Education Online?

Teach your classes online?

"That’s why a New York-based startup called Powhow is launching its public beta today, which aims to allow anyone and everyone (with a webcam) to find and take classes in subjects like fitness, cooking, music, arts, DIY, and crafting from curated rosters of professional, credentialed instructors all over the world. During its private beta, over 600 students and instructors have been using Powhow to bake souffles, learn to play heavy metal guitar, sew bikinis, and sculpt abs."


           This article focuses on the development of education and the changes that are occurring because of the busy lifestyle of our generation. More and more people are relying on online videos to learn a subject. They are depending on online software to communicate and hold conferences with others over long distances. Solely in my college experience, I have seen more online classes being integrated in the semesters. Not only has the webcam taken over the business and work force, but also, it is beginning to have a huge impact on education.
           This article led me to think about the way education will be in a couple of years. Another article from Education Magazine stated that education in the United States will become completely digital by 2017. This same article showed that Florida's education will become fully digital by the end of 2012. This concerns me. I feel that in a classroom it very important to form personal relationships with your students and be available whenever they need help. I feel that instruction becomes less personal through webcam and online videos. Although it has its benefits and is at the tip of everyone's fingertips, it lacks many of the advantages of physically being in a classroom setting.
        Another aspect of this Powhow that concerned me was that students need to have access to internet connection, a webcam, and a credit card. In urban areas, such as where I went to high school, the students do not have these luxuries. I remember many of the students in my high school had to go to a library to complete homework that required internet connectivity. Also, when some students discovered they needed to make a trip to the library to complete their homework, they chose to not go through that trouble and refused to do it. Also, our libraries did not have computers with webcams and many of the students did not own a credit card. They came from families with bad credit that could not sign up for another credit card or were simply in debt. Also, I remember students that enjoyed going to school and having class in the school because it was an escape from their lives at home. I believe instruction via this software would only complicate things in an urban setting. Maybe, it will work in a more affluent community. Still, I do not agree with education becoming completely digital because it deprives the students of many of the in-class benefits.