subject: Online Education: Consider Content [print this page] Not each subject and job task is taught effectively or easily via courses online. In fact, many things can be learnt on the Internet than many people would think, but not inevitably inexpensively or well. Practical skills are a good illustration of the point. Typically, you wouldn't expect to teach neurosurgery or welding through an online course. Though courses online have been improved for these subjects as well. In order to teach the motor skills online, you should use simulations with properly designed input devices. Development and design of simulations is a lengthy and expensive process though it produces good training outcomes. The American military utilizes simulations widely to train sailors, soldiers and pilots how to maintain or operate dangerous and sophisticated weapons systems. In cases where the results of inadequate or poor training are catastrophic, it is worth the money and time to develop simulations. Unluckily, this doesn't apply to many corporate or academic training applications, thus in hands-on terms, practical skills should be learned in customary classrooms and labs.
One more kind of subject field, which would not seem a good candidate for getting education online are "soft skills" like leadership, customer relations, communication, supervision, etc. Such kinds of skills introduce a lot of business and management training provided in corporations. Modeling of behavior and human interaction are the heart of the skills. That is why, you would expect that they would be obtained best in a customary classroom setting with "live" instructors as well as much of role playing. Though, well designed & delivered online courses may involve much of interaction and contact amid the participants, thus this basic element is not lacking. Though many of these skills count on the nicety of voice, group dynamics and body language that are difficult to catch in online courses. Also, it a popular category of courses online and some are relatively effective.
