Thumbs Up or Down?

Who learns best online? Or is that even a fair question? Just as educators have struggled for so long to determine if there is really any category of learner who can't learn, we are now faced with the question of appropriate learning venue. Visual learning is accommodated in the online environment. We can also utilize auditory. I'd voice some concern over tactile/sensory learning. Unless the student openly engages in making learning tactile via labs, purchasing hard back books, and using manipulatives, can we replicate that need? Human contact through discussion and seeing one another can be done easily, but the touch of a hand when a student needs reassurance is lacking.

Perhaps what we lose in human face-to-face connection we replace with the wonder of building relationships with people around the world. I recently located the village in Italy in which my great grandfather was born and short of taking an expensive trip, I was able to climb the village streets and look off the cliffs, all thanks to satellite pictures in delayed and real time. The global village has become my street and it's remarkable indeed.

So, back to my initial pondering....is this learning arena the best one for all learners? And if we ask that question, let’s do everything in our power to make sure it can accommodate all learners.