Is internet a disruptive technology in the education industry?
With the boom of the internet, education also experience innovations brought about by the technologies. Traditional universities are hurrying to keep up with the trend of offering online education by offering full courses and short courses online. Big universities offer distance education where instructions and educational materials are sent through the net.
With this picture, it cannot be said that the Internet is a disruptive technology in the education industry. Although nothing can replace the actual classroom interactions in a traditional school, technology has changed most of the usual set-up of a school. For years, the classrooms remained what they are 100 years ago. Schools tried to remain immune of the technological changes that are happening around the world, until, such time that it could hold-off these changes any more. It has to attune itself to the inevitable changes. Because of the Internet, education has become more accessible and closer to those who have difficulty. Universities have come to the doorsteps of its students, instead of the students coming to the doorsteps of the school.
The internet has made education more exciting because students can now be kept updated on the dot on the different things. They are able to communicate and interact with all kinds of students around the world which has given students a chance to expand how the view things around the world. It has given students the ability to communicate globally. Because of this, there has to be a change on how students are taught.
How has the Internet and on-line education changed the traditional classroom experience?
Although, enrollment has increased in some traditional universities, the enrollments to online schools have also increased. Internet and online-education has changed the traditional classroom experience. In a traditional classroom experience, a teacher is seen as the possessor of information that he has to pass to his students. In an online education, which uses the internet, a teacher is a facilitator or a coach who provides contextual learning environments. These learning environments often require students to engage in collaborative activities with other students around the world where they can only do through the use of internet technology.
Online education has given teachers around the world a chance to share resources with other teachers thus making the instructional materials they use more efficient. With online-education students have the chance to interact with different students with multiple races around the world. Students have a chance to engage in multiple intellectual forums where they can learn and share what they have. Flexibility is another factor that distinguishes online education to traditional education. Flexibility, in such a way that the students can work on their lessons at their own where they are most convenient. Online education also presents accessibility to education thus saving money. Because, classes are through the internet, students do not need to relocate just to attend the school they prefer. Online education also gives students to study in a university abroad without needing to be in that particular country. This provides interpersonal breadth.
Should university with NO on-line education consider, add, or offer on-line education?
Universities should now start to consider offering online education if they want to cater to more types of students and if these schools would want their students to engage in more engaging discussions online with their classmates. Universities should now be open to the idea that there should not be barriers and to the access of university level studies. The quality of education provided by the online programs is not far from the quality of education provided in the classrooms.
In addition to this, offering an online education will is less operational cost for the university because there will be no need for building new rooms and the provisions of furniture and equipment needed for the new room and no electricity to maintain. This can also become a second source of income for the university. For example during summers, students are required to take courses but they need to go home so their tendency is to take these subjects in other schools near their homes. If the schools offers online courses, then they can take the required courses in their own universities.
