As the number of students taught online by a single professor increases, the quality drops further. Studies show that some students in online courses feel more isolated than typical students and are more likely to drop out. Advocates of online education counter that classroom teaching can be boring for many college students. Just think of all those students dozing off in the back of the class, they say. Besides, online education appeals to self-motivated students, who don't mind taking classes from their home and studying after work or once their children are in bed.
Society has a responsibility to provide education to all students.
It's one thing to deliver courses to students who are committed and another to deliver to freshmen right out of high school. Professors have also questioned the cost-effectiveness of online teaching. AAUP has reported that courses taught on the Internet actually require more class time, not less, resulting in the need for more instructors. And critics say forget about the argument that lower tuition costs will result from unneeded classrooms and fewer professors teaching more students. Adding fuel to the fire on the issues of cost, choice and online education is a recent report from The College Board, the organization that develops and delivers the nation's Scholastic Aptitude Tests.