Breaking Down Pros And Cons Of Online Learning

As several countries began to implement lockdown measures, numerous businesses across verticals were forced to temporarily stop their operations. The world, grappling with the pandemic, came to a standstill. However, every cloud has a silver lining. Technology-based industries that rely on digitization are flourishing. One among them which is becoming increasingly popular is the ed-tech industry.  

With the lockdown resulting in schools and colleges closing, students and teachers alike have turned to ed-tech platforms to help maintain the academic momentum. Online learning in the Indian market has gained tremendous traction in recent years. Aside from just academic content, they also enable students to gain skills and even prepare for competitive examinations. But there are two sides to every story. E-learning too has its fair share of pros and cons. Let us take a look at some of them.  

Easy and convenient access 

Unlike attending classes in a school or college, online learning is easy to access. All one needs is a stable internet connection. Flexibility is a major advantage of online learning. Online class timings, especially those on ed-tech platforms are extremely flexible and can be adjusted according to the students’ convenience. This flexibility also lessens the pressure on the student. As long as the students meet deadlines and actively participates in the class, he/she can keep up with the topics.  

Lack of social interaction 

An important part of attending school or college is the peer to peer interactions and socialization. These face to face interactions on a regular basis are necessary for one to maintain a healthy social life. Unfortunately, online learning takes away this element. Despite technological evolutions making online classes as interactive as possible, actual face to face interaction is key in the longer run.

More individual attention 

A classroom environment lacks individual attention. With several students, a teacher might not be able to dedicate that kind of attention to a single student. E-learning solves this issue in an effective manner. Ed-tech platforms allow the students to learn at their own pace. Each student is able to receive more attention to clear their doubts and help them learn better.  

Time management and setting a schedule 

The flexible timings and schedule of online classes call for utmost self-discipline and time management skills that some students might lack. A proper schedule needs to be set and followed to ensure that the student is not lagging behind and is able to maintain momentum and learn. Since there is unlimited freedom, students may drop behind if unable to manage time and follow a routine.   

Customization 

One of the biggest perks of online learning is that students can get access to a personalized learning experience. Every student has different needs and learning patterns and in a classroom environment, it is not possible to cater to each one of theirs. Online learning, however, offers a customized learning experience for every student. With technology advancing to an unimaginable extent, websites and ed-tech platforms are offering customized courses for students that are tailor-made to suit their requirements.

Looking at the aforementioned pros and cons, the pros of online learning seem to outweigh the cons, especially in the current global scenario. While an overnight shift to online learning methods is not possible, a gradual yet permanent shift doesn’t appear to be far away.  

Divya Jain

Guest Author Co-founder, Seekho