund face to face courses in the growing technological world?
REFLECTIVE:
I can say from my experience of attending a community college as well as a university that I loved the social interaction of the face to face class as well as all the other things that came along with that experience. Sitting face to face with a group of students in a classroom and having a discussion seems more genuine to me than meeting in a chat room online. Attending a hockey game or playing in an intermural volleyball or basketball league allowed me to interact with students who may or may not have been in my classes at the school. And for the students who were in my classes, I got to see a different side of them at these informal meeting places than what I did when we were in class. The benefit of this is that I learned to socialize with people in and out of my field of education.
So while online learning offers socialization in a different way, is that socialization as well rounded as that from a college? I guess that if you are taking online courses, this does not mean that you cannot join a league or club, outside of school and get the same socialization that happens at college/university, but the discipline that it takes to do this may be greater.
But now, as an adult learner, the social experience that I had while attending college/university would not be as important to me. So these are the questions I would have to ask when deciding to take online courses as opposed to face to face courses.
INTERPRETIVE:
PIDP 3240 is the first experience I have had with online learning. As much as l think that it is a wonderful way to learn, I must admit that if I were in my late teens or early 20’s (like I was while attending college and university), I am sure that I would not have had the discipline that I do at 40 + years old, to use my time wisely and get the work done. In an article written by Neil Kokemuller for Global Post, he says that online learning “requires more self-discipline, time management and motivation to complete work.” (Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/online-learning-vs-classroom-learning-4190.html)
As stated in Teaching Naked, “employers realize that the product is learning and not the degree . . .” (Bowen, pg. 226, 2012) Are employers looking for someone who just knows the content and are able to recite this back to them or do they need someone who has had some socialization and able to interact with other employees, who may not be in the same stream or field that they are in, at the company they work for?
We also need to take into consideration the fact that some courses require face to face contact. For instance, the course that I instruct in is Certified Dental Assisting. The theory for this course could be taught online but the practical or clinical skills needed to graduate have to be taught face to face.
DECISIONAL:
So what I have learned is that I believe there is a place for both online and traditional learning and they both have their own style of socialization. As Bowen stated in Teaching Naked, “the experience are different, and they appeal to different people at different times.” (Pg. 232, 2012) Some people will learn better online and some will learn better traditionally and the social aspects for each will be based on what each person wants to get out of their own education. And perhaps the age of the student will dictate which way and how they learn best.
As for my instructing techniques, I am going to have to take into consideration the changing world and how education is effected by these changes. We are now a face to face course with a young age group who appreciate technology and so incorporating more of that into my classroom is a must. Bowen says that “Universities that thrive will be those that use both the power of the Internet and the power of the classroom to offer better learning.” (Teaching Naked, pg. 235, 2012), so I can only assume that the courses that will thrive will be the ones that use the power of the Internet and the power of the classroom to offer better learning also.
So as far as online learning vs. traditional learning and the socialization question . . . they both have their advantages and disadvantages and the learner has to decide what is best for them. Hopefully this decision will not be made entirely by the cost of the program online as opposed to traditionally.
References
Best Online Universities. Key Differences between Online Learning and Traditional Campus-Based
Classes. Retrieved April 6, 2015 from
Bowen, Jose Antonio. (2012). Teaching Naked. How Moving Technology Out
of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning. San Francisco:
John Wiley and Sons.
Kokemuller, Neil. Global Post: America’s World News Site. Online Learning Vs.
Classroom Learning. Retrieved April 6, 2015 from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/online-learning-vs-classroom-learning-4190.html
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