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Online and Blended Learning: An Alternative to the Traditional Style Schooling

Education has taken many positive steps throughout the years as we have strived for more

rigorous curriculums, demanded highly qualified teachers, and have given our schools specific

standards to meet. Outside the realm of education, the world itself has changed from the

traditional lifestyle to one that is shaped by computers, software, and other forms of

telecommunication. Combining the two together, citizens are seeing their educational systems

changing by way of technology. Students are straying from the traditional five day a week, eight

to five o’clock school day. They are now diving into what is today called “Online Learning” and

“Blended Learning”. In comparison to the typical face to face, traditional schooling, some

students today are choosing to stay home and learn via computers. Online Learning is defined as

an approach which entails all of, or most of the content of a particular course taught online,

where the student typically does not encounter face-to-face meetings. Blended Learning is an

alternative approach defined by a course that combines both online and face–to-face education.

Although this is a blended approach, the participating student typically experiences few face-to-

face meetings with their teacher, and uses online discussions and video chats to master the

content (Sloan-C, pg5). There are concerns about the effectiveness and the practice of web-based

learning, whether the classes are purely online or blended, versus the face-to-face traditional

style learning. This paper will explore the reasons why web based learning has been

implemented and the positive effects the usage has shown thus far. Ways of improving these

methods will also be discussed.

The idea of Web-based learning may be unfamiliar to some, but through recent years

there have been multiple schools which have implemented these forms of learning into their
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curriculum. The article K-12 Online Learning has discovered that over the last two years there

has been a 47 percent increase of enrollments in Online and Blended classrooms or a compound

annual growth rate of 21.3 percent (Sloan-C, pg 11). As the growing rate of these forms of

education is noticeably changing, schools systems across the country must be knowledgeable

about these online classes and be prepared to implement their advantages if called to. Examples

of schools that have already taken on the task of carrying out these classes may clarify

understanding of what entails Online or Blended Learning. The first example, Algebra 1 Online,

began as a program under the Louisiana Virtual School System. This particular school system

provides access to standard-based high school courses taught by certified Louisiana teachers via

internet to any wanting student across the state. Implementation of this particular program has

two goals: to increase the number of students taught by highly qualified algebra teachers and to

aid in improving skills and gaining certification of those teachers that were not up to par. A

second example of Online Learning is found in Chicago, Illinois. This Virtual High School is run

slightly differently. In this program, online does not mean independent study. This school puts

stipulations around what classes are held at which times. The students are normally scheduled to

attend an online class at a specific time where attendance is necessary and is recorded. Although

this program is more structured, the online access still allows flexibility and convenience that

traditional schools are not able to offer. Communication with instructors and access to school

materials are offered outside of regular class time for allowance of further study (Evaluating, pg

55, 57)

As some may detect from the examples given, the benefits of these online classes are

focused around expanded time and additional student resources. To simplify why Online

Learning is beneficial, specific advantages over the traditional style of face-to-face learning will
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be explained. Online education has proven to stimulate students’ understanding of their

coursework by reflecting on their tasks as they work through their material. Computer prompts

have been designed around encouraging students to use their self-examining and self-monitoring

skills. These specific skills are necessary as online students must transfer information from a

lecture to a worksheet or writing assignment. Another noted benefit of these forms of learning is

that of individualized instruction. With the abilities computers are capable of today,

programmers of online education have found ways to program learning modules to instruct

students within their particular ability levels and respond to their particular questions

(Evaluation, pg 44). Along with individualizing the material, online learning has been found to

meet the needs of a wide range of students. These students range from those that need extra help

to those that had to make up mandatory courses. The article quotes a member whom participated

in their study on discussing the wide range of help given by online classes:

“The students [taking online courses] vary from excelling students, students in and
out of juvenile detention that do not succeed in a regular classroom, expecting
parents, parents trying to finish school after having had babies…, and students
trying to graduate before their 21st birthday (Sloan-C, pg 13).”

Not only does online education allow extra time for makeup work, but it allows flexibility,

especially enjoyed by those in rural districts. The students in these districts find course choice

exciting, especially when taught by certified teachers. Another quote from the same study

exemplifies how one rural study participant feels about online education implemented within the

rural areas.

“I believe that with the decreasing number of certified teachers

available and the
economically disadvantaged rural area that I live in; this type of
teaching and
learning will definitely bridge the gap. My district is …in dire need of
certified
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teachers. ..It will also allow our students the opportunity to be more
competitive in
education because they will be able to have more Honor, AP and
College Preparatory
courses” (Sloan-C, pg 3).

Although there are multiple benefits of online learning, there are parts of the system that need to

be reviewed and restructured.

Along with benefits of students learning via internet, there are many noteworthy setbacks.

Technological errors and difficulties are one of the most prevalent downfalls to this educational

method. In one poll taken, 57 percent of the students reported often encountering problems when

working on their schooling. A lesser 37 percent responded rarely having technological

difficulties (Comprehensive, pg 32). These technical difficulties can be seen as distracting from

the educational experience and influence major reasons to why schools may find face-to-face

teaching a much more efficient form of education. Again from the article written by Sloan-C, a

study participant claims his negative feelings towards education via the internet:

“Online courses cannot replace face-to-face instruction effectively.

Human
interaction promotes greater student motivation and performance”
(Sloan-C, pg 15).

Other problems brought forth by the article Evaluating Online Learning: Challenges and

Strategies for Success, illustrate that collaborative learning does not entail the same values online

as it does in the traditional classroom. Communication between online learners and instructor

involvement pose a problem. The article found that learning outcomes were only positive when

teacher involvement was at a high. Although without involvement of a teacher or stable

communication between students, learning was negatively influenced (Evaluating, pg 53).

