One of the most often used terms that strikes our minds after this unfortunate pandemic is the term “new normal.” And then this new normal in education is all about the increased use of online learning methodology.
What is online learning?
Online learning is fundamentally a manifestation of electronic learning that provides education by the internet rather than a conventional classroom. Although the learning process takes place in and out of online activities like reading texts or watching instructional videos, students even then necessarily have to finish the tests as well as assignments for assessing their knowledge and. Online learning is more free as well as independent and does not at all require a student to be in a particular place at a specific given time. Such flexibility and elasticity transform education to become much more accessible to people who may not specifically be able to commit a huge amount of time to attend classes.
Why is it favourable?
Learning online is countlessly advantageous due to which people are choosing it over what we call a more traditional education. The features that make it such popular are:
Flexibility – Getting an option to study online furnishes you with the freedom to learn wherever you may be, without having the compulsion to attend a class at an allocated time and a particular place. It is often more suited for people as you don’t have to necessarily sacrifice a huge chunk of the day to commute or be stuck in traffic to attend the class. Online learning gives the chance that you can learn even by having the comfort of your own place.
Optimised learning – One can alter his schedule to maximise learning. If one works better in the morning, he can do all of his studies in the morning and hence, use the remaining part of the day doing other work. This not only tells that you will be able to retain and memorise information better as you are working when you are the most alert, but also that you are making the most out of your day.
Accessibility to education- Online learning provides access to education in all spheres of life, for example, if a person works full-time but then wants to pursue an area of study, online classes allow you to both get an education without having to quit the job or shuffle between them.
Altered method of learning – Many people scuffle to thrive in classrooms and it is salient to recognise that it is perhaps not education, but then this methodology of learning is the issue. Not having the compulsion of being neighboured by peers can often help people to absorb more information in a better way, specifically those introverts who often thrive in solitude.
Learning at your own pace – In more conventional education, a lecturer will often be overwhelmed with information and that can sometimes be a little difficult to try and process the concepts without having to go away and spend some precious time trying to decipher the notes. Online learning allows you to teach yourself and hence take all of the time that you need to grasp ideas before moving ahead. This will not only ensure that you fully understand the topic which you are learning but also that you are gaining the most out of your education.
But being a universal fact that where there are so many goods, there are some bad too. And hence, even with such innovative and convenient ways of learning, there are some ill effects of the same too!
Inability To Focus On Screens- For most of the pupils nowadays, one of the biggest opposition of online learning is the brawl of maintaining focus on the screen for long period. The screen time for all students, even the kindergarten ones, has significantly increased. With e-learning, there are also enhanced chances for students to get easily distracted by social media or other sites. Hence, the teachers must keep their e-classes crisp, engaging, and interactive to help all students to stay focused on the lesson itself.
Technology Issues- One other vital challenge of e-learning is the common issues of internet connectivity. Although internet penetration has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years, in smaller cities and towns, a consistent connection with decent speed is a major problem even today. With a lack of consistent internet connection for students as well as the teachers, there can be a lack of continuity in learning for the child a significant loss of interest, and an emerging feeling of skipping classes. This is at all costs very much detrimental to the educational process.
Sense Of Isolation- Pupils can even learn a lot from being in the companionship of their friends and classmates. But, in an online class, there is hardly or one can say a minimal physical interaction between students and teachers or among the students themselves. This, therefore, results in a feeling of isolation among the students. In this scenario, the schools must allow for other methods of communication among the students, peers, and teachers. This can also include online messages, emails, or video conferencing that will allow for face-to-face interactions and hence reduce the sense of isolation.
CONCLUSION
Online classes and e-learning have been the need of the hour, and these must be looked forward to as a compliment and a very good and innovative way of learning during pandemic situations. However, traditional classroom studies have always been and would always be the best mode of learning and teaching that not only helps the students grow mentally but socially as well. But at this particular time, students should always focus on online studies and chalk out the strategies to do best in their academics while keeping aside all the odds and difficulties.
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