Online learning has become the new normal, especially after the covid-19 pandemic. After schools were closed due to government directives to prevent the spread of covid-19 among students, many institutions turned to online learning. Several institutions and students had been using e-learning even before the pandemic. The pandemic only emphasized the importance of distance learning. This mode of learning is expected to be widely used in the future. Schools are adopting online learning to cater to the needs of diverse students including those who cannot commute to school or relocate near schools. It also caters to people who have other full-time commitments including jobs and parenting.

 Just like any other mode of learning, distance learning has its positives and negatives. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages will be beneficial to all parties involved. Institutions will be able to create more efficient systems to make distance learning beneficial to students. Let us look at the different advantages and challenges of online learning.

Advantages of online learning

1. Online learning is efficient

 Distance learning is more efficient in delivering classes and lectures. Lessons are delivered in many forms including videos, pdfs, and podcasts. Through e-learning, a teacher can teach many students at once, therefore solving the problem of the teacher-student ratio.

2. It is time efficient and solves geographical barriers

 Online lessons can be recorded and saved for future reference. One can therefore access the lessons at his/her convenient time. A student can also learn anywhere they are and at their own pace. This, therefore, solves geographical barriers. Students who cannot commute to school or relocate can still access lectures.

3. Affordability

 Online learning saves on some costs incurred during traditional learning. One does not have to incur transport costs, accommodation, and student meals. The paperless environment also saves a lot of stationery costs.

4. Improved course enrolment and attendance

 Many people who have other full-time commitments like jobs and parenting are enrolling in online courses. Students taking full-time courses are also enrolling in extra online courses to complement their university studies. Due to its minimal physical engagement, attendance in online courses is also high as students learn at their convenience.

5. Personalized learning experiences

 Everyone has their learning styles and preferences. People have different levels of concentration at different times of the day. Different preferences include video lectures, PowerPoint, and notes. Others prefer to learn alone than in groups. Distance learning offers all their options making it more personalized than classroom learning.

Disadvantages of online learning

1. Distractions

 Since online learning is self-supervised, it is easy to encounter several distractions including social media, friends, and family members. Your friends and family might not adapt to your learning schedule and might pop up when you are following lectures. It is therefore important to counter these distractions to get the most out of your online learning experience. Check out our previous post on how to counter distractions during online learning.

2. Lack of technology

 Many students and institutions especially in rural areas lack the infrastructure to support distance learning. They lack computers, mobile gadgets, and internet connections. Institutions and governments should invest in such infrastructure to tap into the opportunities presented by online learning.

3. Lack of personal interactions

 Unlike classroom learning, there is very minimal physical interaction between students during online learning which leads to isolation. Effective learning should encourage interaction and collaboration between students. Online learning platforms should incorporate group discussions and Q&A sessions to make learning more interactive and collaborative.

4. Teachers` lack of technology understanding

 Many teachers are not used to distancing learning settings and therefore lack the knowledge and experience in e-learning. Schools should therefore invest in teacher training to make online learning a reality.

5. Health issues

 There are various health concerns associated with spending too much time on the screen. They include sitting postures which cause backbone issues and eye problems due to excess light. Online learning programs should be well scheduled to encourage breaks from the screen like encouraging off-the-screen assignments.

Conclusion

 Distance learning has been an important mode of learning. This was emphasized by the covid-19 pandemic. Many schools across the globe are incorporating distance learning in their curriculums and this trend will continue in the future. While online learning has positively impacted learning outcomes, it also presents challenges that when addressed will make online learning more productive.