Pros & Cons Of Online Education – H&S Education & Parenting
Online Education- What Are The Pros & Cons?
Now more than ever before, online education has been the main method of learning online & this trend has been growing fast across the globe. Attending a classroom is no longer an option with the current situation at hand.
So the next question then is, are you optimistic or are you sceptical about online learning? It is necessary to understand what you are up against and the only way to understand this is by considering both the pros & cons of online education so that your child is better prepared to face the challenges as well as embrace the new opportunities that this has to offer.
This method of learning is a highly effective alternative for those who are more matured with self-discipline and motivation, whereas it can be very challenging for the more ‘dependent’ learners.
Hence it’s good to know that studying online is not every student’s cup of tea per se, and that is why it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of online education to decide if this method of learning is suitable for your child.
Pros & Cons Of Online Learning:
PROS:
1. Flexibility- Learning at your own pace & studying at your own convenience is what makes online studying so popular. With the ease of access, where courses can be revisited at any time, this allows personalized learning at multiple levels.
2. Time Saver- With no commuting to & fro, no traffic jams etc is a relief. This is beneficial to parents as well as to the mature who can focus on completing other chores.
3. Affordability- Of course online learning is more affordable than paying for classroom academic courses.
4. Digital Skillset Development- By using online learning tools, keyboard etc you are actually getting prepared to be a futuristic digital-capable 21st-century employee, which will be a huge asset for the future.
5. Great For Students Who Are Shy- Online learning has been proven beneficial for students that are introverts or shy. It is also less intimidating and helps the child build up one’s confidence.
CONS:
1. Zero Social Interaction- The lack of social element within a physical class is by far the biggest disadvantages of learning online. This makes online education not suitable for younger kids where they are required to sit in front of a screen for an entire session. There is limited interaction with instructors, as questions asked can take some time for response making it not so ideal for the younger population. Isolation from peers and the absence of being in the same physical space can be daunting for the younger ones.
2. Self-discipline Is A Must- The only kind of discipline that can be practised is self-discipline and this depends on the student. There are deadlines for tests, assignments etc and the child needs to make sure he/she sticks to the deadlines and hence self-discipline needs to be exercised. This can also put unnecessary pressure on the student.
3. Parent Involvement Is A Must- Being motivated and disciplined are not easy for online students, especially the younger ones. For this reason, parent involvement becomes necessary to keep the child’s focus & to make sure online learning is going as planned.
4. Limitations Of Technology- Obviously no technology is 100% foolproof. This means breakdowns of any kind can be experienced during the online class. Crashing of servers, failed internet connections, personal PC errors etc can all contribute to interrupted online learning.
In truth, it’s important to note that every type of learning environment comes with its own challenges. For now, given the current situation where schools have closed temporarily, online education is best next temporary solution to the traditional classroom learning.
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