One college in Fort Worth, TX is debating on whether or not to shift their campus to an all "e-learning" digitalized learning environment. Instead of students lugging around their heavy textbooks, they would essentailly have digital textbooks instead of pricy hardbound books. Students would pay less for the digital copy of their textbooks and still get the same learning experience as if it were a textbook. This e-learning experience would be more accomodating for the students and easier to keep up with as well. Students would easily be able to bring their laptop or ipad to class and follow along with what their professor is lecturing on. I believe by allowing e-learning and integrating it within the classroom, students would essentailly be better prepared for class and eventually change the way college campuses operate in all aspects of education. E-learning can open the door to many types of opportunities that may not have seemed plausable 30 years ago.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/26/3764554/tcc-studying-shift-to-digital.html
I am a transfer student from CPCC and I did 90% of my 2 years there online. Basically, I didn't find the lack of lectures to be a disadvantage at all. I learn from reading the textbook and not so much from the lectures. I find that the lectures, for the most part, just reiterate what I already learned from reading the text book. I wish that UNCC would offer more courses in online format, especially with gas prices being so high. It would benefit me financially from not having to pay $60 per week in gas to drive here and would benefit UNCC financially because they could increase enrollment without having to increase physical class sizes.
ReplyDeleteI can see the advantages of this shift, but I am not excited about the transition from physical books to digital books; I find it difficult to read for an extended amount of time on the screen of a laptop. I also find it easier to focus on studying when I have a physical book. When I try to study documents or powerpoint slides on my laptop I tend to surf the internet instead.
ReplyDeleteI think it is difficult for a lot of people to switch from traditional book in to an online book, for two reasons:
ReplyDelete1.Some people like me have hard time to read from a screen because of the light that penetrates to their eyes.
2.Some people want to hold and feel the book physically and mark as they read that creates more attachment to what they doing.
I really wish UNCC would make all textbooks and classes this way and provide some type of discount to the student for the readers.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I need to have a physical book to hold, and highlighting relevant information helps me absorb information.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Danielle, that when I am on my computer, I tend to stray and surf the web.
I do wish more schools would do more online classes. It would be easier for students that have to work full time go to school. And also what Lisa mentioned, the cost of gas prices makes it hard for commuters with that extra expense.
I could see why this campus would want to shift to e-learning seeing as how we live in a world that thrives off technology but I do feel as though there would be disadvantages to requiring students to bring their laptops to class. It's already hard enough to focus during professors' not so exciting lectures only to have the temptations of a laptop with connection to all the social networks sitting in front of your face. I could also see disadvantages in that students could not read a physical book and make notes. Active reading is a great way to learn material and this could be greatly disadvantaged if the reading is now done online.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of eTraining. I think it distracts me from the learning experience. I personally need someone there who can explain it in a different light if I so need. It is really difficult to learn online. I took an English class online a few semesters ago. That experience was a tough one. I did not learn a thing. I passed the class, but I could not tell you a single assignment I had to complete or a book I had to read.
ReplyDeleteThis is ridiculous and if UNCC ever switches to all digital textbooks, I'm transferring. Call me old fashioned but I do not like staring at a computer screen all day. I cannot get the same out of reading an online textbook as I can by reading a regular textbook. For one, having the computer as your only study aid is way to distracting to me (Facebook, YouTube). Also, I have horrible luck with technology and, if for some reason my computer were to crash or my internet were to stop working the night before a test, I would be out of luck.
ReplyDelete