Debunking the Myth of Online Learning with Deconstruction

Abstract

There is an assumption that a myth is not a lie; a myth is a belief adopted by people due to its logic, a belief that it is true, and consistency based on several forms of evidence. However, some myths that people believe are totally false or at least partly false, even dangerous. Surprisingly, in today’s modern era where online learning is practiced everywhere, teachers still believe in some myths, specifically in their online learning. Why does a myth dominate? Often this is because it is promoted by ‘organized interests’. A myth exists because we believe in it. In fact, myths can be dangerous for five main reasons: preservation, dichotomy, sometimes having seeds of truth, justification, and institutionalization. Then, can deconstruction dismantle a myth? The present study identified 10 common myths from 20 sources and found that deconstruction was the appropriate means of dismantling them. Of this dismantlement, there emerged new concepts of online learning that need to be socialized by stakeholders with the aim of forming new attitudes and gaining positive support for the improvement of online learning quality in the future new normal era.
 Keywords: myth, online learning, deconstruction