Assessment of online learning effectiveness and outcomes

¶ … Online Learning

The way of conveying message to students has begun to change in this online era. Teacher who are the brokers of information have to approach the advanced mediums in order to reach the students or consumers. Online learning is gaining more popularity for reaching students as it aids in expanding the comprehension and readability of what a student learns. For a teacher, sometimes it can be frustrating when student do not complete their homework just because they are unable to do it (Somekh and Underwood, 2007).

Practicing mediums of technology provide teachers an opportunity to teach at an advance level instead of average grade levels to students. While, technology plays a very crucial role in schools, but it is disappointing that it has given less importance in integrated learning systems. This is also true for technology courses and internet access which are generally offered to the children. Moreover, little to no studies have taken place about the effects of adding technology in the preceding ten years. Technology can play a very prominent role in schools by helping learners, teachers as well as administration in doing a better job. Teachers need tools for measurements in order to realize what needs to be taught and to whom. They require databases in order to keep track of assessments. This needs to be done not simply at the end of the academic year but in real time. Student should be working concurrently on skill development apps instead of exercise books so that their teachers are able to receive reports which highlight the problem areas as well as track progress. These databases and reports will highlight the acquisition of skills at the level at which a teacher teaches instead of a specific grade level (Somekh and Underwood, 2007).

With the application of proposition 13 and other programs which eventually restricted the funding to after schools programs, educational establishments have to make more efforts and work over time to serve the same learner group. However, the use of technology and computers can help with these shortages and minimize the hard work (Somekh and Underwood, 2007).

One thing which could frustrate any teacher is the lack of tools that are capable of making an assessment to effectively monitor the level that a student could reach and achieve. Lessons should be designed in such a way that they enable students to be flexible and in charge of their self-learning. The owner ship of the learning can encourage a student in moving forward on the track of knowledge and success (Somekh and Underwood, 2007).

To make sure that online learning has been able to meet the same objectives as face-to-face classes meet, there are key elements which need to be kept in mind while setting up a successful online instructions or lessons which are as follows.

Ensuring that every student assumes good intentions:

One of the biggest problems faced by a student in a traditional class setting is the fear of doing well and to stand out. It is noted by Steinburg that a modern American society inclines a student more towards social and recreational pursuits than a school. Peer pressure is a widespread dilemma which causes a student to not succeed academically. One in five students asserts that his friends make fun of those colleagues who are doing well in studies. Moreover, half of all students don't bother to share their school work with their fellows and mates. Online education is one way to fight this battle against peer pressure. To meet the objectives of face-to-face class, online education overcomes this hurdle and makes an effort to change the perspective of a student. Technology being utilized in online education disregards the myth that reading has been for the nerds and being cool means not doing the school homework; but emphasize that reading unlocks the doors of success. Online educational lessons are designed in a way that promotes group studies so that a student does not entirely isolate himself but has the ability to interact and communicate with class mates. However, online education can also offer a hint of anonymity in order to have freedom of expression for students who are just here for knowledge and only interact with people to help them prepare for tests or other projects but feel uncomfortable by larger class room settings (Turvey, 2005).

One of the inborn limitations with online lessons is that that the teacher cannot use student feedback to modify the material, activity or instructions of the course. However, to ensure that online education meets the objectives of face-to-face classes, teachers ought to be trained professionally to guarantee if the students are satisfied with the lesson and predict, early on, if something is not working properly. In case of any problems, teachers ought to make an effort to allow students to get a better understanding of the lesson and achieve desired outcome. For instance, Read 180 has lexile level books which ensure that the learners are learning lessons from books which have been designed according to their skill level (Turvey, 2005).

Power of internet is the built in benefit and added bonus in online education which helps in the mission of teaching students online. According to Tom March there are three tools which are supposed to be equipped by every teacher in order to be the successful teachers and meet the same objective a face-to-face class meets (Muller et al., 2008).

Creation of a learning environment

An environment should be created and student can call that space their own. Education is based on sound pedagogy and to make students realize this fact, there should be a setup of virtual classroom. To meet the same objective of face-to-face class, easier ways need to be created in online assignments for the learners. Some students might have phobias about the technology but these fears should be overcome to move on the informational highway and making sure that the instructions are delivered in timely manner (Muller et al., 2008).