Till now all I have done is talk about the benefits of online education; all that it gives us for less money. All we can acquire by just sitting at the ease of our houses. But as we all know nothing comes without a disadvantage. If something gives you benefits and comfort, it must somewhere have something that is not that beneficial and can be a little bit hurting. Everything has a cost to it. So does online education.
One major drawback in online education is the lack of technical skills required to pursue an online degree. Most people are still not that technologically advanced to cope up with the methods that are used to make online education better. I don’t mean that all students are not technologically equipped; however ever there still are a large number who lag behind. Even many of the lecturers and administration people themselves find difficulty in operating the programs to teach or monitor the students. The tutors, especially, have had acquired their degree through traditional means and are mostly not very well versed with the gadgets.
Secondly, the most important thing required to student online is a computer and internet connection. However people in regional and far flung areas still don’t have access to this commodity. It is quiet expensive for them to purchase a computer. In one place where online education helps students from different areas meet and study together, there on the same time it creates a difficulty where a student cannot consult or discuss a technical problem occurred to him as he may not find anyone from his area.
Online course designers can sometimes wrongly anticipate computer technology advances. This leads to courses being developed for implementation on computers which were expected to become available in the future, but which did not become available; (Alexander, S. (2001) Education and Training E-Learning developments and experiences Vol. 43, Iss. 4/5, pg.240.)
The cost of an online degree is not always very low as thought by students. Some degrees may cost much more than if they were taken traditionally due to the cost of the multimedia accessories and materials involved in the syllabus. These costs may even leave behind the costs of accommodation and travel in local education.
Online education sometimes becomes very difficult to maintain. One of the reasons why a student moves towards online education is lack of time. He finds it difficult to maintain a balance between job and college hours. But even whether studying online you need to devote time in order to get grades and pass courses. At college and school, students have pre arranged time tables. Whereas while studying online you have to set a time table yourself or all your efforts go wasted.
Another major disadvantage I’d count is the lack of interaction. Even though students interact with their tutors through online learning systems, however one still can’t hear questions and discussions of other students at the time of lecture delivery. However nothing is totally free from disadvantages. Online education also has some. It now depends on the student how he manages everything.
By: Keith Londrie
Archive for November, 2009
Disadvantages Of Online Education
November 29th, 2009Nursing Seminars – Continue Your Training and Education
November 26th, 2009
Nursing seminars offer an easy way to stay on top of your career training. Continuing education seminars will keep you up to date with the latest technology, treatment, and medical advances that affect your career and the care you give to patients. A nursing seminar gives you the chance to quickly and easily continue your training and education.
You can find a variety of seminars and continuing education programs that will fit your needs and give you the training you want. The first place to look for seminars should be the hospital or facility that you work for. Many hospitals offer seminars throughout the year to give medical professionals an opportunity to learn new techniques and treatments. For nurses who work in private practices, you may still be able to attend the seminars at local hospitals or other facilities although the price may be a bit higher.
Another alternative is to attend a seminar at a nursing conference or other gathering. Conferences often have multiple seminars open to participants on different topics related to the conference focus. If you are attending the conference anyway, this can be a great option to gain a certification or other training.
Technological advances have also made it easy to take a nursing seminar or class from the comfort of your own home. This option saves you money because you don’t have to travel to a site in order to attend the seminar. In some cases, you’ll listen to an audio recording of a live seminar and then take the certification test afterwards.
Nursing seminars have a number of benefits. First, by gaining more certifications and training, you’ll be ready for new job openings or be in a better spot to negotiate for higher pay in the job you’re in. Employers generally favor those who have sought continuing education and have gained certification in key areas.
Second, you need to be aware of changes in laws, national and state regulations, and new advances in patient care. Seminars can provide all of this information in quick and easy formats. You’ll stay up to date on what you need to know and learn how to better care for your patients.
Finally, the options available for seminars make it easier than ever to complete the ongoing training required. Your employer may require a certain amount of training or recertification each year, not to mention the legal requirements in this area. Nursing seminars allow you to meet these requirements without sacrificing a lot of time or money.
Nursing seminars will keep you at the top of your field and practice. Ask your employer about seminars offered or search online to find one on a topic useful to your nursing position. You’ll increase your knowledge, get more money, and be better able to help your patients get well.
By: Karen Rodgers
Controversial Education Issues – Declining Standards in Public Schools
November 26th, 2009
One of the most controversial education issues today is the continuing decline in student learning standards at state schools throughout Australia, which is an issue of concern to both the public and the government. Hardly an election, be it State or Federal, goes past without the education band wagon being wheeled out, with promises of reform and greater spending to cure the problem.
Yet the problem persists despite a myriad of “solutions” being applied ranging from increased spending, shifting the focus onto e-learning and various curriculum and assessment frameworks.
Why is this problem so persistent? Despite intermittent efforts by the media to make teachers the scapegoat for the drop in standards, the blame lies neither with them nor with the students involved. At present, students can only be kept from progressing to the next year level if the parents of the student give permission. This sounds fine in theory, but in reality this permission is rarely if ever given. In the ten years I have worked as a teacher in Australian government schools, I have only seen one case of this.
This means that students are promoted to the next year level regardless of their skill level. The students are aware of this and as a result the completion of set work in the classroom has become optional. It is worth noting that private schools are not subject to this ridiculous situation.
Since there are no standards for moving up to the next year there are many students at any given year level that are well below the expected standard. This not only increases the workload of the teacher taking the class, but also diminishes the learning opportunities of those students who are interested in the work.
Behavioural issues go hand in hand with a poor skill level in a subject, as the student who is behind the expected level is frustrated by work they do not understand due to not having a good grounding in the subject from previous years.
Various solutions to these problems have been put forward including individual learning plans, open classrooms, task based learning and assessment, the list goes on and on. Most of these so-called solutions mean endless work for the teacher while producing no noticeable improvement in student outcomes. But the fact remains that none of these reforms address the basic problem of students not being required to pass to a specified standard. There will be no significant improvement in student academic achievement in core subjects such as English, Math and Science until minimum pass standards are re-introduced. Everything else is simply rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
By: Roger Vanderlely
