Last week in my political theory class we were discussing the effect of technology on democracy, and how much technology has rapidly changed even in our short lifetime. We also discussed how technology has begun to affect the university systems. There appears to be a shift in focus from lecturing and teaching in the class room to online learning environments.

There are some benefits to offering online classes at universities. Online classes allow individuals who have children or have to work a great deal have the opportunity to schedule their classes around their lives, and not their lives around their school schedule. Students also have the opportunity to take their classes from the comfort of their own home. Online classes also save the university money by not having to have students come to campus. It reduces class sizes, and can save expenses. However, we need to evaluate the use of online classes.

When students come to a university they eventually find their niche and figure out where they want to focus their course of study. Our professors are masters of their field of study. They have put a lot of time and effort into understanding their fields. Students should always have the opportunity to learn from these individuals through face-to-face interactions. Nothing can replace this interaction that takes place between professors and students. It is much easier to grasp complex subject matters when your professor is speaking right in front of you in person.

I have talked with several students about online classes and of course there are mixed feelings. Some students have the discipline to handle online classes by making time for them, and persistently complete their school work. However, it has been my understanding that a great deal of students, especially younger ones, do not succeed as well as others because they easily become distracted, and do not consistently work on their school work like they would if they had to come to class. If a student is not disciplined, it is very easy for them to not watch lectures, or keep up with their work, and their grades will definitely suffer because of it.

With the budget problems we are having as a state, nation and University, it will not be unlikely to see online sections for courses becoming more prevalent. We are in an ever-changing technological society. We are also at a time when it is important to be as economically efficient as possible, but also make the most out of our classes. We need to have the opportunity at understanding our areas of study as best as possible. At this University, we have an opportunity to learn from experts, and we should definitely use it. Online classes have their purposes and are definitely suitable for certain people, but they should never replace the face-to-face social interaction of the traditional classroom. This experience in the class room is vital to academic process, because we can not only learn the subject matter, but have social experiences with other individuals that can also help us learn.