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Photo by Chris Montgomery, from Unsplash
The recent pandemic has forced students from all over the world to receive their education from home. Many youngsters felt isolated and waited for the day when they’d be allowed to return to classrooms. However, there are also learners who prefer online classes to offline ones, and some could argue that most modern students prefer the digital option. However, the real question is, which one is more effective?The truth is that each type of learning has its own pros and cons, and the best option you can choose may greatly vary depending on the larger context, technical possibilities of students, and teachers’ training. Let’s see how these factors work together!
Why learning online can be more effective than studying in the classroom
There are many reasons why so many youngsters prefer learning via the internet to visiting offline classrooms every day. Here are some of them:- Online learning allows students to stay more focused. This is often what learners mean when they say they can waste no time commuting and sleep some more if they study online. After all, you can’t really write custom term papers on a bus, but you can do this at home, after your classes end, instead of spending an hour to get there. Online learning can help you stay fully immersed in your studies by minimizing distractions.
- Online learning is flexible and accessible. If you miss an offline class, you’ll have to ask your peers for their notes or look for your professor and request a short summary. However, you can simply watch the recording of an online class you’ve missed and take notes yourself, saving time and catching up with other students.
- Online learning is cost-effective and environment-friendly. Sometimes, online learners don’t have to pay campus fees, and they can also save substantial sums on commuting. On top of that, the papers and tests you submit online don’t have to be printed out, so you might make a difference for our planet by using less paper for your learning needs.
Let’s not forget about learning environments
No matter if you prefer online or offline learning, you can’t disagree with the fact that these two options offer completely different environments in which to study. The classroom is far less personalized than your workplace at home, which may affect some students’ preferences. In your own room, it can be easier to focus and be productive since you can organize it in a way that makes all the necessary resources accessible. This is a benefit many learners came to understand when they were forced to study online.However, the possible downside of learning from the comfort of your home is that you miss out on the communication opportunities and social environment that only an offline classroom can offer. Since healthy communication, friendship, and personal relationships with our peers are our psychological needs, many students refuse to lose their chance to mingle with other learners. Solving this issue can be tricky, but students should still have a chance to communicate via the internet and form groups according to their interests. Some might even argue that online communication gives you more opportunities to meet your peers from different locations than on campus.The challenges online learners have to face
One more argument in favor of classroom learning is that this environment preconditions fewer challenges than offline classes. Although individual preferences vary, there are still a lot of issues that only online students have to solve. Here are a few of them:- Lack of face-to-face interaction can cause communication issues or delayed feedback. Sometimes, it can feel like your professor is taking forever to react to your answer, and then you check your internet connection only to find out you’re offline. If you’ve been in a similar situation, you can definitely agree that such issues can be really frustrating to online students.
- Technical issues can hinder the learning process or even affect grades. Sometimes, a slow internet connection or a laptop with a low battery can be the reason why you submit your assignment just a tiny bit later than the deadline, which may cause your professor to subtract some points from your grade. Of course, you can always speak about the situation and work out a solution, but such situations can get extremely stressful.
- Teachers who are unfamiliar with online instruction might struggle to conduct classes. Professors may require additional training to teach their students online. After all, new challenges require new approaches, so educators need all the methodological support they can get. However, practice shows that you can consistently learn high-quality material online.
