I teach online and have been doing so for years .I understand the value of traditional face-to-face course offerings for certain courses and certain subjects. I doubt an online course in chemistry can ever be as effective (有效的) as a face-to-face course held in a lab. Fortunately, I teach writing, and the Internet is an effective place for teaching subjects that call for careful reading and discussion.
It is true that there are things I cannot do in my classes on the Internet. It is also true, however, that there are things I cannot do in my classes held in traditional classrooms. So the question we should ask is: What works better or worse in face-to-face classes rather than in online courses, and vice versa(反之亦然)?
One of the things I value most in my online classes is the necessity for everyone to take part in order to show their presence. In my face-to-face classes, a student can sit quietly and appear to be engaged in(积极参与) the discussion without ever offering a thought or opinion. Online, I consider a student who sits quietly but who does not join in the discussion to be simply not present. Further, students in face-to-face classes who are too shy or who are talked over by quicker and louder voices have the chance to take part in an online discussion.
When I teach online, my students and I can be inside or outside and we can sit wherever and however we want. In Michigan, where a winter storm can make going to campus dangerous or even impossible, the ability to learn in class from the comfort of wherever you live is a big advantage. When the weather is not nice, I often teach while sitting in a local coffee shop. When the weather is nice, I often teach while sitting in my backyard.
I agree that online education is not a “recipe (秘诀)for personal success.” Then again, I’m not sure traditional face-to-face education is such a recipe, either.
【小题1】What does the author think of online courses and traditional courses?| A．Chemistry courses can be done online. |
| B．Online courses are more popular. |
| C．Traditional courses are more helpful. |
| D．Both have their advantages. |
| A．They can do a better job than louder students. |
| B．They can sit quietly to listen to others opinions. |
| C．They can think independently and take an active part. |
| D．They can appear to be engaged in online discussion. |
| A．It is much safer. | B．It is less affected by weather. |
| C．It is more comfortable. | D．It happens anytime. |
| A．Why I teach online. | B．I’ m online. |
| C．A recipe for success. | D．A new teaching style. |
