Introduction
Online education and face-to-face education have different impacts on the value of education in terms of efficiency, accessibility, cost, and effectiveness of communication between parents, teachers and the schools administrators.
Computer technologies have helped improve the quality of life by making communication and information processes simpler. Technology education is the one in which students learn via the internet without having to be physically present in classroom with a teacher. Face-to-face education is the one in which learning takes place in classroom situation with a teacher present. In online education, there are no scheduled classes at definite times and no face-to-face contact with a teacher. All learning takes place through computers or information media. Others argue that the face-to-face teacher-student relationship is a vital, if not essential, component of learning. Online education and face-to-face education have different impacts on the value of education in terms of efficiency, accessibility, cost, and effectiveness of communication between parents, teachers and the schools administrators.
Face-to-face model requires the presence of teachers in a classroom situation with students which is recommended for normal growth of children (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2002). The model allows students to meet and socialize with their peers. This model therefore allows the students to grow and develop normally as they study and play with each other. It is also essential to have a teacher in class especially for students in their elementary classes to give them a good foundation to education. A study by NICHHD (2002) showed that physical presence of a teacher in class improves the concentration of learners and consequently their understanding of concepts. Students are able to share with their teachers on personal levels and therefore they can obtain quicker response to academic and personal issues that they may need help from the teachers. Moreover, the face-face education reduces chances of students cheating as the teachers can closely supervise them during assessments. This helps in maintaining the value of education.
Face-to-face education increases concentration and focus of students to education. Face-to-face education engages students in classroom discussions with their teachers and fellow students. The model follows timetables that instruct students and teachers what to do at what time. This means that the day is fully occupied and leaving the students with less time to engage in addictive non-academic habits such on the internet such as facebooking. Currently, more than 500 million people have subscribed to Facebook, majority of these people are of school-going age (NICHHD, 2002). Student engagement in non-academic activities can cause them to fail in their studies which can also affect them later in life especially at the workplace.
Technology education will improve the efficiency of learning and improve the quality of education. Students studying through technology are able to conduct more diversified research as the internet enables them to access more online libraries and other resources. Moreover teachers who have acquired basic ICT skills are able to use ICT as a teaching tool especially in the assessment of students and in the response to the problems the students may have (Honey & Anderson–Inman, 1999). Technology education not only allows the learners go through the education process more efficiently but also acquire proficiency in the ICT skills they will be required to apply in their jobs. According to Means and Olson, (1997), technology education will guard and improve the gains made in business and government systems which have already adopted embraced computer technology fully. In addition, technology education will increase accessibility to education. Through the internet and other platforms such as video conferencing, learners can access education up to Phd levels from distant places (Strangman & Hall, 2003). Technology education will increase accessibility to education by transforming school education from a being largely teacher-centered to the more interactive learner-centered approach (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-NICHHD 2000). Under, the technology system, students are not wholly reliant on teachers to learn. For instance, the absence of a teacher for a lesson due to illness or personal problems does not hinder the continuation of learning since he/she can deliver the lesson from their homes. Moreover, Technology education supports learning among diverse learners. Advancements in technology support learning by people with various physical challenges. Various organizations such as the K-8 ACCESS Center and The National Center for Implementing Technology in Education have rooted for the adoption of an education model that support learning among a diversified populace. Strangman and Hall (2003), advocate for a model of education that supports the use of digital supports and tools such as “talking text”, multimedia and word processing features for people with hearing and vision problems. A study by Strangman, Hall and Meyer (2003) advocated for the implementation of an education system that responds to the question, “What works for whom”. To this end the NICHHD Report (2002) found that an education system based on computer technology would respond to the needs of more diverse groups of learners.
Technology education will improve communication among the stakeholders in the education sector. Efficient communication among stakeholders in education will improve the impacts of education in society. For instance the adoption of Ipads and other high-tech mobile devices supportive of the internet and a wide variety of applications, in learning, increases connectivity among teachers, parents, students and the school administration (O'Neill & Dalton, 2002). These parties can exchange e-mails more efficiently and respond to pressing issues urgently. O’Neill and Dalton (2002) assert that improved communication makes the education more learner-centered and improves the meaningfulness of education. Moreover, technology education allows learners more time to pursue personal interests and hobbies. Students pursuing e-learning programs can save the time and expenses they would have spent travelling to college or residing within the college premises. The learners can utilize the money and time they have saved to develop themselves. College students can spend the time they have saved on part-time job while younger learners can spend the time pursuing personal interests and hobbies. In a world where sportsmen and artists are living very admirable lives, the creation of time for students to develop personal interests cannot be overemphasized.
There are several differences between face-to-face education and technology education. While face-to-face education requires students to be physically present in a classroom with the teacher, online education just requires a computer and internet connectivity. Face-to-face education allows children to grow in the company of their peers while online education limits the interactions between the students, their peers and the teachers since they can learn from home. Although technology education allows students to learn from distant places it is expensive since it requires the purchase of expensive devices and the re-training of teachers. These costs increase the burden of the taxpayers. Face-to-face education reduces chances of students cheating since they are closely monitored by their teachers. Although technology education allows more diverse group of learners to access education as compared to face-to-face education the quality of education is lower due to reduced commitment of the learners to the learning process.
I support the current model of face-face education. This is because it greatly helps in the maintenance of academic honesty and the value of education. The current model of education should continue because students of lower ages (high school) and below can misuse the internet and compromise the quality of education. Moreover, face-to face education is less expensive in comparison to technology education. Technology education requires the purchase and maintenance of expensive devices such as computers, the payment of high internet fees and the training of personnel. The cost of these activities is borne by the taxpayers. However, use of technology in schools should be upheld but not the complete replacement of the education model. Computers should continue to be used in schools to aid in research and other activities. The adoption of whichever model of education should aim at making more concrete the teacher-student relationship and not breaking the ties.
Conclusion
Since its invention, the computer has become a fundamental part of interactions in everyday life. However, in spite of the much advancement in computer technology, online education should not be adopted to replace face-to-face education. This is because face-to-face education maintains the value of education by minimizing cases of cheating and academic dishonesty. Moreover, the system of education is less expensive as compared to the technology education. The system also ensures that children grow up normally in the company of their peers and teachers. There is also increased concentration among students due to avoidance of addictive non-academic activities such as “facebooking”. Technology education on the other hand, increases the efficiency of learning by enabling students more meaningful research and teachers’ more efficient ways of assessing and responding to students. Students undergoing technology education are bound to become more proficient in ICT and utilize those skills at the workplaces. Technology education also improves communication between the stakeholders involved in the sector thereby making education more convenient to students as they can express themselves through more confidential channels. In addition, technology education increases accessibility to education by a more diverse populace that includes those in distant places from learning institution and those who are disabled. Technology education also allows students more time to pursue personal interests in sports and arts thereby enabling them to live more fulfilling lives. Although technology education has several advantages it should not be adopted as the new model of education. The current face-to-face model is appropriate because it maintains the quality and meaningfulness of education in a better way as compared to technology education which is expensive and prone to gross academic dishonesty.
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