ET522 M1 Blog

Online teaching is any teaching utilizing the internet as a means of delivery of information this can include partial (blended) classes or full online courses such as distance education.  Online teaching focuses on the tools provided by the web such as cloud networks like Google that have ability to share blogs (like this one), documents, video, and much more.  The online learning for this information is key as well.  Students who have needs that can utilize the learning from great distances, times, and backgrounds can provide for a stronger learning environment.  It gives the student the opportunity to learn from instructors or specialize in skills that otherwise would be unreachable by conventional means. 

Andragogy is simply the teaching of adult learners.  In andragogy the focus changes from the instructor to the learner.  The learner seeks control over his or her education.  There are key assumptions in andragogy as defined by Malcom Knowles:
(1) Adults need to know why they need to learn something
(2) Adults need to learn experientially,
(3) Adults approach learning as problem-solving, and
(4) Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value.
This relates to the online learning/teaching model because it allows the learner to seek out and learn something they have an immediate need for.  This can be viewed why so many businesses have moved to distance learning for training of employees.  With an online class experiential situation can be utilized.  The learner can utilize his or her own experience to enhance the education.  With easy access to search engines and research capabilities learners can see why they lesson is necessary and why they will need to learn the subject therefore providing them with problem solving techniques.