The very first thought-provoking piece of information I noticed was the number of interchangeable names given to forms of teaching online. In the reading by Major (2015), terms such as “e-learning, web-based teaching, internet-based teaching, computer-based learning, and virtual learning” are mentioned as different ways to describe online teaching methods. This example really gets me wondering, “are these just competitive terms used to glorify one service over another?” Or “are all these terms needed because there can never be one singular route/way to learn online?” It’s very interesting to think about in my opinion, and can see many possibilities in thinking as readers come across that example.
After reading the text by Major (2015), I must say I have a more diverse thought process when the topic of online learning comes to mind. Table 4.1 referred to as the “Classification chain of online course structures” sparked my mind map of breaking down Online Learning into its separate stems. This is a way of thinking of never had before and lead me to do further research. Complicated isn’t the correct term to describe the components of online learning but it is on the right track. From the ingredients of “Enrollment, Amount, Timing, Platform, and Pathway”, I now have a much different approach to my online classes through university and beyond. This is most important when deciding on specific classes for my schedule, for example, “Table 4.1” (Major, 2015) easily establishes the differences between the structures of online learning.
Arcos, B. de los. (2019, August 27). Openness and education: A beginner’s guide: GO-GN. GO. Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://go-gn.net/research/openness-and-education-a-beginners-guide/
Major, C. H. (2015). Teaching Online – A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uvic/detail.action?docID=3318874 (pp. 76-108)
Hey Noah!
Now that you’re able to break down online classes into their structures, do you think there’s a certain combination that would work best for you? If so, what is it? Have you taken classes before with that structure? How about ones that differed, what worked and what didn’t?
In addition to this, do you think the myriad of different names for learning online is a help or a hindrance to peoples understanding of what they entail? Do you think this is similar to the Regan & Jesse (2019) article in a sense? In that article the authors push for further definition of the word ‘privacy’, could the same case be made about terms for online learning? Should there be numerous names, or something simple like online, hybrid, and face-to-face? Do the structures that Major (2015) provides clear up some of the ambiguity?
Thanks! 🙂
Hi Noah!
I think the multiple names for online learning can be really confusing as each is trying to differentiate from the others, but overall I think it just highlights that there is never just one way of learning. This applies to the structure of learning, the mode, the style, and the method. It’s important for us to remember that all learners are unique and have their own style, so what works for one person may not work for another. That is why it so nice that there are various structures for online learning! Learners are able to figure out what works best for their own personal learning style and choose the structure that best suits their needs. Do you have a structure that best fits your learning? Has experiencing various courses with different online structures helped you figure out what works best for you?
Hi Noah!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this weeks readings!
In my opinion, the different terms for online learning are all interchangeable. I think the term you use simply depends on your experience with it. You raise an interesting question though and perhaps another one of our pod members has a different opinion than mine.
Thanks again for sharing 🙂
Hello Noah!
I was also surprised by the number of existing terms having the same meaning in terms of online learning. There’s way too many. I wonder which ones show up in credible dictionaries.
I like how you described the 5 organizational elements as ‘ingredients,’ they really sums up the online learning ‘dish.’ Table 4.1 also stuck with me when reading the ebook, since it clearly shows the spectrum of structures.