ABSTRACT
Online learning is perhaps one of the largest major changes in education in recent memory. Today, entire degree programs can be completed online and students very well may be able to complete a college degree without ever having stepped foot on the physical campus. The goal of this chapter is to discuss online learning but, more importantly, to offer a different perspective by focusing on the critiques of the online classroom and concerns that many faculty have in this area. Often times, the drive toward more classes being held online is assumed as universally supported or, potentially, as being inevitable. Online classes and degree programs can certainly reach populations that have typically not had easy access to higher education and we should continue to reach out to these students. However, researchers have pointed out that many faculty are resistant to the move to more online classes and public opinion polling seems to note that a large portion of the public do not equate online classes as equivalent to FtF classes. Online learning certainly has a place in higher education; however, we should be cautious with moving to develop more classes and degree programs. Online education is not a panacea for the significant issues facing higher education institutions but likely is one of many potential solutions to those problems. This chapter provides an in-depth discussion of this important issue and highlights diverging viewpoints on this topic.
