Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/56805
Think online learning isn't effective? Think again, say two online educators who stress that online learning can—and should—offer rich learning opportunities that are interactive, engaging, and experiential. BY ROSEANNA DEMARIA AND TED BONGIOVANNI E ducators and students continue to question whether online education is as good as face-to-face. But we believe that debate misses the point by trying to draw direct comparisons between the two educational experi- ences. We argue that both have equal—but different— potential to enhance student learning. When educators stop trying to translate traditional classroom best practices into distance-learning venues, and start recognizing the unique advantages of digital education, they can unleash the power of the virtual classroom. It has become imperative that business educators do just that. If schools are to prepare students to excel in today's technology-driven business environments, educators must confront distance learning on its home turf and rethink the very nature of learning. In doing so, they'll discover a pow- erful learning tool for higher education. BizEd March/April 2012 37 DIANE FENSTER