There are many methods to bring online professors and students together in real time. They include chat rooms with just text, video, voice conferencing and virtual worlds such as Second Life.
A colleague of mine bravely taught a synchronous graduate course in Second Life. In the beginning, he hadn’t yet mastered his avatar’s movements. He accidentally sat on a student and in an attempt to get up, delivered what might be described as a virtual lap dance. Imagine the student’s confusion!
While there are benefits to live online learning, such environments are not ideal for all students. Here are five things to watch out for when considering live online classes.
Consider [three academic advantages of online programs.]
1. Scheduling: In a live online class, the instructor and student must be available at the same moment in time. For students with erratic personal schedules or who live in a vastly different time zone than their college, there is a loss of freedom when compared to asynchronous online classes. Students who work, have families, provide care for someone else or have other pressures might find the rigidity of live scheduling to be cumbersome.
2. Technology failure: Technology has become more reliable, but it’s still not perfect. In live online classes, connectivity for both student and professor is essential.
If there is a service interruption with a device, or a power or Internet outage, this will result in lost information and might place students at a disadvantage. Students and professors must try recover whatever was missed. If service interruptions occur during an exam, this further complicates things.
Avoid these [10 time management mistakes online students make.]
3. Live classes favor extroverts: Some students are attracted to online learning because they can’t always be brilliant in the moment. Many students do their best work alone, in the quiet confines of their own time and space.
If you’re the student who would rather thoughtfully craft your language and submit it when ready, rather than shoot ideas off the cuff, live classes might not be the best fit.
4. Physical appearances: In video environments, your physical appearance matters. Responsible professors won’t care what you look like.
However, students might experience stress getting ready for class. The desire to make a good impression can push students to fret over clothing and jewelry choices, hair and make up, what the background looks like, lighting, or how old or young they appear on screen.
Follow [four tips for making a good impression in your online class.]
5. The different learning styles and aptitudes required: In a live online class, there are some limitations for the college to provide services for students with disabilities. A student for whom English is not a first language may also find a live online class challenging when compared with asynchronous classes. The class will move along at the average speed of comprehension, and if for any reason a student’s comprehension is slower than the average, a live online class can prove frustrating.
The takeaway: Online students should carefully consider prior to enrollment if they are the type of learner who is set up for success in a live online class. While the opportunities for lively interaction are plentiful, the obstacles might be overlooked.
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Overcome 5 Obstacles of Live Online Classes originally appeared on usnews.com
