RRCC Adapting to Change in the Face of COVID 19 Pandemic Discussion – Description
A Change in Education: The Benefits of Online vs. In-Class Learning
MAKIYA LINEBERGER
[1]Major changes have occurred in 2020: the whole world has been bombarded by a pandemic and new procedures have been put in place to keep the public safe. [2]One of these changes in colleges and universities has been the shift from in-person classes, where social distancing may be difficult to maintain, to virtual learning, which has the potential to better protect both students and faculty by encouraging schooling in a more independent setting at home or in another designated study space. As a matter of fact, students are shown to learn more, have a more convenient and flexible schedule, and save more money when opting for online school. [3]These factors make virtual learning more beneficial for students than traditional schooling by allowing them the flexibility to learn and retain more information.
[1] Title clearly announces focus of the essay.
[2] Opening paragraph draws readers in by evoking current events.
[3] Last two sentences present major claim.
[4]Change, however, doesn’t work for everyone. Students who feel more focused in a designated academic space for learning, as in a face-to-face classroom in a school rather than their homes, probably hated the idea of being forced into virtual learning. This is understandable, especially since traditional learning is what most students are accustomed to. Understanding the benefits that virtual learning can provide and applying them to everyday life may change the way today’s college students think about and approach virtual learning.
[4] Presents alternative point of view fairly and openly
One major benefit of online learning is the potential for students to retain more information than they would in an in-person class. Some critics of online learning may be skeptical, claiming that isolating students from hands-on learning opportunities found in traditional face-to-face classes may decrease retention. [5]However, researchers from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and Indiana University of Pennsylvania found that by incorporating alternative curriculum-supported teaching methods, such as educational games, online learning could “enhance critical thinking, provide more flexible interaction, and increase overall course performance when used with other pedagogical strategies” (Rosendale and Zeglen). Online, instructors have the ability to post and share course materials, allowing students easier access to books, videos, and other content without the need to carry physical books or manage unruly amounts of print-outs. University Herald reporter Ernest Hamilton highlights the online student’s ability “to review the lecture, instructions, demonstration, or teacher’s notes [which] can also be a benefit to his or her learning process and can help move the student through a difficult area.” This increase in accessibility helps make online classes easier to navigate and information easier to find. Students are able to learn and retain information more effectively and at their own pace with learning tools and strategies tailored to the online learning experience rather than rushing to take in information from traditional formats like lectures and complete an assignment before the deadline. When students are engaging in multimedia content that catches their attention, they have more control over how they take in the material.
[5] Factual evidence from researchers at major universities supports a major benefit of online learning.
Student improvement in performance with online learning has also been documented by the United States Department of Education in a 2010 study comparing students learning the same subjects and materials in online and face-to-face classes. The study showed that although a mix of online and traditional learning is the overall better option, students of all genders, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds performed modestly better in an online setting than in a traditional setting (Means). Benedict Carey, in his article “What We’re Learning About Online Learning,” also notes that for the 2018–2019 school year, Michigan students taking virtual AP exams scored consistently higher at an average score of 3.21 over the state average of 3.04 when taking the exam in a traditional classroom.
In addition to the potential for increased information retention and performance on test scores, online learning also offers the benefit of flexibility in scheduling, granting students the ability to change their learning pace at any time during the course. They can work faster and more efficiently on assignments for subjects they feel they’ve mastered and take more time on subjects in which they feel less confident. Students also have the advantage of being able to schedule their online classes around their existing responsibilities, affording more time for work and study. [8]According to a 2013 study by The Learning House, “44 percent of online students reported improvements in their employment standing” (Heap), which indicates that online learning increases student performance both academically and professionally. This is possible because online students are able to schedule their online work around their work schedule, helping them perform better not only academically but also professionally. In other words, students have more control over how they consume course material, and they are better prepared to separate other commitments from their studies to focus on each separately.
[8] Data addresses the flexibility offered by online learning, another major benefit.
