Online learning and teaching for the 21st century educational agenda

 

In the free book The Theory and Practice of Online Teaching and Learning: A guide for academic professionals (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, n.d.), the authors devote each chapter to overviewing the contents of six books on online learning and teaching published by Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. With the aim of persuading the readers to purchase the books being summarized, the authors provide an appealing exploration of each work, and put forward rewarding aspects of online teaching and learning which might capture readers' attention. However, it must be stated that specific information on the topic of online education which ought to be present appears to be missing. Despite some important omissions, the authors of this book succeed in highlighting the major issues focused on in each published piece, while underlining certain benefits of online education which may convince readers to make a final purchase. The purpose of this critique is to assess the book The Theory and Practice of Online Teaching and Learning: A guide for academic professionals (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, n.d.) in the light of the positive and negative ways in which it develops the topic of online learning and teaching.

Broadly speaking, the reviewed book offers a useful and interesting overview of each work. References to the educational value of online learning and teaching, mainly the promotion of reflective thinking, teachers' professional development as well as ample opportunities for collaboration with remote learning communities (Ko & Rossen, as cited in The Theory and Practice..., n.d.), are extensively made. Similarly, relevant comparisons as regards teaching techniques between onsite and online delivery courses are carefully considered. For instance, as stated by Vai and Sosulski (cited in The Theory and Practice..., n.d.), the use of audio and video to ensure clearer information exchanges is essential, especially in an online environment where non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, are not present to mediate communication. As explained in The Theory and Pratice of Online Teaching and Learning "whatever non-verbal communication techniques you use in class will now be replaced by something else-the tone of your writing, written encouragement, and perhaps some audio or video so that learners can associate your personality with the written text"(n.d., "Orientation to online teaching and learning", para. 2).

Nevertheless, the authors of the reviewed book appear to have ignored the inclusion of some important information. With regard to strategies for synchronous or real-time online teaching, the writers make little allusion to. The book would have been by far more comprehensive if the authors had devoted some lines to the description of video conferencing tools, which are now available for educators interested in having synchronous sessions with their pupils. Likewise, when describing the scope and design of e-tivities for online learning (Salmon cited in The Theory and Practice..., n.d.), had the authors included an illustrating example of such frameworks for participatory online learning, the chapter on e-tivities would have been considered to be complete.

In conclusion, even though many inaccuracies in content seem to have been made, the authors of the reviewed work have highlighted major interesting aspects of online teaching and learning as well as their potential to serve educational goals and have emphasized the major differences in communication between participants in a physical classroom and those on an online campus. Therefore, despite the irregularities, the book provides an appealing overview of the issues of online teaching and learning explored in the works being summarized, and is consequently, persuasive enough for readers to consider investing money in the purchase of any of the books reviewed. As a result, it is highly recommended that, in spite of some negative aspects, the readership spends time reading this worthwhile work.

References

Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. (n.d.). The theory and practice of online teaching and learning: A guide for academic professionals. Retrieved from https://cutt.ly/pgD99oo