Are Classrooms a Thing of the Past?

This past week in class we discussed a new trend that is occurring on college campuses throughout the country: online courses. Essentially, it would remove the students and professors from the classroom, do away with lectures, and allow those to attend class from their own laptop. Even though this seems like a technological savvy idea, it still takes away from the professor-student relationship. Granted, maybe students who are in big lecture classes, say 50 or more students, would like having an online class because, perhaps in some way, the professor would learn more about each particular attendant than they would in an actual lecture hall.


However, what about the universities that are able to offer small classes, thus enhancing the professor's relationship to each individual student? Although it would be nice to have the option to pick either to attend class in your dorm room or a classroom, nobody has really considered the loss of personal interaction. Part of the college experience is being able to not only interact with your peers, but also professors. It seems to be saying that professors served a purpose for a short time, but now because there is some new development, the classroom relationship is no longer. Instead of talking to students during the lesson, educators would only have to film something and then post it online. Therefore, the relationship that normally occurs is diminished with one single source: the Internet.

Although I agree that a new form of instruction would be appreciated besides the lecture one that is present in most colleges, I feel that a complete and abrupt change to online classes might be too hasty. This new option needs time to be integrated more fully into the curriculum. Choices are good because they make the student feel like they have some control over what they are learning. Thus, perhaps the offering of having online classes could start slowly and not be forced onto learners. Rather, it should only be one option. Classrooms should not be done away with because there might be something better out there. Give students the ability to make the decision for themselves and they will make the choice that is right for them.