As a concept, online classes seem like a natural progression in education, helping reach students who are unable to meet in person. It offers a flexible schedule that balances with personal responsibilities, or a pathway through education for those who may not be as social. However, these courses don’t often prioritize the accountability of their students.
The benefits are clear and abundant, but the question remains: Does online school effectively prepare students for educational success?
With its current design, online students can get through an entire semester of courses without ever meeting their peers or professors. Online classes compound a lack of student accountability in an environment that allows unchecked cheating or AI use.
A study on the “Impact of Course Modality on Engagement” found a direct correlation between online learning and disengaged learning. Of the 82,824 students across 181 institutions, 58% of online students reported having never discussed coursework with an instructor outside of class.
There is a direct correlation between online learning and student disengagement from their courses. Professors are supposed to be present in class not only to teach students, but also to ensure that students are absorbing and comprehending the material. Students often treat these courses as a leisurely alternative to college, and in doing so, they build up poor learning habits.
Another report by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, which measured “the impact of the delivery of instructional content on educational outcomes,” found that online learning scored lower than in-person learning, with a 6% difference in the fall of 2022. In an unregulated environment, students are, of course, given freedom and flexibility, but what they lose out on is an interactive college experience to build on what they’re learning. No matter how they’re enrolled, students owe it to themselves to be engaged, but the school must also take responsibility in upholding their integrity.
Regarding schools enforcing accountability online, many existing methods don’t remove the course’s flexibility. There are many forms of online regulation, such as mandatory Zoom hours to ensure face-to-face engagement between students and professors, or something as simple as keeping a camera on when taking tests so that teachers can know you’re putting in an active effort.
If you’re paying for a course, you’re paying toward your future progression. If disengaged students are associated with lower success rates, then not holding them accountable only further harms that progress.
