This assignment started off by giving us the choice of watching a TED talk or reading an article, in which I chose to read the article. Next, we had to imagine that someone we know found out we are taking an online class and asks us if online education works and why. Next, we had to make a discussion board post including the results of the US Department of Education’s report, explanations of what meta-analysis, random assignment, and effect size are, and explain if online education works by referencing the article we read to start the assignment.
From the article, I learned that there are 3 main advantages of online education, which are leverage, time savings, and individualized teaching/new technologies. For leverage, Tabarrok talks about how his one TED talk has reached more viewers than he has taught in his whole offline career, and how online teaching allows the best teachers to teach way more students. For time savings, online lectures can take less time since you only have to say each thing once, and you don’t have to worry about transportation to and from class. For individualized teaching/new technologies, questions can be asked at any time during online lectures, and the development of computer-adaptive learning will lead students to learn where they are at.
Next, in my discussion board post, I first explained the main finding from the US Department of Education’s report. I mentioned that students in online classes performed moderately better than students in face-to-face classes. I also discussed a couple of the other findings very briefly.
I then explained the definitions of meta-analysis, random assignment, and effect size, and explained how they were important in the US Department of Education’s study. For meta-analysis, I explained that it allowed them to look holistically at the differences between online learning and face-to-face instruction, and draw stronger conclusions than a single study would. For random assignment, it allowed them to ensure there were no systematic differences between groups, and that the results were due to mode of instruction rather than differences in the people. For effect size, it allowed them to conclude how different the online learning conditions were from face-to-face conditions, leading them to draw their conclusions in the study.
I then went on to explain why online education works, using the points from the Tabarrok article I already explained. I described how it brings leverage, time savings, and individualized teaching/new technologies. I closed by describing there are certainly more reasons why online education works, and that it will continue to grow with the coming years.
Reflecting on this assignment, it was cool how this connected with what we learned in a previous assignment. Two assignments prior, we read the articles about meta-analysis, random assignment, and effect size, and we had to use that knowledge and apply it to this assignment. That was a great way to reinforce that we really understood the concepts, by testing our memory of them and revisiting them.
Additionally, reading an article that directly talked about the benefits of online education was really cool, especially when I am taking this online class right now. It reinforces my decision to take this course and allows me to feel confident in online education as a whole. It makes me more willing to take more online courses in the future!
Also, imagining this conversation with someone we know is valuable, so we can actually explain it if it comes up in a conversation! For example, many old people I know, such as my grandparents, are pretty skeptical about new technology and like the typical old ways of doing things. So, I would imagine that they are not very trusting in online courses. So, if the topic comes up that I am in an online course currently, I will be able to explain the advantages of it to them, both from the Tabarrok article, as well as what I have previously learned in the course.
Also, this is a minor point, but I really appreciate that we were given a choice in if we wanted to watch the video or read the article. Most courses are very professor driven, where students have little or no power to make choices. So, I appreciate how professor Gernsbacher has structured the course and has given us choices in assignments as well as for the term project!
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