Online education has been on the scene for quite some time now but it gained more popularity worldwide when the pandemic hit us with a storm.
With schools, colleges, and universities shutting down globally due to the spread of the virus, more and more institutions entered the scene of offering online education to pupils.
Teachers and students alike approached this new paradigm with varying levels of enthusiasm and skepticism. Are you excited about the introduction of a new learning space or are you fearing that students will lose their interest in learning altogether? It is important, therefore, to consider both the pros and cons of the online mode of learning so that you’re equipped for the challenges and opportunities it has to offer.
If you’re today’s learner, here are some advantages and disadvantages of online learning that you should be aware of.
Merits:
• Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of online education is the flexibility it offers. People can take a class according to their convenience. This approach seems effective since it helps students to take care of their other obligations and gives a more space to learn according to their productivity levels.
• Another advantage of online learning is that you’re not obliged to go anywhere specific for it. It allows the student to take the class anywhere at any time, which is great in terms of learning and convenience
• The interactive nature of the online environment enables dynamic engagement between the teachers and students, including among the students themselves. The learning process will generate ongoing synergy as resources and concepts are shared. Each student can participate in class discussions and write remarks on other students’ work.
• This framework gives students more time to express statements with greater depth and preparation than in a typical face-to-face discourse when participants must study another’s opinion on the spot and construct a response or risk losing the opportunity to contribute to the conversation.
De-Merits
• On the contrary, one of the disadvantages of an online class is the lack of motivation. Many students struggle with learning from home, especially you’re someone who’s not good at self-discipline, then online learning might not be the best option for you.
• Another major drawback of an online class is the lack of practical experience. While some subjects can easily be taught online there are some which require practical experience to learn better.
• Another drawback is the accessibility and equity to technology. Plenty f students don’t enjoy equal or quality access to technology which is particularly a higher issue in the lower strata of society.
• To perform well in an online setting, both learners and facilitators must have a basic understanding of computers. They must, for example, be able to navigate the World Wide Web and use several search engines, as well as be conversant with Newsgroups, FTP processes, and email. They would not function in an online school if they do not have these technological tools; a student or staff member who cannot use the system will bring the entire program down.
It’s only fair to list both the advantages and disadvantages for the readers to decide for themselves. If you’re someone who can live with minimal social interactions and can easily motivate yourself, online education is the platform for you. But if you’re someone who struggles with procrastination or self-discipline then you’re better off with face-to-face classes.
Online education can definitely be the future of education if more innovation is brought into the world of technology and online learning spaces.
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