With the increased flexibility granted by online learning, students also benefit from its convenience. In the United States, more than 85 percent of students live off-campus (Sharpe), and commuting between home and school is, for many of those students, a time-consuming and stressful process, as traffic or other unforeseen travel delays can create unsafe driving conditions or result in missing class. In an online environment, students don’t have to worry about being late, and the time that it takes to travel from home to school could be time used to get extra assignments done or study for an upcoming exam.
While flexibility and convenience are important factors to today’s student, online courses also come at a more affordable price than traditional courses, which help students save money. [9]According to Richard Price, a research fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, the forced switch to online learning means that “colleges and universities no longer have the option to dabble in online. [They] will start to notice the investment is pretty worthwhile in expanding revenue and lowering costs” (qtd. in Zalaznick). With online courses, students may have the same tuition rates, but they do not have to pay for housing or a meal plan, which can save them thousands of dollars each semester. According to data published by U.S. News & World Report, “in-state tuition prices among public National Universities grew by 72 percent over the period from 2008 to 2021” (Kerr and Powell), indicating a steady rise in costs for in-person courses. [10]When comparing the total average cost of a traditional degree versus an online degree from the University of the Potomac, for example, students save more than $80,000 . Since the cost of online education is significantly lower than traditional face-to-face learning, students incur less student loan debt and pay less interest.
[9] Cost effectiveness of online learning is supported by research from a reputable institute.
[10] Provides concrete fact-based example of lower costs of online learning
However, not everyone is a proponent of online learning over traditional learning: online learning critic Seth Hughes argues that online classes limit communication skills, memory development, and motivation. While Hughes makes valid points, these challenges can also occur within a traditional learning environment. And, given the right mix of “asynchronous, synchronous and face-to-face learning” (Kim) tools and learning strategies, students have already been shown to learn and retain more information in online environments since digital programs such as Zoom or Skype can help students interact with their peers and teachers through online “face-to-face” communication.
For many students, the danger imposed by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic outweighs the difficulty of transitioning to online learning. Isaac Lozano, a high school senior who comes from a low-income, high-risk family, says that even though online learning is hard, he would rather participate in it than see people die from COVID-19. [13]Lozano’s uncle lost his life to the virus this year, and Lozano wasn’t even able to say goodbye. Because of this loss, Lozano lives in fear of coming in contact with someone who has the virus, and so he feels safer at home, even in cramped conditions. Lozano also discusses how families like his face a different struggle while living in this pandemic, as many may not have access to healthcare and live in a household with essential workers who could easily be exposed to the virus. Having personally felt the impact of the virus, Lozano understands firsthand the importance of adapting to changes in learning: “the pandemic poses unique challenges for kids like me. But if schools can offer us support — as my district is doing by providing free meals, internet hot spots, and laptops to those in need — I know we can continue to learn remotely while staying safe.”
[13] The story of one student’s personal experience appeals to emotion while explaining why even under adverse circumstances, online learning is preferable.
[14]As a student, I understand how nerve-racking the transition to online learning can be, but after experiencing it firsthand, I can say that online learning has made me a better student, encouraging me to change my study habits and to take my time learning lessons that I was struggling with. For the spring semester of 2020 prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I switched to online classes for multiple reasons. During this transition, I found that I was engaging more with these online courses than I had done in the classroom. I also found I was able to remember the information that I was learning better since I could take my time in reading and taking notes rather than being rushed through a limited amount of time in in-person class. My university also supported my learning and eased my anxiety about grades by allowing students to opt for pass-fail grades (see fig. 2).
[14] The author’s use of firsthand experience as evidence helps make a connection to readers.
Research and personal experience both suggest that there’s no one system that is perfect for everyone, and that in-class and virtual learning have their pros and cons. But by affording students the freedom to study more independently and flexibly, virtual learning gives them the opportunity to become not only better students, but also people who are better able to use the skills they are learning once they transition into a professional field.
For the discussion, see if you can present some of the controversy suggested by her argument and how she focuses on specific contexts. When you analyze, you want to evaluate why and how she chooses and what she might not mention that would conflict with her point. Remember the key to factual arguments is the analysis. You want to evaluate her analysis of the problem or issue, not just her position on it.
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