With the dawn of online high school, is the information learned enough, or is the student-teacher interaction an integral part of education?


This is a question that has sparked interest in my little mind.  It seems a little hypocritical considering I am taking my summer classes online.  This is my first foray into online learning.  I do prefer to be in the classroom, but I know many people that prefer online.  It is quite the love/hate, very opinionated debate.  In college, especially community college, people are very busy in their lives, and online gives an opportunity to work towards a degree when they have time.  High school kids for the most part do not have the responsibilities as us older folk.


With all the gadgets and gizmos that are part of our everyday lives, it is hard to imagine a classroom without them.  I still remember hearing the beep in the cassette tape when it was time to move to the next slide.  If we needed to do research, we actually had to go to the library and find it.  Does anyone remember an encyclopedia?  They used to sell them door to door and they had to be updated every few years or the information would be out of date.  Now they look great on that extra spot on your bookshelf, or as a relic to how tough life was 20 or more years ago.  


I certainly had a culture shock going into a classroom this past spring after 12 years away.  All the stuff I dreamed about is true.  I am sure some of the wealthier private schools must seem like NASA's mission control.  Touchscreens and integrated wifi everywhere.  Just yesterday I was talking with a coworker about the inter-departmental mail courier system a university near my home had.  Handwritten memos and letters sent in envelopes across campus.  Crazy.  What a job for a stoner college kid.  Now there are at least 10 different ways to almost immediately get a hold of someone.  


The one thing that technology can not replace is human contact.  I thought I would love this online thing, but I miss going to class.  Sitting at a table, next to someone who is going through this with me.  It may not be on the battlefield, but it is still nice to know there is someone there.  I had such a great time in high school.  I have friends and acquaintances that I will have for the rest of my life.  Memories may have faded, but luckily others I shared them with do remember.  A number or letter grade shows knowledge gained, but getting an education is also learning about yourself and those around you.  


Everyone is looking for different things in life, but are experiences just as important as knowledge in shaping who we are?