Do Students lose more than they gain in online writing classes Essay

Do Students lose more than they gain in online writing classes - Essay Example In the chapter text, Keifer writes, â€Å"questions about the efficacy of online education have been ignored in the face of pressures† (Keifer, 2007, p. 142). I am in agreement with the author’s statement that the schools, confronted by rising intake of students and governmental pressure, have been under pressure to embrace online learning. However, such efforts, to provide alternative models of learning, should be guided by efficiency and not by the current boom in student populations. Globally, few learning institutions with online learning programs have integrated efficiency of content delivery in their e-learning approach. Kiefer identified three deficits in the online writing system that makes it a less desirable learning platform. One of these deficits is the nature of the classroom software. It feels that the author has overly criticized the role of software in a classroom. A good quote is, â€Å"We have all had moments when we question why technology, especiall y software seems to distract energy away from the focus of our work as writers and teachers† (Keifer, 2007, p. 148). The author sees that technology disguises the interest of students in coursework and that through an online platform; students can pretend to be engaged in the learning process. Kiefer also critiques software used in online writing, citing that such software is not developed with the writing teachers in mind and does not provide for interaction between the students. While this may have been true when the article was written.