Running head: TEACHING AND LEARNING ONLINE 1

Teaching and Learning Online Paper

Caitlin Troy

State University of New York College at Oneonta

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Introduction

The meaning of online learning specifically to you and your students?

Technology is a vital resource both in and out of the educational setting that has

become woven into the fabric of our society. Modern technology allows us to connect,

collaborate, and learn in unprecedented ways. Technological advancements are occurring

in every aspect of society with education being no exception. Technology allows for

sharing of resources and information to occur in a more streamline and more beneficial

way. As technology changes, education is also evolving as schools are seeking more

ways to implement technological advances in the teaching and learning process.

Schools K-12 are beginning to follow the trend that higher education institutions

have set by providing online learning opportunities. Providing these online learning

experiences at a younger age is extremely important to ensure that students are prepared

for the technological demands of working in the 21st century and being effective

members of today’s society. “Since virtual schools include a mixture of self-pace work

with schedules lessons, activities, and deadlines, online students can enjoy a more

individualized education that fits their unique needs while still complying with the

mandates of the individual school and state” (Street, 2016). The options within online

learning that schools can utilize now make learning more accessible and engaging to

student in new ways.

It is the duty of educators to create lessons and classroom activities that are

accessible for all diverse learners to engage in. Online learning provides solutions for

benefiting students through differentiated instruction. Ribeiro (2016) discusses how

online learning has created solutions to some problems associated in the traditional
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classroom learning environment. The main contributor is that students have options and

can truly have an individualized learning experience that occurs online as compared to

the general education setting. Ribeiro (2016) shares how combining of technology and

education is imperative for children’s learning, “virtual education creates the ability to

collaborate virtually, learn material in new ways using the best that technology has to

offer, and have access to expert educators and tools regardless of geographic location”.

Throughout this paper, it will be discussed how online learning can be integrated in the

secondary mathematics classroom and how it can be beneficial for teachers, parents, and

students alike.

An effective online learning environment

There are several barriers to a child’s access to quality learning opportunities and

quality educational institutions. Geography is an important factor in dictating if a student

lives in a good school district that can provide a quality learning environment. Then there

are factors whether a child was placed in a class with an adequate instructor. Other

related concerns regarding the teacher could be if the teacher is designing instruction

tailored to each individual student’s level, learning style, and interests. There are a few of

the potential barriers that parents and students face from the traditional educational

environment. However, the development of online learning begins to break down these

barriers and provide meaningful learning environments for both the teachers, parents, and

students alike.

Online learning changes how society views education. In a traditional education

environment, students are gathered into an assigned space at a specific time where the

teacher is providing the instruction. With online learning, teachers facilitate the
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understanding of content while students navigate and progress through the information at

their own pace. Additionally, students have the opportunity to use a variety of media

technology with online learning that can cater the different learning styles evident among

students. With this way of learning, the role of teacher and student changes in the

educational setting. Olson (2015) in How the Online Learning Environment Has Changed

the Face of Education describes the shift in education at this point in Figure 1 of a

graphic organizer from teacher and content focused in the traditional setting to student

learner focused in the online learning environment. The figure by Olsen (2015) says that

traditionally in the teacher and content focused environment that there will be a set

schedule and classroom, a group instructional delivery, and external dependency from the

teachers to the students. However, Olsen (2015) describes with online learning that the

environment has shifted to a student learner focus because that is now online delivery,

asymmetrical content delivery, and fosters student’s independence. With online learning,

students can now reach high levels of mastery and understanding as well as developing

their independence and intrinsic motivation.

