Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Classes for Higher Education
Earning is an integral part of a lifetime to success, particularly for people who want to grow on an individual and professional scale. Many of us struggle to take on new challenges our hectic and rigid schedules. Learning online is the answer. Learners can gain knowledge on almost any subject online from any time, from anywhere.
Of course, there is no way to be flawless. In this post, we delves into the top five benefits of online Education and the top five disadvantages of online education, to help you determine whether this is the right alternative for you.
Benefits of Online Class
1. Online Classes Are Convenient
One of the main benefits for online courses is convenience factor. Maybe you’re suffering from a long commute following a tiring day. The thought of having to travel to another place prior to returning home is a nightmare. With the advent of online learning, you have the option of attending classes from the privacy of your home in your comfortable slippers.
You can look up any video you missed, and then catch up on classes in the future! You could also make good use of the time you spend commuting and take an online class on the train or bus journey back to home. All you require to have is internet connectivity as well as an internet-connected device or smartphone.
2. Online classes are flexible
You’ve not only gained time and energy by not needing to go to a location in order to attend a class, however, with online classes you are more flexible to choose the most suitable timing to study. You might not be able to find a live instructor to instruct you in Spanish online at 3am however, your options are infinitely better online. The online courses will allow you to reach your academic and professional objectives in a way that works with your schedule.
3. Online Classes are More Affordable
The primary benefits of online courses are the enormous savings for the educational institution that no longer needs to depend on the availability of an actual location for teaching classes. This results in lower costs for students. Being required to attend an actual classroom can increase the cost of your education quickly. Alongside saving money on basic items such as books and other supplies when you attend classes online You also reduce lunch costs and travel expenses.
4. Online Classes Facilitate More Interaction
It is possible that education in a physically environment is the natural and effective way to connect. However, this isn’t always the case. In online classes, no student will be on the rear row. All students sit in the front row! People who are hesitant to pose a question in front of the entire class have the option of starting an online, private chat with their teacher. Students who are uncomfortable broadcasting in front of all of the class can decide to turn off their microphone or shut off their camera and continue to be a part of the class. Students who have the capability to conceal may be something that isn’t possible in online classes. However, now teachers can administer online tests to make sure that everyone is involved. They can alter and enhance videos to enhance the learning experience for students online. In a classroom that is physically located teachers may make notes on a blackboard hoping that students are writing down the information themselves. Through online learning, an instructor is able to write notes on a whiteboard that is digital or assign students to take notes in real-time that students can download after class.
5. Online Classes Give You more learning opportunities
Have you ever thought of learning French but did not have the time? Perhaps the tiny amount of time you managed to find time around working full-time and having a family obligations to learn to code wasn’t a good match for classes at your community center. Is there a school near you even offering the class you’ve always wanted to attend? Today, with online learning, the sky is the limit when it comes to new learning opportunities. Through online education, students can choose to learn from their instructors at any time zone around the world at any hour of the day. An entire world of opportunities is now accessible via your smartphone or laptop.
Disadvantages of online Learning
1. Online Learning may create an irrational feeling of Isolation
Everyone learns in their individual way. Some students have the capacity to be independent, while others are more comfortable within their campus community and have easy access to their teachers or other students. There’s good news: that online virtual classrooms have been trying to bridge the gap by reviving the feeling of belonging in the virtual space through the creation of a set of tools to encourage students to participate actively in live classes. Online education must enhance the social aspects of learning in order to enhance the efficacy of traditional classes.
2. Online Learning requires self-discipline
Following the same idea that being part of a larger community and being physically present at classes enhances the likelihood of being accountable. If a student doesn’t believe that they are receiving appropriate guidance, they might not be disciplined enough to fully participate in classes themselves. Making the switch to live, virtual classes instead of online courses can give students a greater sense of responsibility. Live quizzes can aid in assessing understanding in real-time while breakout rooms facilitate the group to work together. These tools can help increase the concept of accountability and keep students interested.
3. Online Learning requires additional training for instructors
Online courses require a learning curve as well as extra effort on the part of the teacher in order to develop an effective online course. Instructors should have an understanding of various methods of teaching and learning in order to avoid simply replicating the physical classroom environment, and ignoring all the benefits and resources that eLearning and blended learning provide.
Of course, instructors require the right training to deal with the technical aspects of online learning. This includes the use of audio and video recording devices, as well as virtual classrooms or lecture-capture software and, of course, the Learning Management Software (LMS).
The amalgamation of all these new capabilities creates an extremely steep learning curve for teachers and their students, yet a careful investment in training that is well-planned can pay dividends tenfold for the school, the teacher as well as the students!
4. Online classes are prone to technical issues
The most common disadvantages of online learning revolve on technical issues. Nothing can disrupt an online class greater than sound, video or connectivity problems. In the past students had to download and install costly software or devices that would provide inconsistent performance.
Nowadays online classes can be accessible by clicking an icon without having to download any software or install anything. Internet connections around the globe have significantly improved. Furthermore, devices used by people have improved significantly.
5. Online Learning can mean more screen-time
It’s almost inevitable by 2021 but damn are we spending a harrowing amount of time on screens. The internet is the main cause of this issue. The excessive use of screens can trigger various physical issues like headaches, poor posture. However, it could also cause a personal problem to students who struggle working from or staying focused on screens. Particularly because the internet is designed to distract students by providing entertainment and social media only a click away from learning material. The most effective online learning platforms and programs available have a variety of tools and features that assist students to stay focused and fully engaged.
Conclusion
There are benefits and drawbacks of online learning in higher education. However, as technology has been elevated and many of the primary issues of students who take on online courses have been resolved, the benefits of online courses are starting to outweigh the drawbacks.
