Online Class

Online classes are strictly online and never meet in person. The online course fails the criteria because it fulfills two of the four criteria.

Online classes fit the criteria for participating because of the discussion board. The students post about the topic of the week and must respond to another students and respond to their response. Participation is required and points will be taken off if a response is not given (Jones, page 59). The online class feature small groups but the groups do not work together as they are to serve as to who is supposed to respond to who. Students do not develop relationships because they do not see each other in person. 

Online classes do not fit the criteria for teacher student relationships. The teacher will never see the student and does not have office hours. The student cannot see if the teacher wants his or her student’s to succeed (Jacobson, page 65). The only way that the student can get in contact with the teacher is through email. If the student has an issue, there is no way the student can see the teacher. This hurts the learning environment because the teacher and student cannot connect. The student will not know if the teacher wants him or her to succeed (Jacobson, page 65). The student is just a name and will never have a personal relationship with his or her teacher. In online classes, the teacher cannot teach the student in a way that the student understands (Jacobson, page 55). It is difficult to ask for things like recommendations when the student has never seen the teacher. 

The online classes fit the criteria for debating and discussions. The discussion board lets students talk about issues and debate them (Carleton, page 703). The personal debate of talking about issues is missing as arguments are formulated and the in-person feel is not there. The discussion board still lets students discuss issues and talk about the topic of the week. 

Online classes do not fit the criteria of making friends. Students do not develop relationships because the debates are not personal (Myers). The students do not meet and the small groups are not worth much if the students do not see each other. The class is usually by the book and students must do work on their on. Students do work at their own pace which takes away from the chance of group work if students are on different lessons. 

                                                                                   [John Kluepfel]