It can be frustrating at times to teach on-line classes, when your main instruction is HANDS ON LAB INSTRUCTION for a technical field.
Some subject matter translates readily to an online environment, however technical fields can be challenging to create a good useable online model for, because not all students have the same access or understanding of technology in general, let Aline to the particular class of instruction. Yet, as instructors we are expected to somehow achieve the same results from F2F classes as those online, when it's hard to "show" someone that doesn't have access to equipment a video of how to work or utilize equipment or technology. One of my fellow instructors put it like this, "It's to teach someone how to use a saw or hammer if they have never physically handled one. YouTube has a million videos of how to accomplish or do certain tasks with just about everything, and competing with that as an instructor can be a challenge, with the current mindset of most younger students.
The DECISION to actually LEARN content as opposed to getting a passing grade to get the certificate, degree or pice a paper that says I know my stuff does not seem hold the same weight.
For a generation of learners that have SO much knowledge readily available, there doesn't seem to be as much enthusiasm to ACTUALLY LEARN.
