pura vida

There are benefits and disadvantages to learning on line.

Learning through online courses can be really beneficial because it allows a student to take any course they would like without having to worry about whether it will fit into their busy schedule. In addition, if a student knows they will have to travel at some point during the course session they can still take the class. Another nice feature of most online classes is that due dates for assignments are usually always due at the end of the course week which allows the student not to be quite as stressed about trying to fit assignments into their busy schedule. As far as learning is concerned, the student is asked to learn independently. The benefit is that students have to put more work into the subject and it helps to solidify the material.

However, there are some disadvantages to taking online classes. One is that many students think that online classes will be easier. This is a myth. Usually, they are more difficult because one cannot ask a teacher in the moment they have a question to clarify something they don’t understand. Also I have found on the whole that some online classes have taken more time than traditional classes. This largely depends on how much a particular teacher demands. If a teacher demands as much “homework” in an online class as in a traditional class then it is likely that the online class will demand more of the student’s time. One of the hardest things about an online class is that if the directions are flawed, misleading, or difficult to follow then students may spend an exorbitant amount of time trying to understand them and learn incorrectly. They don’t know that they are learning incorrectly because there is no one to let them know they have misunderstood the direction.

In order for an online class to be successful their needs to be excellent feedback from the teacher, directions need to be clear, and teachers need to be assessable if the student comes to an impasse. Also, a student must be self motivated and well disciplined.

The first most important application a student should be able to use is a word processor. I would suggest Microsoft Word, but most of the word processors are fairly similar so understanding one can expedite learning another. This application is important because it allows one to publish many different kinds of written works. The outcome is neat and can be stored on file. It can be a real help for those who struggle with spelling and still want their writing to be professional.

The second most important application one should be familiar with is Windows. Knowing how to manage a micro-computer is going to be an essential skill in the near future. Knowing how to manage windows will help one install new programs, save and access files, and do maintenance on the computer.

The third most important application one should be familiar with is how to use a web browser. One of the most common ones is Internet Explorer. Knowing how to use a browser correctly can help one manage internet activities. Internet activities have become vital for so many individuals and managing the internet browser can save a person a lot of inconvenience and time.

The fourth application that I think a person should know how to use is Power Point. Power Point is such a great tool that can be used in so many different contexts and does a great job. One can present information to colleagues at work with it. Power Point is often used to give presentations at churches, weddings funerals, and other gatherings. Power Point files can also be sent over the internet so that individuals can communicate through multimedia presentations

Finally the last application that a person should be familiar with is excel. Excel is a great program that also one to take information and do quick analyses that my take a long time if done by hand. One can use the program to create charts as well. A common use of this program is to use it to run budgets. Teachers can use the program to manage grades. This program has so many uses that it can really apply to just about anyone’s needs.

The reason I placed these applications in this order is because I feel that the applications that a person uses most often in everyday life and work should be the program with the most emphasis.

When teaching these programs in schools, teachers can began at a very early grade level. Many of the processes involved in these programs are very logical and young students, even as young as the first grade, will be able to handle some of these programs. However, I think that teachers in the elementary levels should use the programs to incorporate into their lessons and only teach those skills that are essential to the assignments given. When students are in Middle and High School they should be taught more of the networking of these systems.