Table of Contents
- What Is an Online Classroom and Why It is the Future of Virtual Education?
- Featured of an Online Classroom
- Types of Learner-Friendly Online Classrooms
- Benefits of Virtual Classrooms Over Traditional Setups
- What to Consider in an Online Learning in Order to Enhance Learning
- Conclusion
- Resources and References:
What Is an Online Classroom and Why It is the Future of Virtual Education?
Today’s online classes are virtual environments that share common features of traditional classrooms. An online classroom makes sure that there is human connection, a crucial component of learning that video-on-demand programs do not have. In online classrooms, educators collaborate with learners instantly; learners interact with their colleagues and ask questions the same way they can in a traditional classroom.
The additional benefit of an online classroom is that it is scalable so as to accommodate many learners. Typically, traditional classrooms limit searing to a maximum number to enable learners to have adequate space to themselves and sit comfortably. On the other hand, virtual classrooms utilize conference solutions hence, enabling more learners to attend lessons that are interesting at once. This contributes to higher rates of participation and makes sure that they can access knowledge easily.
Similar to traditional classrooms, online classrooms are synchronous since students and instructors appear virtual in real-time so as to allow instant interactions. Nevertheless, online learning environments also utilize pre-recorded elements like videos, lecture slides, as well as presentations in order to facilitate education, similar to brick-and-mortar classrooms.
Featured of an Online Classroom
- Digital whiteboards: provides real-time diagrams and demonstrations
- End-to-end encryption: used to make sure that access to an online classroom is restricted to authorized students
- Instant messaging: permitting chats on lower bandwidths
- Sub-chats: these are breakout-rooms that are used in facilitating teamwork between students
- Participation controls: These enable learners to take part in debates or mute their environments
- Video conferencing: utilizing the greatest web conferencing software in order to enable learner-teacher-student communication
- Video recording: assist in saving live lectures to enable learners to refer to them in the future
Types of Learner-Friendly Online Classrooms
Online classrooms might be tailored based on their required use. Additionally, they can feature as an add-on in a program or form the foundation of the whole course; whichever way, online classes are very individualized.
- Rotation type
Rotation entails utilizing both offline and online classes on rotation, depending on the plan. Normally, main learning occurs virtually, whereas face-to-face meetings take place for review and reinforcement.
- Mix-and-match type
In this method, learners choose the method that fits them well, hence enabling them to acquire maximum knowledge. Mix-and-match is a combination of online learning techniques and might be institution-governed or student-led.
- Fully virtual type
A completely online classroom does not allow or require face-to-face interactions. Notably, these course types can be asynchronous or synchronous.
- Flexible type
Here, the online classroom is available and remains open for learners to access when it is convenient for them. Furthermore, students are motivated to study in small groups, with an online classroom creating a place to return to if they have any questions.
Benefits of Virtual Classrooms Over Traditional Setups
- Learner-focused instruction
Online classrooms pay attention to learners and their real-time learning, dissimilar to pre-recorded videos that are instructor-centric. Online learners can ask queries, discuss topics, as well as clarify concepts instantly.
- Many forms of learning resources
Online classrooms utilize various kinds to present knowledge to ensure that numerous learning styles and student abilities are taken into consideration. This consists of webinars, digital whiteboards, animations, SlideShare, presentations, and videos.
- High interactivity
Online learning classrooms that are effective use many channels of communications like voice calls messaging, chat rooms, conferencing options, and online meeting software. This ensures that students with different preferences benefit equally.
- Learning space
Online environments make studying online feel less robotic. Additionally, interaction is crucial to the success of a learning system. Online learning environments make sure that students can interact with teachers and peers without compromise.
- Collaborative learning
Virtual meeting applications, file sharing, chats, and digital whiteboards enable collaborative learning between learners. This mimics the real-time classroom environment without meeting physically. Also, it reinforces learning materials so that the retention of knowledge is higher.
What to Consider in an Online Learning in Order to Enhance Learning
Online learning environments and the top online collaboration software have crucial features crucial for online education. The former is a requirement, so here is what to consider:
- Video streaming
The feature of video streaming is vital for classrooms that host many learners across the globe. Some online meetings for organizations are designed for smaller groups; an online classroom requires a strong solution.
- Third-party integration
Online classrooms might require to be improved with extra features since not even the top video meeting software has it all. Also, third-party integration enables knowledge providers to leverage the current system and expand its utilization for the advantage of learners.
