Does online learning truly fail to build critical thinking skills?
I've taught online courses for three years, and I believe that online learning fails to build the critical thinking skills that in-person classes naturally develop. When students watch a recorded lecture, they don't get the spontaneous debates or the immediate feedback that sparks deeper analysis. Sure, the flexibility helps working adults, but that convenience often comes at the cost of real intellectual engagement. Does anyone else see this gap, or is it just my experience with younger learners?