Utilizing online learning with middle and high school instruction can be

beneficial with fostering a productive and engaging learning environment. Specifically,

this type of interaction through an online and digital media can support content

knowledge and development in the mathematics content. With online learning, students

have the freedom to learn at their own pace. This flexibility of this type of learning can

benefit both the general education student as well as the student with special needs in this

means of differentiation. Classroom teachers will typically set the pace of instruction

based on the average student’s needs of the class. This structure does not allow for the
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high student to be challenged or for the low student to get extra support. The benefit of

online learning is that it allows for students to engage with the material at their own pace

which is essential for successful math learning. “By allowing students to access lesson

videos (or to record online sessions), students have more flexibility to skip the material

they already understand or pause to focus on what they find to be particularly

challenging” (March, 2018). Additionally, March (2018) discusses how the effectiveness

of assessing student’s learning outcomes increases with using online learning. Online

learning means that testing and assessments become more efficient and teachers can give

more meaningful feedback to students for them to monitor their own progress with the

content. Overall, the shift from face to face classes to online learning creates a productive

and effective learning environment for both the teacher and student.

A safe and supportive learning environment

There are many factors that can impact how a student’s comfort in the educational

setting. Physical, social, cultural, and psychological factors within a learning environment

can influence student learning. These factors negatively impacting the classroom

environment can serve as barriers to a productive and safe space for students to learn in.

It’s extremely crucial that students feel safe and supportive in their learning environment.

As compared to traditional teaching, online learning and teaching presents new

components that focus on ensuring that students are psychologically safe and

comfortable.

Online learning drastically changes the role of teacher and student from the

traditional classroom. With online learning and teaching, there is now a lack of face-to-

face interaction which can result in isolation and unfamiliarity with necessary technology
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to participate in the learning activities. Teachers need to give additional attention to

strategies that will keep learners engaged while providing a safe and rewarding learning

experience. The role of the teacher will change with online teaching because now

educators can expand their techniques to include technology to capture student’s attention

and engagement in the learning. “But more importantly, online teachers can generate

their presence indirectly by actively shaping the overall texture of a learning

environment, the aggregate feeling of instructional materials and approaches,

assignments and assessments, and opportunities for student engagement” (Haynes, 2017).

Although online learning does not occur in one set physical space, the online presence of

the teachers must be known and predominate to the class. As stated, students are no

longer in a collaborative physical space which can lead to a feeling of isolation. Teachers

need to create intimate learning experience for students and between students even

though they are not physically present together. The role of teacher and student shifts

with online learning, so teachers need to create and build on their presence to have a

collaborative and safe online educational environment.

Furthermore, online learning and teaching is beneficial when an environment is

created that is conducive to learning. Mathematics is a content that has been particularly

shown through research to be extremely beneficial with online teaching. The option of

non-traditional ways to engage students in math could be the use of educational computer

games with online learning. The Journal of Computer Assisted Learning discussed a

study involving the correlation between a science video game and student learning. In

this study participants completed a diagnostic test before the trial, and again at the end,

designed to assess competence in the fraction concepts targeted by the game. The result
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showed that students who had access to the game scored higher than a group who did not

and by “looking at just students who started with a lower level of fractions skills, greater

improvement was seen in those that had access to the game” (Maskek, 2017).

Another option on a way to best support student learning could be the

implementation of instructional online math videos. Khan Academy is an online platform

offering educational videos and exercises around various math concepts. The

International Journal Of Education & Development Using Information &

Communication Technology studied five schools where teachers used Khan Academy.

The studied stated, “we found that the way Khan Academy functions as a digital learning

environment changes the ways and the degree to which students engage with and are

engaged by the math content; it also changes the way teachers and students interact with

each other” (Light, 2014). This differentiation, while keeping in mind student choice, can

support students by providing them a deeper understanding on math topics. This

differentiation is made possible using teaching and learning online.

In conclusion, using new technological learning outlets, such as videos and

gaming, is a safe and educational way for students to collaborate and engage in the

mathematics content. “We can bring videos, animations, interesting movies and other

media into the learning process to help our students develop skills and understandings”

(Hu, 2012). Teachers need to put in effort, that is different from a traditional classroom

setting, to ensure the safety and comfortability for students. Additionally, safety with

online classes allows for a different type of productive relationship to be form between

students and teacher and teacher and parent. The culture of the digital classroom differs
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from the traditional learning setting, but the environment nonetheless should be set up in

a safe, supporting, interactive and engaging way.

