E Learning. Classroom of the future

As we are moving into the digital domain, so too will our classrooms. There was a theory put forth in class that in the future, we would no longer need classrooms. All learning would be online. Students and teachers would log into an online classroom from the comfort of their own home and have lessons in a virtual space. Almost like going to school in that MMORPG "Second Life".

The implications for this theory are astounding. For starters, we would not have to build school buildings anymore. Anyone who wants to learn can get a good computer and a stable internet connection. At most $2000. No more hefty school fees since you no longer have to rent facilities or pay for teachers' transport or your own transport. You pay for the knowledge gained.

With the use of customizable avatars, in-class racism or teachers' biases based on students' appearance would be null and void. There will be no such thing as "the ugly girl" or "the dumb jock". People can look however they want. There will no longer be cases of social outcasting based on looks. No more long commutes in the morning traffic jam, no more blaming a slow bus for being late for class.

Despite all these benefits, i remain sceptical. Knowledge is not the only thing we learn in school. There is a whole array of soft skills that we learn, for example, the value of discipline. The discipline to get up from bed at 6am in the morning and drag yourself to school, sit through a lesson and then do revision afterwards. With a digital classroom, you no longer need that level of discipline.

And be honest. Many students goof off during lessons nowadays. While the teacher is talking, they are chatting with their friends, they are sending each other handphone messages, they are tweeting. Without the physical supervision of a teacher's presence, it will be so much easier to goof off. Goofing off in the future classroom would take the "art" to a whole new level. Students would leave their avatar in study mode while they switch windows to play a video game or open up an instant messenger to chat with their friends. There would be more and more creative ways to goof off.

Cheating would also be so much easier. Need I say why?

Playing truant would made made more convenient with the creation of "bot" avatars which will go to school for you and clock in your attendance while the actual student is watching a movie.

The bottom line is this: People lack the discipline to be allowed into the proposed digital classroom of the future. Such a way of learning will give rise to a whole new generation of smart kids, but undisciplined, spoiled brats.
Therefore, the classroom of the future would just be like the classroom of today. Only with more high tech computers.