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April 16, 2013
www.duclarion.com
Online learning not Venezuelan victory with ready for real world opposition, not Maduro by chris bach Opinions Editor
tech equipment and programs. Overall, lower income students may have less access to technolOnline classes should not ogy which would put them at a be replacing the traditional tremendous disadvantage in an system. I understand that online learning situation. technology has advanced to Troubleshooting could be the point where taking online another major obstacle. With classes is possible. And that’s a more technological world, great, as a supplement to the there are bound to be more classroom style of learning. technological problems. If stuThese online classes, as well as dents don’t know how to cormassive open online courses rectly fix any bugs or technical (MOOCs), are not on the issues that may arise, then they same level as real classes yet. won’t be able to access or comOnline classes just do not plete their online classes. have the same feel as a real Online learning requires classroom. In a real classroom, extreme diligence. There may there are personal not be scheddiscussions and “These circumuled times when collective learnclasses are held, ing among faces stances, while but rather only that you can deadlines when recognize. There maybe minor, things need to be is the shared look are all a part turned in. With of exhaustion procrastination as on everybody’s of the college a major concern face for 8 a.m. experience that among almost classes. There all students, this is the trudging would be lost can be a devastattogether to get to ing thing when if classes were class when there there aren’t times are blizzard-like solely online.” scheduled specificonditions out. cally for learning These circumthe material. stances, while maybe minor, are It does appear, however, that all a part of the college experi- online learning is progressing ence that would be lost if classes to a more acceptable standard. were solely online. There are programs out there CU Boulder is trying that utilize different programs its first MOOCs next year. such as Skype to make video This will be a comprehensive calling an option. This will allow attempt to get more students the professor to see the students to use the online learning and for the students to see both method. However, for the rea- the professor and their fellow sons mentioned above, I doubt classmates. It would also mean that it will produce the results that the students would have to that the school is looking for. get on at certain times so as to There is research by the coordinate with the rest of the Community College Research class on the video calling process. Center that shows that students Online learning may be the perform worse academically in way of the future in schooling, online classes when compared as some would like to predict. to traditional courses. This I do not think that we are there research found that students yet. There are still a lot of probwere not ready to adapt to the lems with comparing to the way of online learning. Because same experience as a traditional online learning is so different classroom and overall perforfrom the traditional style, it mance in online classes that makes sense that students would make it less valuable than going have a hard time adjusting. the traditional classroom path. It may just be a fact that With some tweaks to make not all students are proficient online classes more connected enough to solely use their com- through means such as Skype, puters for online learning. They perhaps online learning will may not know how to use certain come to equal a similar level programs or when to use certain of education as the traditional programs over others. Some kids style. For now, let’s head to may not be able to afford high- class and take our seats.
about this election is how close the results were. Considering that Chavez endorsed Maduro before his death, that Chavez supporters did not give Maduro the thumbsup was expected. Maduro will undoubtedly continue down the path of Chavez’s version of socialism. But with only 0.6 percent more than a majority, the Venezuelans may be having second doubts. I believe that this shows the incredible influence that Chavez had, while at the same time showing that Venezuelans are getting ready to move past the ideal that is Chavez. Capriles’s persistence, with taking on both Chavez and Maduro, has not paid off thus far, but that does not mean that it won’t in the future. If this elec-
by chris bach Opinions Editor
This past Sunday, Venezuelans went to the polls to choose the successor to longtime leader Hugo Chavez. Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, was announced as the winner with 50.6 percent of the vote. Because this is nowhere near the 11 point victory that Chavez had over the same opponent, Henrique Capriles, last October, this election spells serious trouble for Maduro’s presidency. Note that Capriles is contesting the narrow election results stating that there were irregularities in the voting system that cost him votes. Whether this is true or not, the most surprising thing
tion is any indication, without Chavez, the style of socialism that exists in Venezuela is under direct threat. Should Maduro fail to spout the same charisma that Chavez did, I think that Capriles or any other opposition leader could have a very good shot at the presidency next election cycle. Maduro will lack the same legitimacy that Chavez held and will find it very hard to advance his agenda in the same manner that Chavez did. The opposition can now use these elections results to show that Venezuelans do not overwhelmingly want the past to repeat itself. I can only foresee greater political tension in Venezuela over the rest of Maduro’s term.
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