What Are The Pros And Cons Of Online Learning?
There have been leapfrog improvements in technology which also affect children. But is online learning for children the best way to teach them? Yes, it is. Online learning ensures that students can complete their studies at home without having to commute to school. This leaves them with more time to play and pursue other recreational activities. eLearning is designed specifically for children, and it offers learning pathways for students. This does not happen in conventional classrooms where the teachers teach at a generalized pace.
Some students may find it tough to learn at this pace. Hence, eLearning is the perfect solution for them. They can pursue each module whenever they have time. In fact, with the use of learning analytics, the speed of each student can be analyzed. Once it has been done, the speed of each module can be changed according to the student. Apart from that, there can be more detailed instructions for students who have trouble grasping a certain topic. There can also be content that can be designed as per the knowledge levels of students which can be assessed through tests.
Additional Benefits Of Online Learning For Students
1. Interactive Learning
Children are now introduced to technology from an early age. Hence, it's not tough for them to accept technology in education. If there is interactive learning, children find it entertaining. They also benefit from the element of competition introduced by rewards and badges. It's an exciting moment for a child to win a badge. Hence, eLearning is the perfect choice for many students.
2. Pollution-Free Learning
eLearning is also beneficial for the environment because it reduces carbon emissions due to lack of travel. There is no use of paper in eLearning, hence there is no use of trees to make pulp for paper which causes deforestation.
3. Global Communication
Students also meet other students from other countries in online learning meetings. This is beneficial for students because, today, work is outsourced, and students will work with a workforce from various locations in the future.
4. No Restrictions On Distance And Time
For example, they don't have to cross the borders to get an education. There can also be other restrictions where students can’t commute to their school due to mountainous terrain.
5. Accessibility
Sometimes, in traditional classroom settings, students with hearing disabilities can also have problems. For such students, eLearning is a boon because they can use the speech-to-text function. Apart from that, visually impaired students can also benefit from audio in animations. Students who can’t see very small text can also magnify it.
6. Easily Affordable
Students who can’t afford hard copies of books can benefit from eLearning. eLearning can also help such students because it is cheaper than conventional classrooms. The students also benefit from cheaper education and don’t lack confidence. eLearning is also beneficial for students because they might have to work outside school and need time. With traditional classrooms, they don’t get this flexibility to pursue traditional forms of education. With online learning, they can pursue degrees, because they can learn and finish assignments with flexibility.
Potential Challenges
1. Distractions At Home
eLearning can also have many problems because students can find it hard to study at home amid so many distractions. So, a student’s productivity can be affected due to noise made by other family members or pets.
2. Easy Cheating
Students can cheat in exams because there is no one to monitor them. But there are measures now through which all the activities of a student on their computer are checked while they are taking an online exam. If they want to open Google to cheat in an exam, they can't do so.
3. No Immediate Response By Teachers
However, a drawback of online learning can be that children don’t get instant feedback. Older children are not as affected by this delayed feedback but younger children are. This can cause them to leave the course.
4. Digital Divide
Students from the disadvantaged sections of society who don’t have a proper internet connection can't rely on online learning. They might face problems sitting for hours at cybercafés to pursue such courses.
5. Isolation
Students also feel isolated because, unlike in a classroom, they can't make friends in online learning. In this kind of learning, they are confined to a room and can feel more anxiety as compared to normal classroom settings. This is where parents have to interfere to see that students don’t suffer from such feelings.
