The world is currently crippled due to the on-going Coronavirus, which unfortunately shows no signs of slowing down. Even then, people are trying to find some normalcy in these trying times, especially for children. This has resulted in the emergence of a new trend; online education.
Thanks to advanced technology, students can attend classes from the convenience of their homes. While online education was formerly considered inferior to lecture rooms, the perception of this phenomenon has since changed, as the use of technology has increased and has become a bigger and bigger part of the conventional academic curriculum.
But, like two sides of a coin, even with the most advanced technology, there are certain pros and cons of online education, that we’ve covered in this blog.
The main benefit of online education is that it enables students to engage in high-quality learning conditions when distance and schedule make on-ground training difficult-to-impossible, as is the case in the ongoing lockdown, due to the pandemic.
Students can partake in classes from anywhere in the world, as long as they have a computer and Internet access. Besides, the online setup provides physically challenged children (and educators) more liberty to engage in class. Participants enter the Virtual Classroom via their computers rather than having to “go to class” physically.
Another major benefit of online education is that the study material is always available to students. Hence, students can access the material as many times as required. There’s no doubt that some students learn slower than others. By being able to access the material as many times as they require, they can take as long as they need to understand certain concepts, without being time-bound by official school hours.
The online setup provides a productive communication between the teacher and students and amongst the students themselves. Resources and concepts are presented, and constant synergy is shared through the learning process.
Every individual can add to the course conversations and reflect on the work of others. The synergy that endures in the student-centered, Virtual Classroom is one of the most different and vital features that the online learning format maintains.
User-friendly and secure technology is crucial to a flourishing online program. However, even the most advanced technology is not 100% secure. Unfortunately, the problem is not if the equipment utilised in an online program will crash, but when.
When everything is working smoothly, technology is expected to be low profile and is utilised as a device in the learning process. However, failures can happen at any point along with the system. For instance, the server which hosts the application could crash and remove all members from the class; a member might access the class by a networked computer which can go down; personal PCs can have many problems which could restrict students’ access; lastly, the Internet connection could collapse, or the organisation hosting the connection could become bogged down with users and also slow down or crash altogether.
In circumstances like these, technology is not seamless nor secure, and it can take away from the learning experience.
While an online mode of education can be an extremely effective alternative means of education for the older, self-disciplined student, it is an improper learning environment for more immature learners.
Online education provides students command over their learning experience and enables for flexibility of study agendas for non-traditional students; however, this sets a more significant responsibility on the student.
To favourably engage in an online program, students must be well prepared, self-motivated, and maintain a high degree of time management abilities to keep up with the movement of the course.
Successful on-ground education does not perpetually translate to successful online education. If facilitators are not accurately qualified in online delivery and methodologies, the progress of the online program will be jeopardized.
An instructor must be capable of interacting well in writing and in the style in which the program is offered. An online program will be undermined if its facilitators are not sufficiently prepared to work in the Virtual Classroom.
An online teacher must be prepared to compensate for the loss of physical appearance by building a supportive atmosphere in the Virtual Classroom where all students feel relaxed, and particularly make students understand that their teacher is accessible.
One of the best CBSE schools in Pune, we at The Kalyani School give our children’s education the utmost priority. Hence, we were one of the first schools in Pune to adopt the notion of online education. Our skilled staff works relentlessly to provide our students with study material online and conduct live sessions.
Indulging in the current debate of the pros and cons of online education, we asked our students and teachers about their journey and how they are coping with this new form of education. Check out the video below to know more!
