Online Collaboration

This past week’s synchronous online class was the first I had ever experienced, and I really enjoyed it. Although, I did realize that after about one hour of being on it, I was ready to be done with it. It could just be my tolerance level for technology. I can’t sit in front of a computer for hours on end without getting antsy. I liked being able to collaborate on a single document while communicating with each other and being comfortable in my own space at the same time. The challenging part was that I did not know what to expect while we were meeting. I suspect though, that if I were to use this technology for a particular project, I would know why I was meeting with the group and what was expected out of me.

I can see this type of technology being used to supplement face to face teaching in the distant future. The cost of educating a child in the classroom is astronomical. The money that could be saved using this type of platform could be well worth it. Although I don’t think this could completely replace the physical environment of an actual classroom, it can absolutely be a tool that could benefit the entire education system. I think students that do not usually participate in the classroom would feel much more comfortable contributing information. Without the eyes of everyone watching, a student could feel free to ask questions and/or express themselves. I think that the school districts should consider having an online collaboration day every week. But, there are many obstacles to consider with this. Does the savings generated from not having the students in class offset the costs of the technology needed to have these online collaboration days? Can the tangled web of the public education system handle any new program, or will it break from the added pressure?