The joys of online learning

This week’s topic is very near and dear to my heart because as a deployed member of the U.S. Armed Forces it was one of the innovative ways that allowed me to pursue and complete my B.S. As someone who frequently moved from place to place I've attended several universities and tried many different methods of receiving instruction from a distance - sometimes referred to as "distance learning". Tele-learning (via video tapes and live video feeds), online learning, classes in tents in remote locations, self-paced coursework with examinations and then, finally, traditional in class instruction at both Maryland and Loyola... yeah!

By far the easiest and most pleasant experience has been the in-class instruction and personal interactions with instructors and my peers at both universities. I like to consider myself more adept at interacting with people face-to-face, to be able to express myself in the moment with regards to a subject, to convey my emotional response to a specific topic or discussion. This ability to convey and express emotion and personal characteristics isn't easily discerned in the words on a screen. This is exactly what makes understanding and solving the challenge of virtual offices so important - throughout the MBA program we've focused on how important personal interaction is with subordinates and teammates. How attempting to connect with the team on a personal level begins the process of building trust and contributes to increasing productivity. The same could be said of the online classroom instruction, especially when a significant portion of the coursework involves team projects with teammates located around the world.

I enjoyed meeting and working with other students located in places like Japan, Guam, Italy, and England etc... Well basically anywhere with an internet connection. Like our virtual team discussions my teammates brought diverse and unique perspectives to each project and because of the different time zones we could use a follow-the-sun strategy to complete assignments. Trust however was often an issue as it's difficult for you to gain a real understanding of the sincerity of a person’s apology after missing a deadline, or their true level of empathy when you’re the one apologizing. A distinct challenge beyond communication and building trust was that on-line classrooms require a significant amount of self discipline and wise time-management. It requires constant checking in to see if new items are posted regarding assignments; it’s also challenging to coordinate times for on-line meetings, interactive lessons with the professors and proctored examinations. Proctored exams are also challenging, especially when you only have two days to take the exam and you’re in a packed room, auditorium, cafeteria etc.. with strangers all taking different exams. I also found on-line classes often had more difficult, in my opinion, exams than traditional classroom exams. I think professors try to compensate for what they assume is a lower workload with incredibly complex exams – questions you may not have been prepared for – tough to ask questions to a proctor regarding the use of calculator’s, or whether or not a question is correct. The last on-line class I took was in a hybrid format that had two in-class meetings that allowed students and the instructors to meet each other and begin to form more of a trusting relationship – these types of on-line classes only work if you are near the location for the meetings. I see the value that on-line classes provide, but I definitely prefer the personal interactions and discussions that class room instruction provides.