New Student Roles

I see the key roles for online students are community, self motivator, and technology guru. The student must persist in the individual readings/activities and then be willing to apply them to the community. In the Gibson article, he mentions analysis conducted by Machtmes and Asher (2000) which "found interaction significantly influences learner achievement". Stimulating interaction or communication can only be achieved when those in the communication have taken the time to educate themselves on the subject. The role of an online learner is different from traditional in that the student does not receive the lecture time. A traditional learner can attend class not having read any of the material and absorb content through lecture or by simply listening to the rest of the class. Online communication forces the student to actively engage in the communication to prove they are there. The mere idea of online learning suggests students should have some experience with technology. Students can prepare for the roles with help from the institutions they are attending. Class descriptions should include information on how the class is conducted and what is expected (and needed) from the student for a successful learning experience.