The article, Community - College Students Perform Worse Online That Face to Face, raises some interesting issues regarding the efficacy of online course instruction. Highlighting a study of 51,000 community-college students, the article reveals that there is an 8% gap in completion rates between students enrolled in online courses and traditional courses. This gap widens to 11
% when we consider students enrolled in developmental education. The study further suggests that students who enroll in online courses are better prepared academically and that students who enroll in online courses early in their college career are more likely to drop out.
The article also suggests that online courses are necessary to cater to the busy lives of our students, but warns that online courses that are "thrown-together" will not effectively serve our students. I have often wondered what sort of thinking goes into the design of the online courses that colleges offer. It seems to me that a well-designed online course, with changes in the curriculum to accommodate online learning will bring students much more success than a course which simply provides the same readings and tests that students would be expected to complete in the classroom. Without deliberate consideration of the environment that students choose to learn in, and a consequential decision to tailor the course materials to the particular environment, educators run the risk of providing sub-par instruction.
This is especially crucial as we consider students attending a community-college. Often these students enroll in courses without seeing an advisor, with remedial education needs, and without a real understanding of the expectations of a college student. According to the article, community college students tend to be low income and disadvantaged and therefore not as tech savvy as many of us assume young people are. This is important as we consider the need to provide orientation for any student who chooses to enroll in an online course for the first time. The study suggests that online courses create a time-management issues for students. Although online course offerings have been developed to provide flexibility for students who are balancing competing responsibilities, too often the result is that students are unable to monitor their progress through the course and keep up with the coursework without reminders and encouragement that come with face to face interactions. I cannot remember how many times a classmate reminded me that a particular assignment was due in a course. I also can't remember how many times I sought the assistance of other students as we helped each other stay on track and find success.
For community college students who choose to take courses online, especially those right out of high school, it seems necessary to provide an orientation to online learning. They already face the struggles of adapting to the rigors of a college education and coming to the realization that high school is very different than college, to leave them alone to navigate complicated technological platforms borders on irresponsible. I find it interesting that for many years a local community college required all students to complete and introductory computer class as a part of their degree, because faculty and staff determined that computer skills were necessary to find success in future employment. What was not necessary, apparently, was for students to complete this course prior to signing up for an online course. We recognize the need for computer skills, and by requiring the course, insinuate that students don't have computer skills, but we then allow them to sign up for a course that requires a deep understanding of computers.
It seems to me that if we are going to continue to move toward online instruction as a viable option, administrators need to begin thinking about the ramifications of this decision in all aspects of the student experience. I understand that it is cheaper to run online courses, but if our students are not being successful and dropping out of college, isn't it time to consider how to provide the support services necessary to assure that students have their best chance at success?
Brad, thank you for a great post. This issue is prevalent where I work and we struggle with how to better assist community college students with online courses. I often have students in my office who are upset because they have failed online courses over and over again and are no longer eligible for financial aid or they are on academic suspension. I am usually able to engage the student in a conversation about online courses and why they have not been successful. Often times students are not aware of the amount of work required in an online course. While the convenience factor of online courses appeals to students, they are not educated on the requirements of online courses.
ReplyDeleteAnother group of students who significantly struggle with online courses are international students. Their visa status usually only allows them to be registered for a few online credit hours, but they struggle with these courses. I have seen straight A (in-class) students who attempt an online class and fail.
I agree that a mandatory online orientation would be a great idea. Students need to know what they are up against in online courses. The reality of an online course is often a shock for students and it would be better to education them up front on the issues they will struggle with when taking an online courses.
Brad, your post and related article made me think of the recent report concerning K12 online education in Colorado as well. The investigative report found many of the same challenges with student performance and success as discussed in your article. It also discussed the differences for students in face-to-face vs. online environments. Of course the report also was critical of the money (tax) being wasted and the lack of oversight and accountability.
ReplyDeleteIn general I often wonder if we have moved too quickly in terms of expanding online education and opportunities without working out the details like orientation, setting expectations, and setting students up for success. Online education (even a hybrid class like 695) is a whole different animal. Is this another case of technology moving faster than we can keep up. Curious how we will work to leverage this and enhance student success, completion and access.
http://www.inewsnetwork.org/2011/10/04/online-k-12-schools-project/
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ReplyDeleteSo true in most cases. However, more and more community colleges are instituting fewer choices for students once admitted. In particular FRCC has mandatory advising, testing, and prerequisite and test score registration blocking so students cannot bypass these critical steps. I think community colleges will always have to deal with the underprepared because of our open access mission and limiting options or making steps to success mandatory may be the key.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of technology, I would be interested to know if four year colleges are delivering online better or they online options are less, therefore, the obvious achievement gap is not so apparent. Nonetheless, all colleges and universities are going to have to deliver online learning better.
I think that there should be an online introduction course just as there is an introduction seminar for all students entering college. I took an online statistics class this past year, and I have never been more frustrated and disappointed in the operation of a class in my entire educational career. For the most part, it was because I did not have a complete understanding of all the topics covered,and when I sought help, it took more than a day to get the response, and for the most part, the response given did not answer my question. So in turn, it would take almost a week by changing emails to get real answer. When I asked about coming into office hours to go over ideas, she told me she regular hours, but the only time she could meet was during the day, which made it extremely difficult for someone working full time.
ReplyDeleteI think if online classes are really the up and coming forms of technology, then I think that there needs to be a better introduction process to allow students, especially order, less technologically advanced, students to have a better grasp of how the technology and concepts are to be used.
Online versus face to face instruction has been one of the main debates in recent educational forums. The statistics provided in the referenced articles clearly speak of the ineffectiveness of online instruction.
ReplyDeleteAlthough online learning may have been heralded in recent years as the answer to educational challenges for new generations of students, it is important to remember that one of the primary goals of education is for students to interact and participate in socially enhanced environments where knowledge can be shared.
Perhaps, if we were to reconsider this basic purpose of education students can develop and learn from interactions with classmates and instructors and therefore be successful even with the use of technology
Thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteEach type of education has its benefits and its features, so, we cannot say this is better than the other, but we can say everyone can choose what fit with him\her from the available types of education. It is important that education should reach to everyone to attain the same goal which is aimed by the State and the community.
For me, I believe that distance education is useful in some cases like social and humanity studies, but I do not think it would be useful in scientific majors because it requires the presence of the student. It is useful to combine different types of education in the same major.