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Because of the must-have of teacher involvement to insure positive learning to occur, the

unstable internet environment seems to be unattractive to some.

Differing with the negative views of online learning, there are many that find and enjoy

education via computers. Students involved in the Florida Virtual School were polled on the

quality of their virtual course and how their experience compared with the traditional style of

classrooms. Those that responded indicated that 48 percent found higher course quality online,

30 percent found the same and only 6 found less quality in this form of education. When

assessing the difficulty of coursework between online and traditional classes, the majority of

participants- 36 percent- found the difficulty to be the same, with 27 percent saying the difficulty

level of online education was higher. The majority of findings show this particular virtual school

is not only of better quality than traditional schools, but also that the material is at the same level.

Because of the quality and challenge of Online Learning in addition to the extra benefits stated

previously, some citizens believe Online Learning deserves consideration. An alternating poll

assessing if Online Learning succeeds in giving the students the important educational needs

they must receive from a school of any type, 60 percent of the participants reported it did. With

positive statistics such as these, Online Learning thus far has proven to be beneficial. When

assessing efficiency, majority of the researched articles claims there are no significant

differences between the online learning and the traditional learning type (Laboratories). As the

efficiency between the two types of learning is at approximately the same level, some argue that

why not take advantage of the extra benefits gained from the Online or Blended Learning

scenarios.

As Online Learning is becoming popular, there are still many problematic features within

the programs that must be fixed before virtual schools become more prevalent. A first strategy
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that is being experimented with is teacher scaffolding and scripts. These strategies include

beginning discussions with specific educational questions to direct and steer students into a

conversation that will hopefully end in a more clear understanding of the material being covered.

These implementations have already shown positive influence of further student engagement

(Evaluation, pg. 47). Another fixable problem that has been previously discussed is that of

technical difficulties. Technical difficulties such as: programs freezing or stop working,

assignments being difficult to submit, and instructions unclear, are slight problems that with time

can be and will be solved. As technology is developing more each day, these online problems

will be resolved and students will become more familiar with the territory of the internet

(Comprehensive, pg. 32). Funding has also been seen as a problem of the virtual learning. As of

now arrangements are being made by implementing web based educational pages, ex. Virtual

High School Global Consortium and blendedlearning.net, to provide low cost

educational alternatives to websites schools may use. Another form of help

in developing these virtual educational sites are colleges and universities

found across the world. These institutions have been a major aid in planning

and developing K-12 educational web pages. As more studies and more

information will arise on Online Learning, it is hopeful that these low costing,

highly educational sites will continue to develop (Sloan-C, pg 24). As

technology becomes more developed each day, there is a bright hope that

this Online Learning will become more advanced and less technologically

challenged. As schools find loopholes by using standard-based educational

websites, the amount of funding need for the Online Learning may also be

reduced.
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As a person that is motivated by socialization, my opinion of Online

and Blended Learning is skeptical. I do believe overall in theory it is a great

implementation especially for those students that may have life challenges

that does not permit time for a normal school day to occur. Although, I

believe Online and Blended Learning may become dangerous. I hope that

with technology becoming more prominent that I will not live to see the

world solely controlled by computers. I believe there is something special

that a child learns when attending school. They must learn their social skills,

how to share, their manners and morals. I hope that if they are not able to

attain these skills within a normal school that they will somehow acquire

these skills as accurate as possible. Besides these downfalls, I do believe

Online Learning has its benefits. The flexible schedules and easier attainable

education is precious to some, and however an individual is able to obtain an

education is for the better. I do think there are ways which the

implementation of the Online and Blended Learning could be made better. I

believe that there could be ways of allowing students to learn social skills

through their education via computers. By implementing possible video

chats, mandatory class chat rooms, or even lessons of interacting within

social situations, children could build those social skills that all children must

obtain. Also, from previous experience of online classes I have found some

material confusing and difficult to understand. I believe that if a class is

being taught over the internet, teachers must be extremely cautious of how

they are wording or teaching their lesson. A possible solution to this problem
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could be finding an “editor” or an outside teacher that proof reads the

lessons making sure they are clear and children will easily be able to

understand. With these possible implementations, I truly believe web based

learning will one day become just as efficient and regularly used as the

traditional face-to-face education.

Overall Online and Blended Learning has shown great advancements

thus far. It is noticeable that this form of education does have benefits and

that with few tweaks could be made even better. Benefits such as well

trained online instructors, flexibility of schedules, additional resources to

students, and easier access to those rural communities mark this form of

learning. With these benefits and the undergoing advancements of Online

and Blended Learning, I do see a great deal of educational potential. I am

excited to see the future of this type of education and do believe it will find

ways to benefit a multitude of students.

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Works Cited

1. “A Comprehensive Assessment of Florida Virtual School.” (2007) from Florida Taxwatch:

www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/110507FinalReportFLVS.pdf

2. “Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review

of Online Learning Studies” (2009), US Department of Education,
www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf

3. “Evaluating Online Learning: Challenges and Strategies for Success.” (2008) From the US
Department of Education, Office of Instructional Innovation:
http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/academic/evalonline/evalonline.pdf

4. Laboratories of Reform: Virtual High Schools and Innovation in Public Education. (2007) From
Education Sector: http://www.educationsector.org/research/research_show.htm?
doc_id=502307

5. Sloan-C, K–12 Online Learning: A 2008 FOLLOW-UP OF THE SURVEY OF U.S. SCHOOL
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/k-12online2008
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