{"id":82920,"date":"2020-10-06T16:56:40","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T13:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/5-myths-about-online-learning\/"},"modified":"2020-10-06T16:56:40","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T13:56:40","slug":"5-myths-about-online-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-myths-about-online-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"#5 myths about online learning"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e671a127af\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e671a127af\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-myths-about-online-learning\/#1_Its_just_watching_pre-taped_lectures\" >#1 It\u2019s just watching pre-taped lectures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-myths-about-online-learning\/#2_Youre_just_a_faceless_data_point_floating_out_in_space\" >#2 You\u2019re just a faceless data point, floating out in space\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-myths-about-online-learning\/#3_Its_only_for_super-disciplined_self-starters\" >#3 It\u2019s only for super-disciplined, self-starters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/5-myths-about-online-learning\/#4_Its_a_%E2%80%9Csecond_choice%E2%80%9D_learning_experience\" >#4 It\u2019s a \u201csecond choice\u201d learning experience<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#5 myths about online learning<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n                            Isolating? Boring? Not so fast.\n                        <\/div>\n<div>\n                                                                        <span class=\"c-logo\">Created for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.athabascau.ca\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" class=\" lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/AU_TaglineHorizontal_400px_RGB-e1601927221190.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\"\/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chances are, even before 2020 turned it into a ubiquitous topic of conversation, you had some ideas about online learning. Maybe you thought that learning via a computer screen would be hard to get into. Perhaps you liked the flexibility, but worried that you\u2019d be left to fend for yourself if you had questions. Or\u2014and this is the really honest one\u2014you thought it\u2019s just, well, inferior to studying the same subject matter the traditional way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1210624\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" class=\"wp-image-1210624 size-featured-image-portrait lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Dr-Neil-Fassina-300x400.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Dr. Neil Fassina smiling on campus\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Neil Fassina<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athabasca University (AU) president Neil Fassina has heard all those objections\u2013and many others particularly since the pandemic threw many people into online learning overnight. \u201cIt\u2019s funny,\u201d he laughs over video conference from the university\u2019s HQ in Alberta, \u201cit\u2019s a hot topic now, but years ago I couldn\u2019t get people to talk about it!\u201d Starting as a mail-based learning experience (think videotapes of lectures sent via Canada Post) in 1970, AU went virtual in 1994, creating the world\u2019s first online MBA, using dial up internet access and 56K modems. With more than 50 years in distance education (26 of them digitally focused), and upwards of 43,000 learners in any given year, AU is the Canadian expert in this space\u2013so who better to bust some of its biggest myths?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Its_just_watching_pre-taped_lectures\"><\/span><b>#1 It\u2019s just watching pre-taped lectures<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, exactly like what h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ened in the old days when you missed a lecture at university, and the professor uploaded a lo-fi recording of the slides for you to watch afterwards. This is not even close to today\u2019s reality, explains Neil Fassina. \u201cTrue, purpose-built online learning is not just a digitization of what happens in person.\u201d Instead, it\u2019s higher education built for an online learner. It takes into account the fact that your attention span may wander when you\u2019re sitting at your desk alone, and creates an interactive, engaging learning experience to keep you focused. For example: In a traditional lecture, your professor talks for an hour-and-fifteen minutes, says Fassina. That\u2019s it. If you\u2019re learning online, your professor might give a one minute intro to the topic\u2013let\u2019s say it\u2019s maple syrup\u2013and then you\u2019d do a quick assessment to see how much you might already know about it. Then you might jump into a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a> that teaches you some of the fundamentals of maple syrup, then hear from the world\u2019s foremost maple syrup expert before closing with a fireside chat with the CEO of a company that makes it. \u201cIn an hour and fifteen minutes, you\u2019ve had about 19 different learning experiences,\u201d says Fassina.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Youre_just_a_faceless_data_point_floating_out_in_space\"><\/span><b>#2 You\u2019re just a faceless data point, floating out in space\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe myth that online learning is learning alone needs to be dismantled,\u201d says Fassina. \u201cWhen it\u2019s designed with an online learner in mind, it can be engaging, interactive and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a>.