Working on What Works Best
In general, however, E-learning's successes stem mostly from the fundamentals. For one thing, online class participation requires students to write extensively and develop their thoughts. "You reflect on what you are writing, before you post it," says Karen Swan, an educational technology professor at Kent State University. "Reflecting really is what learning's all about."
And schools are learning that students want professorial attention. "I need to develop personal relationships, especially if I'm encountering any problems," says Lia Wright, 26, an M.B.A. student at Baker College. She dropped out of another online program where she felt no rapport with her professors or fellow students. But things are different for her at Baker. When Wright didn't log on to class for two days last spring because her family was visiting, a professor called her at home to see if she was sick. She wasn't. In fact, she felt great. "It was awesome," says Wright. "I never knew that a professor would ever call you just to see if you were sick." And that is perhaps E-learning's biggest irony: Even with the best technology, it will always need the human touch to be effective.
For a searchable directory of E-learning programs, please visit www.usnews.com.
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