Countering Arguments Against Online Learning

In Chapter 9, Bender (2012) lists several opinions that are skeptical or cynical about the quality and effectiveness of online learning, leaving one wondering if the effort is really worthwhile. As you begin to build your proposal for an online or hybrid course, these arguments are likely to come up in your institution. They may come from other faculty, from students and their parents, from administrators, or other stakeholders.

Please pick one argument against online learning from this chapter and offer a counter argument. In your response, clearly state the argument that you picked and present your counter argument. Please consider the various characteristics of an online or hybrid course - course mode, academic level, curricular area, institutional background, and learner population - and discuss the relevancy of each.

Remember always to support your comments with references to the course readings and other relevant sources that you include. For this Discussion, please use the list of suggested journals to identify at least one article to support your position.

In your exchanges, give constructive feedback and respond to questions from your classmates and instructor.

This Discussion addresses the following unit learning outcome:

• Evaluate the relative uses and value of the online classroom versus the traditional classroom environment, and how the benefits of each can be maximized in a hybrid format.

It also addresses the following course outcomes:

• Compare online and traditional classroom teaching and learning.
• Assess the effectiveness of online courses.