\u201d The isolation of online learning is one of many people\u2019s biggest fears or hesitations, and there\u2019s a perception that it\u2019s mostly transactional, and highly impersonal. This is something AU recognizes, and works to combat. \u201cYou\u2019ve got an entire system working in the background that recognizes that you\u2019re having that feeling,\u201d says Fassina, pointing out that peer-to-peer and peer-to-prof interaction is built into the system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take, for example, the fear that you\u2019ll be missing out on those robust, lively seminar-room debates you see in the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">movies<\/a>. Setting aside the fact that this is an idealized experience not often found in the 400-person lectures common at traditional universities, Fassina points out there\u2019s actually an upside to learning online. \u201cIn a digital space, there\u2019s much more equal opportunity for discussion,\u201d he says, adding that those in-person debates tend to favour extroverts, and can exclude those with different learning abilities. \u201cWhen you\u2019re posting on a discussion board, or messaging the group via chat, it actually democratizes the conversation.\u201d Nor are you not limited to rigid office hours if you do want to have a direct conversation with your instructor. \u201cIn a digital world, office hours are 24\/7,\u201d he says. \u201cIt might take time for your tutor to get back to you because of time zones, but it\u2019s there all the time. You aren\u2019t waiting a whole week for those office hours to come around again.\u201d Fassina also points out that many learning cohorts choose to create their own Facebook groups, and find other ways of socializing and supporting each other virtually.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Its_only_for_super-disciplined_self-starters\"><\/span><b>#3 It\u2019s only for super-disciplined, self-starters<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is some intrinsic motivation required for online learning\u2013but it\u2019s not all on you. \u201cIt\u2019s a combination of the learner and the system,\u201d says Fassina. \u201cYou have to create the time and dedication, but the system is also there to remind you.\u201d For instance, if you start a course and then you go quiet, AU has technologies that message you, as well as real humans who reach out and see how you\u2019re doing. Fassina says there are other ways you can set yourself up for success as an online learner, including setting aside a dedicated place to study, whether it\u2019s a room in your house or the coffee shop down the road. To help you stay on track, Fassina suggests sharing your education journey with those around you. \u201cIf you tell your friends or family that you\u2019re taking an online course, they\u2019ll keep you accountable,\u201d he says. There are also many resources to access if you need a nudge or some help \u2013 they are there to support your learning goals, from downloadables to coaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Its_a_%E2%80%9Csecond_choice%E2%80%9D_learning_experience\"><\/span><b>#4 It\u2019s a \u201csecond choice\u201d learning experience<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the ongoing perceptions around choosing an online learning experience over traditional higher education is that it\u2019s somehow a lesser option, although that\u2019s changing, says Fassina. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing an evolution in online learning,\u201d he explains. \u201cAt the creation of the medium, it was there to dismantle barriers,\u201d to help people who chose an online course because of the flexibility it offered, or because they couldn\u2019t physically get to a location. \u201cNow, especially as more people grow up with \u2018on demand\u2019 everything else, it\u2019s becoming a choice.\u201d For a generation who live online anyway, this is just a natural extension of their online world. \u201cIt\u2019s them saying, \u2018I actually really like what online offers, and I\u2019m going to make it my first choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fassina only sees this trend growing, particularly during the pandemic. The online delivery approach doesn\u2019t affect the quality of the learning. In fact, AU is home to eight research chairs and is one of only four comprehensive academic and research universities in Alberta.<\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"ctx-article-root\"><!-- --><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">General category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/sponsored\/debunking-the-myths-about-online-learning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#5 myths about online learning&#8221; Isolating? Boring? Not so fast. Created for Chances are, even before 2020 turned it into a ubiquitous topic of conversation, you had some ideas about online learning. Maybe you thought that learning via a computer screen would be hard to get into. Perhaps you liked the flexibility, but worried that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":82921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/athabasca_university_photography_selects_7.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[74545],"class_list":["post-82920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-au1020"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82920\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}