by Rob Jenkins, Rockdale Citizen
Of course students who complete an online course perform just as well or better than their counterparts in face-to-face classrooms. The degree of intellectual maturity and self-discipline required to complete an online course is considerable, so it just makes sense that those students would perform well. The problem, as the Columbia studies clearly demonstrate, is that not enough students complete those courses. This is especially true at two-year colleges and other less-selective institutions. In other words, it’s especially true for the most at-risk students, who might not have the intellectual maturity and self-discipline to succeed in an online environment and may also lack other necessary skills, such as high-level reading ability and technological know-how. The bottom line is that taking classes online can be a great option for students who are highly motivated, possess the requisite skills, and require a flexible schedule for whatever reason. For others, though, online classes can be a disaster.
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/news/2011/nov/05/jenkins-how-good-are-online-classes/
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