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Show Con #3: Technology Barrier. Many students express frustrationâ€"and sometimes panicâ€" with regard to their inability to access or understand the blackboard environment. During the first two weeks of fall semester, I received no less than twenty emails asking for extra time to complete assignments because (1) the ASU courses site was down; (2) they didn't know they should push "send" to place their assignment in the "digital drop box"; (3) they didn't understand the syllabus (or didn't read it thoroughly); or some other technology-related question. One student expressed his frustration this way: "I am not very 'computer advanced,' which makes it hard for me to sometimes upload outlines, or perform another type of technological process. And then, when I finally do get them uploaded or have added a new thread, I have a feeling that I did it wrong, and I'll miss points because I cannot figure out how to upload a simple file, and reply to a bulletin. Technology always has its difficulties and complications, and I feel like I have the worst of luck with computers!" Although millennial students may be categorically computer literate, there are surprisingly many students who don't have the experience or ability to negotiate their way around an online classroom. For these students, the online classroom experience is time-consuming and frustrating. In addition, computer or Internet-related system malfunction can prevent students from handing in assignments or accessing the site when they need to. As one student stated, "There's not much time for Internet failure." The discussion board in the online classroom functions in my classes as a replacement for in-class discussion. According to my students, instructors often do not respond much to these discussions. Instructors may be overwhelmed by the increased workload that sometimes comes with an online class; or they may want the discussion board to be a place of free expression without comments from the teacher. I have found, however, that if instructors do not respond adequately to discussion board posts, students feel that the instructor doesn't care about their opinions. This can lead to student disengagement from the class. Con #4: Lack of hands-on time. The online classroom can be a fantastic opportunity to study subjects like mass media. Because so much of mass media depends on digital technology, and because the class depends largely on analytical skills rather than physical skills, the online classroom is a natural fit. The online classroom may not be a good fit, however, for subjects that are taught more easily with a hands-on approach. One student stated, "I have found that there are some subjects which I simply half [sic] to physically be in to be able to learn such as science. I took a science class which as most do, had a lab connected with it. I decided instead of trekking all the way back to school to go to the lab I would take it online. Halfway through the semester after completing one of the six or seven at-home labs, I realized that I would be redoing that course differently the next semester. That time I flipped the scenario and passed with flying colors." Hands-on time may also be more important for some types of students. The online class is geared towards visual learners who need to see information written before they can commit it to memory. Tactile learners, on the other hand, tend to do better in a traditional classroom that allows them to work with the material they are studying. Audio learners may also do better in a traditional classroom, because they can listen to the instructor explain information. In sum, hands-on time is critical for some subjects and students; in these cases, a hybrid (partially online, partially face-to-face) or traditional classroom would be preferable. lessons | fall 2007 11 |