Hey teachers, mentors, and all students out there,
Does anyone else feel like online education just doesn’t work?
It seems like all we get are pre-packaged lessons that we’re just supposed to ‘learn and study’ from. And then when we all meet, it’s just for a test. Here’s what I find frustrating:
Online education often lacks structure.
We’re not practicing what we learn enough or maybe not practicing it correctly.
We aren’t doing the right activities to truly learn.
Teachers or mentors don’t always know what students are struggling with day-to-day, so they don’t know how to best help.
I know this forum is mostly for teachers, but I think anyone in online education can relate.
Chris said:
I taught online for about four years. Honestly, my students rarely put real effort into their work, so I often struggled to stay motivated myself.
I get that. What did your teaching look like? Did you mostly use pre-made lessons, or did you give assignments and homework too?
@Nixon
I stopped giving homework because no one ever did it. For some classes, I relied on modules. For others, I made assignments but rarely saw them completed. It became a routine where anyone who made minimal effort passed.
What you’re saying about online teaching problems could actually apply to teaching in general. Online tools are just that… tools. Actually creating meaningful learning experiences goes way beyond that.
@CurriculumDesigner3
Even with the best class structure and engaging lessons, if students aren’t trying, it doesn’t matter. Effort makes a big difference, and without it, things can fall apart fast.
Wonder if people responding here have been through online college. Having done both traditional and online, there’s a huge quality gap.
Even my laziest in-person teachers were more effective than most of my online instructors. I don’t know, maybe it’s the tech platform itself too. When sites like Amazon or Facebook work so smoothly, paying thousands for a glitchy, outdated class site is just frustrating.
Honestly, I’m not a great student, but that’s separate from the issue. Online class quality is just way behind.
@aloisbeard
I got my bachelor’s in physics in person but took online courses in community college. For my master’s in education, I did a hybrid approach. I’ve done fully online grad classes since, and I even work on curriculum development for online physics education.
The problem is assuming online education fails just because it’s online. Sure, there are challenges to both online and in-person classes. But blaming everything on the format misses the point.
If you don’t like online, go with in-person learning. Some people thrive better with hands-on or direct work in environments like apprenticeships or trade schools. Different formats work better for different people.
If an in-person class with the same instructors was still mediocre, the issue might not be with the online format.
There’s effective and ineffective teaching, online or in-person. Quality instruction means having good knowledge, positive student relationships, and clear policies—things that can get lost in translation online if not done well. And sometimes teachers have restrictions on adapting their curriculum, online or not.
Online classes depend on students being self-motivated and staying on task. During COVID, we used a lot of modules I made myself with check-ins and Zoom hours. But only about half the students actually used them or even showed up unless there was a test. They’d give one-word answers or click through everything.
Online education works best for those who are independent learners and actually put in the effort.
Eventually, all higher education is going to require you to learn on your own. This is why I think homework is important in school. It helps teach students how to manage their time and learn by themselves.
@rednah
It depends on the class, honestly. I’m a student doing mostly remote courses now.
My film theory class has textbooks, additional readings, PowerPoints, two papers every two weeks, and office hours. It’s a ton of work, but doable if you keep up with it. My Bible class, though, has only three quizzes and a final paper. It’s easy, but finding the right sources is super challenging.
Each class setup is so different. It depends on the topic, the professor, and how much you’re willing to put in.
@Donna
In the end, every course is unique, in person or online. Professors aren’t there to spoon-feed the info. By now, students should be able to handle some level of independent study. If they can’t, it becomes a problem.
Part of the issue is parents wanting their kids to pass no matter what, so students are often not learning independence in high school. When they reach college, they might struggle.
aloisbeard said: @rednah
Completely agree. Homework can be essential, but getting kids to do it on their own can be tricky!
Yeah, it takes time for them to build that habit. Try sitting with them and doing your own work nearby. Sometimes, seeing a parent focused can encourage them to do the same.
A lot of online education still feels new. COVID forced schools to go digital sooner than planned, and now they’re stuck with the costs. Many teachers just transferred old lessons to digital format without really changing them.