subject: Online Education: Not For All Students And Teachers... [print this page] In fact, there is the problem of computer literacy. Taking online courses requires an essential comprehension of computers, comprising use of applications such as word processing as well as spreadsheets, and how the WWW works. A great number of students do not have this essential level of literacy so are not comfortable utilizing computers. Besides, in most courses, having advanced skills are a must (for example, utilizing a conferencing tool, file handling, making web documents) that requires a higher level of Internet and computer literacy. As many online courses and programs do not give any computer orientation, thus students lacking computer experience as well as familiarity are notready and typically overwhelmed from the very beginning.
For the students having the required self-discipline as well as study skills, access to the Internet and a computer, and are comfortable utilizing computers, courses online are great. Though for students that don't meet the conditions, they're not great and may be frustrating.
A lot of the conditions discussed for students apply to those teaching online courses. In fact, online teachers need to spend much of time with their computers reading and answering student messages. People who don't like to do it, are not likely to become good online instructors. It is true there are some kinds of online teaching involving real-time presentations (that means through the usage of web conferencing equipments), but even there much of time should be spent on computers preparing such events.
Also, access to computers as well as internet connection is more significant for teachers as they need to spend a lot of time online. A high level of the computer literacy is necessary by many online instructors more so than for online students. Actually, an online instructor should spend much of time troubleshooting the system and student problems and they need to comprehend the certain computer tools as well as delivery system being utilized.
