While learning is necessary to glorify an individual’s personal and career life, lockdown failed to restrict learning due to the technological revolutions of this age. The rare phenomenon of online learning has become a global norm which was relative to a few courses in the past. Online learning has enabled people to learn anything from anywhere. Although online learning has many benefits, educational experts believe there are still many hurdles in the process of online learning. Online learning has brought many advantages to the realm of education for students during the lockdown. The most important benefits include convenience, flexibility, more affordability, increased interaction, enabled holistic learning, and creates more opportunities.
On the other hand, online learning has faced criticism due to several disadvantages. It is believed that online learning fosters a sense of isolation. The process is compromised when students are unable to keep self-discipline. Online learning during the lockdown revealed the incapacity of teachers to lead online classes properly. Moreover, another disadvantage includes the technical faults that disrupt the online learning process. Consumption of prolonged screen-time results in health issues. Although online learning is full of advantages and disadvantages, a delicate commitment to mitigate the disadvantages can make online learning a new norm in this revolutionary 21st century.
The foremost benefit online learning provides the convenience of learning. This single-most benefit is responsible for the promotion of online learning. Students do not need to cover miles of distance to reach the classroom. Neither do they require to compromise their wealth, time, and energy to reach classrooms. They can jump to their study table from their beds. This convenient learning is the first formidable advantage of online learning. Lockdowns necessitated isolation and closure of institutions and public life; however, online learning enabled the students to carry on their routine work.
Online learners benefit from this new normal when they have the option to choose their own timetable. Flexible learning is another advantage pertaining to online classes. Flexibility in online learning has also enabled institutions to grow their network of students eliminating the resistance of geographical boundaries. Furthermore, online classes can be recorded, archived, or shared for further use and consideration. This level of flexibility is not available in physical learning. Therefore, this ought to be a great benefit for online classes.
Reduced cost in online classes is the next significant advantage of online classes over physical classes. Online education is more affordable and cheaper as compared to physical classes. The underlying factors are the reduced or eliminated cost of travel, meals, and infrastructure. This saving is more beneficial to institutions that must spend millions to operate a successful educational institute. Furthermore, online learning eliminates the unnecessary use of paper books as most of the material is available online, which is also advantageous to the environment. This further reduces the cost of studying online.
Online classes foster healthy and increased interaction between teachers and students. Online classes have no backbenchers as all are equally represented on the screen. Shy students also benefit from online classes as they can chat privately with their instructors. Digital boards are more beneficial than wallboards. Students can mute or turn off their videos or microphones if they desire to. Lockdowns have brought made online classes a blessing in disguise for the students. Moreover, online learning has provided more opportunities as students can choose courses from around the globe. Learning is no longer limited to the four walls of educational institutions.
The above-stated advantages of online classes are explored in detail due to lockdowns which enabled online learning as the new norm. Below are some disadvantages faced by students and instructors in online classes.
Some believe that online learning fosters a sense of isolation. If some students are more effective at learning independently, others feel isolated from their campus community. Teamwork with their fellows and the proper guidelines of their instructors is crucial for their learning. However, online virtual classrooms could successfully mitigate these uncertainties by setting the tools for active participation in live sessions.
Self-discipline is required in life to grow and shine. It is assumed that online classes hinder the development of this important aspect of a student’s personality. When the phenomenon of check and balance or of accountability is not absent, a learner may lack in developing self-discipline characteristics. Nevertheless, adhering to virtual or real-time classes can inculcate the elements of self-discipline in a student’s life. Moreover, parents must pay special attention to their children while they are learning virtually. This can mitigate the disadvantageous end of online classes.
Online classes have become a norm due to the lockdowns. This digitalized learning has affected students as well as teachers. To conduct online classes properly, teachers must devise online courses. Teachers need special training to create successful online courses with a profound understanding of different approaches. Moreover, they also require special technical training to conduct online classes successfully. Using online audio and video tools, along with lecture delivery and learning management software (LMS), requires proper training. Therefore, this disadvantage can be converted into benefit with some proper training and planning.
This digitalized world has brought a hazard to the physical health of consumers. With excessive screen time, health issues like poor posture, headaches, and psychological problems are faced by us. Online classrooms just add fuel to the fire. Along with the health issues, students also face difficulty in maintaining attention with the screens. They get easily distracted on social media or in other activities. Therefore, physical ailment requires proper exercise and outdoor activity to maintain balance. Also, teachers must undergo engaging and interesting lectures to keep students attentive.
The advantages and disadvantages of online classes are discussed in detail. The lockdown has initiated a phenomenon that is more likely to continue even after the pandemic. The benefits are far more than the harms. Moreover, technological innovation, training, and practice sessions can outweigh the disadvantages.
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