Exploratory Essay

With the bad also comes the good in online learning; there are many beneficial aspects to taking a class online for students. Because online learning is not bound by being in the same space at the same time, it allows for more flexibility especially when it comes to expanding student populations (Keengwe & Kidd, 2010). Because these students can be farther than hearing distance away online learning helps to attract students that might not of considered a certain college and may even help students remain in school to complete not only their first degree but even a higher degree because they can do the work on their time (Allen & Seaman, 2007). Online courses offer more flexibility on attendance because a student can do their work when it

Since the class is online, it also allows for students to go at their own pace but because it is online discussions are more likely to keep all students involved instead of just the students who are brave enough to talk in front of the class (El Mansour & Mupinga, 2007). This idea of talking in class was found to be beneficial, “A report from Athabasca University found online students experience greater cognitive and explanatory learning as a result of increased participation in course communication where students exchanged between 80 and 100 messages, which is far more than in the classroom (Meyer, 2003).” which shows that students could be getting more learning from collaborating in an online course (Goldsmith, Snider, Hamm, 2010 p. #?) Students feel that by learning online, the learning environment is active and it is engaging which helps students to better fully understand the concepts (Smart & Cappel, 2006). Because the educating takes place online it can better illustrate concepts and ideas, model events and show real world applications that could not be done in a classroom (Smart & Cappel, 2006). Through an online class the learning environment can become active because of the online discussion boards and the activities