Pros and cons of online education
Prof Dr Mushtaq Ahmad
Recently, the traditional forms of learning have developed new technologies. Consequently, more and more people are choosing to improve skills using online learning. Majority of people say it is beneficial whereas others argue that online education has disadvantages as well. People are in search of many new ways of learning. One of the most popular methods is online education. Unfortunately, this manner has not only advantages but disadvantages as well.
Online method of education is advantageous for many reasons. First of all, it is very convenient. A human can use a computer access and internet connection anywhere, for example, at home, outdoor or even in a bus. This benefit is especially important for people who live in remote rural areas and cannot relocate or commute to school. Besides, it is also useful for parents who want to educate their children at home or any student who prefers to work in the comfort of his/her own home.
Moreover, online learning is cheaper than traditional academic or technical/trade courses. These courses are free. Students can save money. For example, they do not have to pay fee for their courses. On the other hand, online learning has the negative aspects. To begin with, limited social interaction prevents to study how much time an individual wants.
Similarly, students will have to pay money if they want to continue a course further. Furthermore, the only method of communication of online learning is through e-mail, chat room or discussion groups. People cannot interact with others face to face. It is an unnatural communication way. Humans do not see and feel relationship with classmates and feedbacks. In conclusion, online mode of education has both pros and cons.
In my opinion, online learning is necessary for humans due to the reason that it relieves and accelerates a method to deepen their skills. The whole educational system from elementary to tertiary level has collapsed during the lockdown period of novel coronavirus pandemic not only in Pakistan but across the globe. The recent global lockdown highlighted the benefits of online education. Virtual learning apps enabled students to continue their education off-campus and showed that there is a different (and perhaps better) way of doing things in the future.
According to a recent research, the use of technology in education has enhanced student’s academic performance drastically. The emergence of an online education system in the school is transforming the traditional education system. By resembling the prevailing pandemic, the only positive thing that has taken place is that the schools and colleges are becoming technologically advanced. If you want to know what are the top ways how online education is innovative for students, then there is no need to worry as here we mention how online education is beneficial for students.
There is no doubt that both the students and teachers have had to make bigger adjustments as learning has always been in the traditional style that is in the classrooms. Online education, along with numerous e-learning tools, is assisting to continue and boost up the engagement between the teacher and students. With tech-driven education, the schooling system has become more simple and honest. Online education requires balanced coordination so that it can be implemented successfully with the availability of basic resources like internet availability, network connectivity, and affordability of online systems comprising laptops, PCs and softwares, and many more.
Through online classes, students get more personalized tutoring. When students are not able to understand any lesson or subject, it can sometimes be a challenge to ensure they catch up. In online classes, the students do not distract because they sit in front of their teachers. Sometimes even parents may have a hard time teaching the new standards expected of young students. Therefore, online learning is now filling the gap, and with online education, the students can even avoid the embarrassment of asking for any doubt in front of their fellows.
Similarly, online education helps students in accessing abundant study material. With online classes, students have an amazing availability of resources. The students can access the study material offered by their institutes for as many times as they wish. In case of any doubt and queries, the parents can also help their kids. This is one of the fabulous ways of how online education is innovative for students.
The teachers can easily track a student’s performance and learning ability with online classes. Through online mode, the data of each and every student is stored individually and is also tracked online. When digital devices allow teachers to smoothly track students with online education, the same cannot be done when having a face to face learning. The systematic online software offers holistic reports about each and every student’s performance and progress.
Online education has helped the students to set the perfect place to learn. Individualized attention online permits students to move on at their own rate. With so much to learn, it is nearly impossible for students to learn every taught lesson when setting the perfect pace. The fast students require to stay engaged; on the other hand, the same slow-paced students cannot be left behind.
It is also one of the top ways of how online education is innovative for students. Online education has permitted competency-based learning for students that helps them in attaining transferable skills and competencies. Such kind of education is student-focused and not varied on any other factor. The crucial aspect is that each and every student has a unique learning style and level of engagement. The online education of schools provides the versatility and the ability for students to boost up the capability of learning.
To conclude, online education offers students the freedom to learn at their own pace, in their own time, and in their own space. It also offers students an opportunity to define their own strategies for balancing their education. Furthermore, online education helps the students to grow their time management skills, personal discipline, and study planning while it also offers students independence and freedom to handle their time and also schedule their responsibilities.
The writer is a senior research scholar, contributes on new technologies and advancement in education and research. He can be contacted at: mushtaqah2005@gmail.com.
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