Online Education: The Pros and Cons
This year has been nothing less than a roller coaster ride for one and all, and its impact has changed a lot of things and the way things have been getting done. There has been a major shift towards the internet and most of the products/services have gone online, providing ease of access, and expanding the reach to the maximum number of people. Since the pandemic, work from home has become the new normal, and after months of hit and trial, people are adjusting and making the most out of it by also being efficient and productive to the company.
This change has given a rise to the next big and important sector to go online, i.e. the education sector. Schools and colleges have taken a lot of steps to make sure that the education of the students is not hampered and their progress as a student is not affected in any way. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of online education.
Pros of Online Education
Online education has changed a lot of perceptions as one can get that certification they always wanted as now a lot of universities and institutes are offering a wide range of courses, making sure one can choose the best for themselves. Another advantage of online education is the reach that it has generated to any part of the world who has access to the internet can avail it. The courses are generally more cost effective than tuition at an in-person university and online college classes prove to be an affordable way to fulfill your math requirement, gen eds, or pre-requisites.
Online education gives more preference to discussions and debates as students do not have physical access, thus they have to ask their doubts and queries in the class itself, creating a healthy discussion for all the students to take part or give input in. Also, this makes education student-centered, as students can assess, analyze, and ask questions in the forums, etc. of the institute or university. Moreover, online education has gained more in terms of access to resources as guest lectures, materials, check materials on different websites online related to, for example, health education collections, etc. can be provided to the students regardless of the physical location of the speaker, etc.
Cons of Online Education
Although the possibilities and opportunities in this new era of online education are still evolving, there are certain limitations to this which require a solution. The first and foremost requirement to get the most out of the online teaching program or platform to succeed, the students need to have access to the online learning environment.
This is a major concern in lower socioeconomic and rural areas. Both the students and teachers must possess a minimum level of computer knowledge to function successfully in an online environment. The platform needs to be user-friendly and easy to use, also the technology is not always 100 % reliable, as breakdowns can occur anytime, and fixing and maintaining the platform is not an easy task. Also, some students (elementary or secondary school) require a physical presence while teaching and learning as it is very crucial for their education and overall growth.
Moreover, some subjects cannot be taught online as the electronic medium does not permit the best method of instruction.
Conclude
There have been many talks about the shift of education to online platforms. It has received many conflicting opinions but the reach and ease of access it has given cannot be overlooked. This shift has created a lot of possibilities and given rise to a lot of innovative techniques that teachers are using to effectively impart education to teachers and students alike.
As the program is flexible and can be taken at one’s own pace, this gives a push to all those who wanted to learn and take certain programs but are confined by their jobs and fixed working hours. In between all the opinions and views on online education, it all comes down to the students whether they want to make this change as a boon or a bane.
The students and those who wish or want to learn are the ones that can make the best use of this change, and those who do not want to will always find a fault or a reason to reject and procrastinate.