Limitations

There is an abundance of positive information that can be said about online

learning and teaching. As outline throughout this paper, the advantageous are numerous

to shifting to online education from traditional education. Online learning comes at a

lower cost, has increased accessibility to diverse learners, and increased flexibility for

students. However, it’s undeniable that traditional education is predominately how

classrooms are still run today. There are some limitations to online education in

comparison to traditional classroom education

When considering the age group of middle and high school aged students, a

significant drawback to online learning is the intense requirements for self-discipline and

independence. “The problem is the time management and organization skills necessary to

stay on top of your work, allot an appropriate amount of time to complete each task and

balance your coursework against other priorities in your life” (Sienkiewicz, 2017). While

it’s important for educators to foster a skillset of independence within their students, this

can become a difficult task to do seamlessly with online learning integration. Similarly,

social isolation can occur with online learning which can results in students missing out

on important lessons of collaboration and learning to work with others. Additionally,

there is many benefits to students being able to independently work at their own pace

while engaging with online learning. However, Sienkiewicz (2017) goes on to discuss

that due to the isolation and independence needed to participate in online learning might

result in the less proficient not receiving needed attention from classroom teachers.
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Online learning is a beneficial option, but academically challenged students might suffer

from needing a classroom setting with a teacher’s support. Online learning and teaching

has many positive factors to consider to supporting student knowledge in content, but

there are a few limitations to also consider when debating whether to implement it in the

classroom.

Summation

Technology integration can support teacher’s in engaging all different types of

student’s learning styles and preferences and promoting student learning in content

knowledge. In today’s world, teachers have an extraordinary amount of resources at their

fingertips to implement and bring into their classroom. Online teaching and learning is

one strategy that educators can use to utilize the various resources while leading to deeper

learning and understanding for students. Online teaching can include a vast array of

applications, programs, and softwares on the Internet that can be applied to lessons and

activities. Kristine Scharaldi (2018) discusses why it’s important to incorporate online

learning into math classroom instruction, “technology provides additional opportunities

for learners to see and interact with mathematical concepts by exploring and making

discoveries with games, simulations, and digital tools”. This paper demonstrated the

benefits to integrating, either fully or in parts, online teaching and learning into the

classroom to benefit teachers and students.

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References

Haynes, C. (2017). Time to change the narrative of online education. Boulder, Colorado:

Office of Strategic Initiatives.

Hu, D. (2012). Designing an effective online learning environment. Charlotte, North

Carolina: Knight Communications.

Light, D., & Pierson, E. (2014). Increasing Student Engagement in Math: The Use of

Khan Academy in Chilean Classrooms. International Journal Of Education &

Development Using Information & Communication Technology, 10(2), 103-119.

March, J. (2018). 7 benefits of teaching math online over classroom teaching. Wood-

Ridge, New Jersey: DigiNo.

Maskek, M., Boston, J., Lam, C. & Corcoran, S. (2017). Improving mastery of fractions

by blending video games in the Math classroom. Journal Of Computer Assisted

Learning, 33(5), 486-499. doi:10.111/jcal.12194

Olsen, W. (2015). How the online learning environment has changed the face of

education. Spokane, Washington: Enlightium Academy.

Scharaldi, K. (2018). What are the benefits of using technology for math instruction.

Woburn, Massachusetts: Texthelp Ltd.

Sienkiewicz, T. (2017). 5 disadvantages to consider about online education. Highlands

Ranch, Colorado: Peterson’s.

Street, E. (2016). 7 compelling benefits of online learning. Herdon, Virginia: K12

Learning Liftoff

Ribeiro, C. (2016). How virtual learning is transforming K-12 education. Campbellsville,

Kentucky: Campbellsville University - Education.