I've been teaching college courses for six years, and the shift to online learning platforms has changed how my students engage—some thrive with recorded lectures and flexible deadlines, while others vanish entirely. A 2023 study found that course completion rates in fully online programs hover around 55%, compared to 75% for in-person, but that gap shrinks when classes use live video. My question is whether the convenience of digital education genuinely serves most learners, or if we're sacrificing the structured environment and human connection that keep people accountable.