What Are The Most Common Drawbacks Of eLearning For Kids?
In recent years, health-related issues and a notable increase in technological accessibility have caused a shift from traditional to online learning. Although for most children it has not completely replaced the classroom as we know it, it has added a useful medium of knowledge acquisition in their everyday lives. Despite the many benefits of eLearning and its proven effectiveness in helping kids learn, it still poses some challenges that require special attention. In this article, we explore 7 drawbacks of eLearning for kids and ways to overcome them.
7 Common Drawbacks Kids Face When Delving Into eLearning
1. Lack Of A Suitable Learning Environment
The space where a child sits down to study and attend their eLearning course is essential for their learning progress. Distractions in the home environment, such as pets, noise from household activities, nearby toys, etc., can compete for their attention, ultimately disrupting their engagement. Since children already have limited attention spans, it's essential that their learning space promotes learning by eliminating distractions and helping them stay focused. Reducing noise and gadgets and offering learners assistance are some of the best ways to overcome this challenge.
2. Hands-On Learning
Getting their hands dirty is not just something that entertains children but also helps them learn and retain new information. Unfortunately, in an online learning environment, implementing hands-on learning is a complex task. Sure, kids can watch a video or a live demonstration of an experiment or a hands-on activity, but it's not that easy for them to execute it themselves. Being in their home and not in the classroom might mean they have neither the necessary materials nor adult supervision. This puts additional weight on parents' shoulders, who have to devote time to help their kids accompany eLearning with experiential activities to enhance the experience.
3. Reduced Opportunities For Socialization
Even though eLearning courses definitely present chances for socialization with other children, they still can't replace typical classroom interactions. Specifically, kids miss out on group activities, peer learning, and even the mere experience of coexisting with their classmates. As a result, they might become more introverted and struggle to develop interpersonal skills such as teamwork, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and more. The solution to this drawback of eLearning is for parents to make sure children have plenty of opportunities for interaction with their peers outside the confines of eLearning.
4. Technological Barriers
Even though we often take them for granted, a high-speed internet connection and reliable equipment are not accessible to all children. This can create a digital divide, leaving some children unable to participate in courses. eLearning is meant to bridge gaps between learners from different social and economic backgrounds, which is why such limitations need to be dealt with. Since eLearning professionals can't interfere with the equipment young learners have, the best solution is to make sure their course has the lowest possible demands in network bandwidth and technology capabilities.
5. Digital Literacy
Another drawback of eLearning for kids, which ties into the previous point, is that it often requires a tech-savviness that they don't yet possess. If the system freezes or the internet cuts off, they will probably not know how to handle the issue on their own. Not to mention that digital literacy is essential for children to use online platforms responsibly and access additional resources without compromising their online safety. For these reasons, it's not recommended that children use eLearning without monitoring, at least until they get the hang of it so that effective learning is ensured.
6. Self-Motivation
Motivation is an essential component of a successful eLearning journey, but children may struggle more than adults to find it. Even when kids enroll in an online learning program at their own request, they might find themselves losing interest due to technological barriers or a new hobby. Therefore, eLearning professionals must employ extrinsic motivators to keep young learners engaged. Additionally, they must constantly gather feedback through fun quizzes and serious games to assess how the learning process is progressing. Depending on the information gathered, modifying the content, format, or difficulty level of the course might be necessary.
7. Physical And Emotional Wellbeing
Technology is very appealing to children. If left unmonitored, they can spend hours in front of a screen. Although this translates to increased engagement with the eLearning content, it's also a drawback for the learner's health. Extended screen time can have a negative impact on the child's overall wellbeing, leading to technological fatigue, eye strain, and the development of a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, keep in mind that extracurricular activities cannot be replaced by eLearning and must form part of a child's routine for them to maintain not only a healthy body but also a healthy mind. Additionally, fostering a supportive virtual learning environment that promotes communication can also greatly improve their emotional state.
Conclusion
We can't deny the numerous advantages of eLearning for children. However, we also can't ignore that there are some challenges children face that can negatively impact the learning experience. Recognizing and taking measures to overcome or even prevent the drawbacks of eLearning for kids is a great way to ensure that they are getting the most from their online learning journey. This article offers you a deeper understanding of the most common challenges you need to keep an eye out for so that you can provide young learners with the most effective learning experience possible.
