It is hard to dispute that online education has recently established itself as a significant component of current educational systems. As new technologies are developed, online learning continues to take on new forms. The majority of colleges, high schools, and other educational institutions throughout the world have embraced this method of instruction, and the number of students attending online classes is fast increasing. The current educational system and common practice have undergone significant modifications. Multiple causes, including technological advancements, better infrastructure, and enhanced communications, have contributed to this. Technology has made it feasible to learn online. When closely examined, this method of learning appears straightforward in comparison to classroom instruction. However, the use of online education still creates a number of contentious points of view since some people back this technique and provide their justifications, while others are opposed to it and provide equally solid justifications. Online learning connects teachers with students who may not be able to enroll in a regular classroom course, as well as provides flexibility in scheduling.
The online class system is proven to be a terrific alternative to conventional classrooms in the era of technology, despite the fact that some people still believe that traditional classes are the greatest way to study. Students that are committed to expanding their knowledge, picking up new abilities, and acquiring respectable credentials frequently sign up for the most useful courses (Moise et al., 2021). Many applicants are now able to receive their education at home because of their devotion to this online learning. Online education is thus one of the most practical methods of learning for people who are disadvantageous owing to distance, considering its advantages. This lowers the expense of creating classrooms, buying books, and traveling (Arkorful and Abaidoo, 2018). Tuition fees are a cost that parents cannot avoid. Students can obtain all the necessary study materials, tests, and results since they can use contemporary technology.
Access to educational facilities is made simple by internet technology, which is commonly utilized by online schools. This made it simple for instructors, staff, and administrators to share information with students. Employing fewer staff members and lowering the cost of obtaining more materials from other universities lowers the institute’s operational expenses (Moise et al., 2021). The flexibility of online mode of education allows students to study whenever it is most convenient for them. Students had to go outside of their comfort zones for a lengthy period to see professors. Moreover, their focus can be impaired as a result of the surroundings’ shift. Instead, online education gives students the option to pick the most conducive learning environment, which improves their comprehension (Davis et al., 2019). Students enjoy learning more as a consequence than they would in a traditional classroom setting. It may be described as a student-centered setting that can only be provided via distant learning.
Another benefit of online learning is the accessibility of educational resources. Students who take classes online have unrestricted access to study resources, which allows them to learn successfully and quickly. However, because they are forced to take notes during lectures, students in a classroom might not have the most accurate notes compared to content posted online. In the past, schools had restrictions on how many pupils may study in a single classroom. The number of pupils enrolled in schools was constrained by the lack of resources like lecture halls and professors. Moreover, it has been discovered that online learning lessens the workload for teachers (Davis et al., 2019). The teacher’s burden is decreased because the majority of the notes and books are available to the pupils online. This demonstrates that online learning is significantly more advantageous for students, teachers, and the institution as a whole and those present difficulties may be addressed by using more advanced technology and effective teaching methods.
Online learning has numerous benefits for changing the learning process, but it also has certain drawbacks. Modern computers’ technological constraints, which have an impact on the caliber of educational resources and the learning process in general, are one of the issues. For instance, sluggish Internet connections and download speeds have an impact on the accessibility of educational resources (Sadeghi, 2019). However, by utilizing modern, fast-access hardware and software components, this issue has been resolved, which makes downloading educational software and applications simpler. Better and faster computers are developing as computing power rises, improving access to online educational institutions.
Moreover, there is a significant social disadvantage to online schooling. The fact that learning occurs online demonstrates unequivocally that there are no intimate social ties among the members of the school community. They can just have chat sessions, which might not happen as frequently. This makes it challenging to comprehend some of the problems that impact students’ performance and prevents further discussion of those problems.
The fact that technology is always evolving is another issue with online learning. Technology is evolving quickly, which puts obstacles in the way of the sharing of broad knowledge. For instance, it can be exceedingly challenging to manage a student when they are given homework, an online exam, or any other test since the answers provided to the examiner could not be accurate (Ferri et al., 2020). Not to be overlooked are the scientific areas that need both practical and research labor. As chemists’ chemicals and equipment needed for practical physics lessons cannot be emailed to a student, teaching such courses online results in a restricted quantity of learning resources.
For students who can attend a class every day, the classroom setting offers a beneficial learning environment. Students benefit from interaction when such a setting is created. Unlike the internet environment, it fosters social growth and the free interchange of ideas. Many students contribute to the implementation of worthwhile concepts that strengthen teamwork and group projects (Arkorful and Abaidoo, 2018). They can learn firsthand information when they collaborate with their professors. Additionally, it enables unrestricted interchange of ideas without restrictions to language while getting instant feedback from peers and teachers.
In conclusion, online education is advantageous for both students and professors, as well as the organization that provides these courses. As a result, it seems that most educational institutions benefit from the use of online learning. Online forums, new web-based software, and the modernization of e-learning systems may all help to overcome the issues that come with online learning, such as the lack of student feedback and the lack of adequate technology to provide online learning successfully. This demonstrates how e-learning may take the place of conventional classroom instruction. Even though there are a lot issues now, there is still opportunity for advancement and improvement, which will probably result in the future growth of online learning.
Reference List
Arkorful, V. and Abaidoo, N. (2018) ‘The role of e-learning, advantages, and disadvantages of its adoption in higher education’, International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 12(1), pp. 29–42. Web.
Davis, N.L., Gough, M. and Taylor, L.L. (2019) ‘Online teaching: advantages, obstacles, and tools for getting it right’, Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 19(3), pp. 256–263. Web.
Ferri, F., Grifoni, P. and Guzzo, T. (2020) ‘Online learning and emergency remote teaching: opportunities and challenges in emergency situations’, Societies, 10(4), p. 86–88. Web.
Moise, D., Diaconu, A., Negescu, M.D.O. and Gombos, C.C. (2021) ‘Online education during pandemic times: advantages and disadvantages’, European Journal of Sustainable Development, 10(4), pp. 63–69. Web.
Sadeghi, M. (2019) ‘A shift from classroom to distance learning: advantages and limitations’, International Journal of Research in English Education, 4(1), pp. 80–88. Web.