By: Anne Clarke
Perhaps the greatest concern connected with the development of adequate tools for online teaching is that there will be less of a need for trained instructors overall. This is what many teachers
Perhaps the greatest concern connected with the development of adequate tools for online teaching is that there will be less of a need for trained instructors overall. This is what many teachers fear. However, on the other end of the spectrum, some schools such as understaffed or crowded colleges and universities may appreciate online teaching as a way to maintain a good number of students without having to overfill classrooms.
Another advantage, especially for older students who have to work around a busy schedule, online teaching may be a great solution for their time restrictions—allowing these students to take lessons on their own time—and thus not miss out on classes they want to take, but that simply do not work with their current schedules for work, athletic activities, and so on. For these people, online teaching makes reaching their personal educational goals much, much more achievable.
There are certain drawbacks to online teaching, however. Most importantly in college and university levels there is not often any consultation or one-on-one meetings and / or discussions with the professor—which is something many students need to achieve their very best results as possible in the classroom.
The drawbacks of online teaching in high schools, middle schools and elementary schools are all very similar. The students, although they can be well taught by a good program for online teaching will still have questions that it will be hard for the computer to answer in a way that they will understand.
Therefore, even if schools use online teaching, there should be a teacher present (and not just a computer lab assistant or supervisor) to assist the students with their assignments and with any questions they may have regarding the material they are studying.
If this system is understood, online teaching should not be as much of a concern for instructors, in fact, many instructors will be glad for the opportunity to work one-on-one with his or her students individually while the other students are busy at their computers continuing to learn.
When a teacher learns more about a good online teaching system and its software, and he or she realizes that the school will not be laying off instructors as a result—online teaching can be something a for which teacher may become truly grateful.
The best advice is for schools trying out the systems of online teahing is to utilize the highest quality online programs, being selective and very thoughtful a cirriculum is set up a curriculum that involving teaching online.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening and electronic innovation. For more of her articles about digital cameras please visit Online Teaching.
