Task 2. Online courses. Please evaluate
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:34 am
Question:
Some universities offers online courses for students. Do you think this is a positive or negative development for students?
Response:
Owing to development of software technologies, it has become possible to study online in some universities. In my opinion, I believe that this is positive development in some aspects. However, it does not mean that remote training can completely replace traditional classroom-based training.
On the one hand, online training has a number of positive aspects. The major benefit is that it can give an opportunity for one to listen to lectures of better experts from another part of the world. Moreover, some distance courses allows students to question the experts online, in chats or video conferences, for example, via Skype. In addition, the courses can provide a possibility for students of the same course to exchange their opinions in internet forums. Hence, these opportunities may help one acquire some essential knowledge from experts. Additionally, if it were not for the online courses, some students might never have such chance.
On the other hand, classroom training has its merits against distance one. Firstly, in class, learning process is usually controlled by a teacher whereas, being at home, a student need to control it by themselves. Therefore, the student should have a great amount of self-discipline and self-motivation in order to complete a distance course successfully. Secondly, some subjects, such as medicine, mainly requires much practice under direct supervision of a qualified teacher and with special equipment in class. Thus, as it is impossible to provide specific environment and control for practice at home, online courses will not be suitable for developing some practical skills.
In conclusion, if one is highly self-motivated and organised, online courses could be helpful. Nevertheless, they are not always suited to develop practical skills.
Some universities offers online courses for students. Do you think this is a positive or negative development for students?
Response:
Owing to development of software technologies, it has become possible to study online in some universities. In my opinion, I believe that this is positive development in some aspects. However, it does not mean that remote training can completely replace traditional classroom-based training.
On the one hand, online training has a number of positive aspects. The major benefit is that it can give an opportunity for one to listen to lectures of better experts from another part of the world. Moreover, some distance courses allows students to question the experts online, in chats or video conferences, for example, via Skype. In addition, the courses can provide a possibility for students of the same course to exchange their opinions in internet forums. Hence, these opportunities may help one acquire some essential knowledge from experts. Additionally, if it were not for the online courses, some students might never have such chance.
On the other hand, classroom training has its merits against distance one. Firstly, in class, learning process is usually controlled by a teacher whereas, being at home, a student need to control it by themselves. Therefore, the student should have a great amount of self-discipline and self-motivation in order to complete a distance course successfully. Secondly, some subjects, such as medicine, mainly requires much practice under direct supervision of a qualified teacher and with special equipment in class. Thus, as it is impossible to provide specific environment and control for practice at home, online courses will not be suitable for developing some practical skills.
In conclusion, if one is highly self-motivated and organised, online courses could be helpful. Nevertheless, they are not always suited to develop practical skills.