There is a lot of hype about Online Learning and the benefits it has to the students. Technology is a tool, and as a tool it needs to be used in that fashion. Great teaching has been occurring for as long as people have existed in some manner. As we progress, so do the tools we use to teach our students. I believe that technology is a great tool, but I say that with caution. Too many people are jumping on the Internet bandwagon only to find that the resources are not always available, and they are not that great. Many times my students can find the answer faster in a book simply because the Internet is slow due to many users logged on at the time my students need on to get the information. Or perhaps the school’s server is down at the time they need the information. At present I feel Online Learning is an unpredictable and many times an unreliable resource.
Technology is expensive, and at times the cost pulls from other programs that also need to be supported. Programs need updating, servers need to be maintained, and equipment needs to be kept in working order. Students need constant monitoring, and resources need to be constantly checked.
Standards are being written and implemented before all of the resources are in place. Not all students have computer or Internet access, and we are asking them to participate in the use of technology at home. In many ways I feel that society is putting the cart before the horse, expecting success. Many schools do not have the financial resources to purchase many necessary supplies for the students, yet they invest in technology that does not always fit the curriculum.
Many teachers do not have the knowledge and the background to teach or monitor the technology. Also, students are coming to school with a greater knowledge and understanding than the teacher.
In time I believe Online Learning will become smoother and easier to use and will prove to be a much more efficient resource. Like most things that a teacher will pull from his or her bag of tricks, the Internet is just another motivation and trick the teacher can use. The expectations that technology will fix many of the teaching whoas are high. Administrators, parents and most members of society expect to see results now.
I do believe technology is the means and the way of the future, but only in time will it show its success. Technology is increasing at such a rapid speed that it becomes almost unmanageable.