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Aug/05

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Traditional Face to Face Learning and Global/online Learning & Supporting Tools

More references on Face to face vs global learning references

In the 21 century Technology is growing very fast and playing vital role in different fields. In Education field technology has great impact where opportunity of learning becoming globally. Since the last decade trends in education is changing. Traditional face to face learning loosing its importance where as importance of online learning and global learning is increasing day by day. According to Robelen (2007, p 1), ‘Virtual learning barely a blip on the computer screen a decade ago, if fast becoming part of the educational mainstream.’ The use of technology in Education is not new. According to Taylor (n.d, p 2), ‘For many years, universities with a significant commitment to distance and open education institutions have been at the forefront of adopting new technologies to increase access to education and training opportunities.’

Global learning is becoming more popular these days. The reason behind this is advantages offered by global learning over the traditional learning (face to face learning). One important advantage of the global/online learning is time flexibility. Adults can arrange their schedule and can access resources when ever they required. According to Devi (2000, p 1), ‘Students can have access to information when and where they want it.’ Global learning concept is online learning. Most of advantages that online education offers are actually offered by global learning. In addition to that global learning provide opportunities for students to become more familiar with different culture by eliminating geographical boundaries which helps them later when they find opportunity to work in multinational companies. According to Lesta, Burgess & strong (n.d) online learning offer advantages to students like Eliminates Geographical Constraints, Multiple learning styles can be easily served. Students must make a greater responsibility for their education. Thus they can realize their responsibilities by themselves. Students can enrol in internationally recognized universities from their home country. Thus can stay with their family and can get emotional and financial support.

Organizations and Universities that provide global learning facilities also getting many advantages by providing global/online learning service rather then traditional learning. Suppose if there are 10000 students learning in a university through global learning, it may not be possible for that university to provide resources like teachers, computers, study space to all the students locating at different part of the world. The cost of these resources may be much higher. According to Devi (2000, p 1), ‘For a more cost-effective education and providing greater access to all, I believe Internet and electronic business provides the possible solution.’

According to Watching trends in Education (n.d), ‘Online Classes are helping provide education for working adults and meeting their work schedule and busy home life responsibilities.’ It is very useful for western countries where most of adults are self dependent. They earn for their lively hood and find less time for them self to go for the universities to get higher studies.

A statistical analysis has been done by Favretto, Caramia and Guardini that shows the results of face to face and online learning. Although this analysis compares online learning and class room learning within the same country and same university but this shows results in favours of online learning. As I earlier emphasis online learning is the main concept behind the global learning so these finding are important to compare global learning and traditional learning. According to Favretoo, Caramia and Guardini(n.d.):

Students are divided into three categories students learn through class room, students learn through online learning and students did not attend class and online learning. Results of this analysis are interesting. Most of time people think class room is always better way to learn, but this analysis shows different picture where on average online student get more marks then class room students in both tests. That means online students are more concentrated towards their study and can access wide number of valuable resources on internet.

Although Global learning offers many advantages but we can not ignore the disadvantages of global learning. According to James(n.d.);

Distance learning has some disadvantages. Students may not be able to access internet resources because connection may be down. Those students who can not manage and direct themselves find difficult in distance learning environment.

One very important point discussed above is internet connection may be down. Consider a situation where student is sitting in exam (online exam). Time period for this online exam is fixed. During that time connection may go down for long period of time. Result of this situation may be awful. Bandwidth can also be another problem in global learning. According to James (n.d.) Bandwidth/browser limitation may restrict instructional methodologies, which results in slower performance for sound video and large graphics.

Another disadvantage of global/online learning is that teacher has to spend more time while responding to queries of the students. Suppose there is a situation where more then five students have same question from the online lecture. One way is send email to teacher and ask for the answer. Teacher has to respond all the five students which can be time consuming. According to Lesta & Strong (n.d) professors have to spend more time while responding the e-mails.

So far in this article emphasis is given to advantages and disadvantages of global and traditional learning. Lets discuss about some different Tools and Frame Work that can be useful in the global/distance learning. Technology innovations plays vital role in global learning. New tools, frameworks are emerging that can be quite useful in global learning. According to Essex (2007, p 1), ‘Internet technologies changed distance learning to a huge degree. Instead of relying on a course packet that had been put together months or years ago, we could assign our students the most up-to-date information from the web.’ These tools are helpful for students because they can interact with each other, work together on assignments. According to Essex (2007):

In past we were living in web 1.0 world where discussion forum and chat room was mainly used in distance learning. But now are in web 2.0 world where we mainly use Pod-Casting, blogging and wikis. Wikis are collaborative environment where more group op people give their viewpoint for brainstorming, deciding on a schedule of activities or developing definitions of role and/or terms. That means they try to make share understanding while learning which can be useful while working in an organization.

A conceptual frame work for distance learning has been provided by Taylor (n.d). According to Taylor although we are in fourth generation (the Flexible Learning Model based on online delivery via the Internet) of distance learning but we have to think about the fifth generation (is essentially a derivation of the fourth generation, which Aims to capitalize on the features of the Internet and the Web) of the distance learning (Taylor, n.d).

By viewing the view of different authors we come to know although there are number of advantages offered by global learning, but there are many disadvantages of global learning. In some fields virtual learning can full fill all the requirements, but in fields like Science and Medical it is not possible to remove all face to face workshops where Electricity supply and bandwidth can cause serious problems.

Mandeep Singh

About the Author

Mandeep Singh
www.vbams.com

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