Online learning is here to stay. 1Computers in all their sizes and capacities have become ubiquitous, and they have been integrated into our society at all levels of socioeconomic class. We are becoming more and more comfortable with computers, and computers are so easy to operate that we often forget we are using them. When we use our smartphone or laptop to locate an address, shop, or look up the biography of our favorite movie star, we no longer think, "I'm going to use a computer."
We just think, "I'm going to get a map ... or go shopping ... or learn more about that star." In fact, these activities blend seamlessly with our daily lives, in such a way that we no longer remember when we are using a computer and when we are not.The day is also fast approaching when we will feel the same about online learning activities.
We are not going to ask, "Should I use a computer to teach this?" Rather, we will ask ourselves, "What is the best way to teach this? I think a computer (or a small group in-person discussion ... or a written assignment) would be best."
So why are so many people concerned with online learning, why do they seem to question its effectiveness, and feel compelled to evaluate it in comparison to "traditional" teaching methods? The simplest answer is: "It shouldn't be this way." However, the questions deserve more developed answers.
In the rest of this editorial we will talk about what we mean by "online learning", then we will show the evidence that confirms that online learning really is effective, and then we will discuss the decision: when should we use online learning?
We often talk about online learning as if it were a unified method of teaching. This is not the case, as there are multiple forms of online learning, just as there are multiple forms of face-to-face learning. 2 The only common characteristic of the various types of online learning is that they use the Internet. There are general classifications that can facilitate our thoughts and discussions:
