The Myths and the Truth About Online Education

By Caleb Keith –

Online education is an interesting topic that finds itself at odds with traditional teachers and homeschooling parents alike. However many of the charges brought against it are simply not true and wrongfully put a bad taste in people’s mouths. I am going to cover three of the most common myths about online education. Keep in mind I am not the world’s leading expert in online education, but I took all four years of High school online, I have taken six units of undergrad classes online, and I took a four unit graduate level intensive Latin course online. That means I have taken more than 1,200 hours over three different levels of education on four different online platforms. (Not too shabby, though.)

Myth 1: Online Education Devalues Teachers

In my experience, this first myth couldn’t be any farther from the truth. It is a common misnomer that online education is handled 100% by a computer with a pre-programed grading sheet. However every online program I have been a part of has had teachers that are an integral and core piece of the student’s education. Teachers online may not spend every day in a classroom with a student, but they do provide essential instruction and feedback. Most online classes, across every topic, involve heavy amounts of writing. Teachers are in charge of grading these assignments but more importantly they help the student cultivate writing skills through conversation via email, phone call, or video chat. Without teachers, online education would suffer and be reduced to copious amounts of multiple choice grade sheets.

Myth 2: Online Students Don’t Learn Since they can Google Answers

Out of all the typical myths and rumors about online school, the one above is the most rooted in fact. Students can and do Google the answers to questions on homework, quizzes, and tests. However if a student resorted to this as an alternative to learning facts and concepts in any class they would fail. Every test I have ever taken online has two measures safeguarding against cheaters. The first safeguard is a timer that automatically submits quizzes and tests after a certain time. If a student were to Google the answers to every question they would fail to complete the exam. The second and most important is that every exam includes or is followed by an essay or a paper. In my experience these essays typically make up over sixty percent of the quiz or tests overall score; meaning if you can’t coherently write five hundred words on the subject at hand, you’re not passing. Google can do a lot of great things, but it can’t guarantee that you’ll pass your class online.

Myth 3: Online Education is a Copout for Lazy Homeschooling Parents

I can tell you that some parents out there have used online education as an excuse to become uninvolved in their children’s education. However, I can also say with confidence that many parents use traditional schools as a copout as well for being involved in their child’s educational lives and blame teachers when their child begins to struggle. Like any form of schooling, parents have to be involved in the educational process or their child will suffer. With online school particularly, students need the help of parents in the formation of reading and writing skills. Additionally strict deadlines mean that parents have to keep tabs on their child’s progression through the year and make sure they aren’t falling behind. If a parent is trying to find the most hands-off approach to their child’s education they should send them to a public school rather than pay for online courses, which require their regular assistance.

Online education is becoming more readily available each year. Despite some common misconceptions, this is an extremely valuable resource that is reshaping education in many beneficial ways. With a heavy focus on reading, writing, and memory retention, online education helps students master essential skills that will prepare them for the university and the workforce. If you have heard any other myths or have concerns yourself about online education, drop a line below in the comments section and I’ll address it.

~Bringing it from the Digital World to the Real world: The Ghost in the Machine

4Comments

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1

Curt on August 19, 2015 at 4:11 pm

A long time ago, one of the biggest myths circulated largely by the public school crowd was the myth of socialization. Home schooled parents were warned that their children’s social skills would be stunted and underdeveloped if this educational path was followed. It was a ridiculous argument and really just a control issue. After all, what happened to children during summer vacation? Did they regress socially since they weren’t in school during this time? You don’t hear this argument much, if at all, anymore since the public school system finally came to terms with the fact that home- based learning wasn’t going away. Online learning applications are opening up educational possibilities in amazing ways.

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Lora on August 19, 2015 at 10:36 pm

When living in one place, I did 3/4 of a Masters Degree in person at a graduate school. After taking time off because of having a baby, and then having my husband get a call elsewhere, I had to pretty much re-do my entire degree, since Masters programs don’t like to accept many credits from other programs.

Online education for some levels- like high school, is excellent, but higher education especially in fields where the point is to interact with others, such as counseling, seminary, etc. need to have a much bigger component where there is direct interaction with both instructors and other students. The difference between the two programs for me were night and day, and I would never have been equipped to be a good therapist from the online program alone.

As a homeschooling mom, I can definitely see the value in online programs for many subjects at the middle school and high school level.

But I will say, in regard to your first point. My professors were out in the field, and that was good, but they were not given the freedom to teach independently. The information in my masters classes was scripted. The feedback they gave when they graded was excellent, but they were that…glorified graders. I have none of the benefits of a relationship with my professors, no ability to ask them for recommendations or referrals, and no way to go back to them for advice or to thank them. We could pass on the street and not know each other. I miss that.

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  Caleb Keith (The Ghost in the Machine) on August 20, 2015 at 8:57 am
  
  Lora,
  
  I had a very different experience during my masters level latin course. Granted this wasn’t a full program. What you have brought up is the serious weakness of online education, and that is consistency. Where I could be in an online program that has me actively engaging Professors and students with web conferencing tools, your program could under utilize their professors and miss the mark. However I also believe this to be the case with traditional schools. Depending on which university you attend a very cold impersonal experience could still occur.
  
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D@^n It Jim on August 22, 2015 at 11:43 pm

Thank you for the article. First, online education is new. A small dose of fear ( or even a large dose) is common when evaluating/using something new. As people become more familiar with it, many of these concerns will no longer be worrisome. Second, students must be proficient in the use of technology in order to be career ready. Many job requirements today require texting, email, online meeting, online networking, and other skills. Online education prepares students for these demands.

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The Myths and the Truth About Online Education

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