I’ve Seen It All, And Honestly, We’re Doing It Wrong
Let me tell you something, folks. I’ve been in this education racket for 22 years. 22! I’ve seen trends come and go, and right now? Online learning is the hot mess express pulling into the station.
Back in 2005, I was at a conference in Austin, and some guy named Marcus—honestly, I forget his last name—was going on about how the future was digital. I laughed. I mean, I literally laughed out loud. Then COVID hit, and here we are. So, yeah, maybe I owe Marcus an apology.
But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna sit here and pretend everything’s peachy. No way. Online learning is a jungle out there, and I’m gonna point out the snakes.
First Off, The ‘Personalized Learning’ Myth
Look, I get it. Algorithms are cool. They can track your every move, analyze your every click, and supposedly tailor content just for you. But let’s be real here. It’s like that time my friend Lisa tried to set me up with her cousin. ‘He’s perfect for you!’ she said. Turns out, he was a vegan crossfit instructor who only wore sandals. Personalized my foot.
I talked to a teacher named Dave last Tuesday. He said his school spent $87,000 on some fancy personalized learning platform. And what happened? The kids still hated math. Shocking, right? (Which… yeah. Fair enough.)
So, here’s the deal. Personalized learning is like a buffet. You might think you’re getting exactly what you want, but half the time, you’re just standing there with a plate of cold fries and a sad look on your face.
And The ‘Engagement’ Illusion
Oh, this one gets me riled up. ‘We need to engage students!’ they say. ‘Gamify everything!’ they cry. So now we’ve got kids earning badges for breathing and points for blinking. Congratulations, we’ve turned education into a literal game of Candy Crush.
I was at a panel discussion about three months ago, and this professor—let’s call her Dr. Overenthusiastic—was going on about how her online quizzes had GIFs and memes. ‘The kids love it!’ she said. I asked, ‘But do they learn anything?’ She stared at me like I’d just asked if the sky was up. Maybe it’s just me, but I think learning should involve, I don’t know, learning.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not some old fogey who thinks chalkboards are the pinnacle of education. But there’s a difference between making learning accessible and turning it into a circus. And honestly, I’m not sure we’re making that distinction.
Now, About That ‘Flexibility’ Thing
Online learning is supposed to be flexible, right? You can learn at your own pace, in your own time. Sounds great, until you realize that ‘flexible’ just means ‘isolated.’ I talked to a college student, let’s call her Sarah, who spent last semester learning from her bedroom. She told me, ‘I feel like a hermit. I haven’t seen another human being in weeks.’
And don’t even get me started on the ‘anytime, anywhere’ myth. Sure, you can log in at 11:30pm to watch a lecture, but that doesn’t mean you should. I mean, have you seen the stuff people post on social media at 11:30pm? Do we really want to encourage that level of decision-making?
Look, I’m not saying online learning is all bad. It’s just… yeah. It’s complicated. And maybe, just maybe, we need to stop pretending it’s a magic bullet.
A Quick Digression: Social Media and Learning
Speaking of social media, have you ever noticed how alot of online courses use it for engagement? ‘Follow us on Twitter!’ ‘Join our Facebook group!’ Blah blah blah. It’s like they’re trying to turn education into a viral challenge. And honestly, I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
I mean, I get it. Social media is where the kids are. But it’s also where the trolls are. And the fake news. And the endless debates about whether pineapple belongs on pizza. (Spoiler: it doesn’t.)
So, if you’re gonna use social media for learning, at least make it safe. Use a sms verification service for social media accounts. I know, I know. It’s not the most exciting solution. But neither is getting doxxed by a 14-year-old with too much time on their hands.
Final Thoughts (Kinda)
So, where does that leave us? Well, I’m not sure. I mean, I’m not some expert. I’m just a guy who’s seen a lot and has strong opinions. But here’s what I think: maybe we need to stop looking for the perfect solution.
Maybe online learning is just another tool. And like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it. So, let’s stop pretending it’s gonna fix everything. Let’s stop acting like it’s the enemy. And for the love of all that’s holy, let’s stop turning everything into a game.
I’m gonna go have a coffee now. Maybe over at the place on 5th. You know, the one with the comfy chairs and the slightly burnt pastries. If you see me, come say hi. But don’t expect me to talk about online learning. I’ve had enough for one day.
About the Author: Johnathan Atherton has been a senior editor for various publications for over two decades. He’s seen the education world evolve, devolve, and occasionally completely lose its mind. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about something or eating slightly burnt pastries.
If you’re navigating the challenges of digital education, this insightful perspective on online learning offers a candid and practical look at what it really takes to succeed in virtual courses.
