The work of education in the age of the digital classroom: Resurrecting Frankfurt school philosophies to examine online education

As two scholars with professional experience in the field of online education, we asked: (1) If the Frankfurt School scholars co-existed with the advent and advancement of digital learning, how would they examine the varied purposes and aspects of online instruction? (2) What can their critical lens teach about distance education practices in the 21^st century? Following an exploration of the critiques these views introduce, we explore the methods individuals use to invert or subvert the results of this learning process along with other applicable critiques of the Frankfurt School of thought. These inquiries and explorations further the conversation of online education by demonstrating deficiencies in the online learning process, addressing power struggles, and creating gaps for further research.