- Learner groups
An isolated group of learners enables bonding over non-academic and academic courses, which is a critical component of face-to-face classrooms. Student groups foster relationships and a shared appreciation; they can also double up as a breakout room for interesting concepts, topics, and classes.
- Secure file sharing
Secure file sharing is crucial for online classrooms. Also, it facilitates collaboration as well as the sharing of projects, assignments, and reports on one platform within an online classroom.
- Real-time messaging
Each online learning classroom should possess a message feature in order to house lower bandwidths without eliminating communication potential. Students can chat with peers and teachers and clarify doubts which do not require voice or video calls.
- Digital whiteboard
This facilitates content display, annotations, and marking. Digital whiteboards help in the displaying of contents, annotations, marking, as well as in-depth explanations. Also, students can use digital boards when presenting a thesis or a project to their educators or class.
What Are The Cons Of Online Classes?
Students have pointed out that online classes often lack the personal relationships that occur in live classroom settings. Although technology does allow for some interaction with classmates, it might not be as personal or rich as an in-person experience.
You might also find yourself competing with other students around the world for class resources. Class sizes are typically bigger than those of traditional classrooms, leaving you to compete with other students for teacher attention and consideration for extra assignments and activities. Students from different time zones might also affect your ability to keep up with coursework when they are ahead or behind you because of their location and school schedule. The result is a big disconnect between you, your classmates, and your instructor since all participants aren’t on the same page at the same time.
Lengthy email exchanges with teachers can also be problematic, since it sometimes takes a few days for them to reply and you need to wait until they do before continuing on with the coursework. Likewise, chat rooms or online forums might not necessarily be effective or efficient means of communicating with the rest of the class either. For instance, when you want an answer to a question from everyone in your chat group quickly, waiting around for someone to answer is impractical if you are only able to join part-time and have other responsibilities outside of classes.
For many students who are juggling personal commitments along with courses, online learning might require even more discipline than traditional courses as you need to put extra effort into scheduling two different kinds of activity: your coursework and your personal life. You need to plan time wisely and schedule both sorts of activities so that one does not interfere with the other, or you risk falling behind in a course or missing out on an important family function or event.
Another potential problem is the lack of interaction with teachers and classmates who are all at different paces. If you fall behind because you’re struggling to keep up, everyone else will go ahead without you, thus making it hard for them to help you catch up later on. Likewise, if everyone else finishes early but there’s still more work for them to do they will also find themselves lagging behind as well. In short, virtual classes can be difficult to balance especially when many participants are at different developmental levels.
For those who have poor academic records, some schools might not be a good fit for them even if they are able to attend classes online. If you are simply retaking a course in order to fulfill requirements or take it again because you didn’t do well the first time around, then you might find that your instructor is equally uninterested in helping you out by giving special consideration for assignments or backing and filling on deadlines because of scheduling issues.
Since many virtual courses have less teacher-student interaction than traditional ones, teachers don’t always have as much insight into how well students perform outside of classroom materials either. This creates potential problems when grades aren’t satisfactory since instructors can sometimes mistakenly assume that one student is just trying to “get by” or doesn’t try very hard when they are really just struggling with other priorities.
Technology issues can also cause difficulty for those who take virtual classes. The Internet as a whole is not as reliable and dependable as your own home network, so sometimes you have to put up with unpredictable access speed and lengthy service outages. You might find that the computer lab at school where you primarily log into the class is closed during certain hours of the day or on weekends. At times like these, it’s hard to avoid doing coursework since everything you do is being recorded for watching later by either your instructor or yourself for review purposes anyway.
Before taking an online class, be sure to read through the syllabus carefully in order to prepare for the things you need in advance. In some cases, instructors might permit you to use a personal computer with wireless access or high-speed Internet, but only if you have an approved technical configuration and present it to them when they arrive at school. Most schools will also forbid you from listening to music while doing coursework as this can be distracting, so make sure that any MP3 players are switched off.
In addition, since most instructors use email as a method of communication with students rather than face-to-face meetings or telephone conversations, there is more difficulty dealing with scheduling snafus. Thus, if you don’t respond right away or your question is too vague because you didn’t have time to sit down and figure out what you need to do, the problem can just keep snowballing from there.
Conclusion
The number of students learning online is increasing due to the current Covid-19 pandemic and the changing education demands.
Online classrooms enable cross-border learning where studying is not limited to traditional rooms. The online learning environment is the other transformative tool in an online teacher’s arsenal, and it will continue rising in its usage and popularity.