Online Learning _ An Overview

Variety is the spice of life, and online learning is the need of time. When we combine these essentialities and add few variations to learning then-new modes of learning came into existence, in the shape of online learning. Learning never stops because learning for humans is what oxygen for the plant is. Your hairs may turn grey, your body may become fragile, but learning never ends.

WHAT IS ONLINE LEARNING?

Online learning is a method in which students learn through the convenience of cellphones and gadgets. Various social applications, such as Google Classroom, Zoom, etc. are handy for this purpose. Whereas, the older model of learning is physical learning, in which students are bound to wake up early in the morning, leave their comfortable bed, wear their uniforms, pick up their bags, and leave for their respective institutions.

 WHEN ONLINE LEARNING BECAME COMMON?

Since learning and education are the secondary needs of humans, thus they cannot be taken for granted under any conditions. Hence, when the deadly virus ejected in 2020, online learning was the need of an hour. Over time, everything has been affected, be it our daily lives, to our occasional activities, but one sector that has been affected the most. That sector is without any uncertainty the “learning” sector.

ONLINE LEARNING “THE SAVING GRACE IN PANDEMIC”

Since the pandemic broke out, the educational institutes have been on and off on regular basis. Those little kids who were habitual of sleeping late, with no studies to do were tired of a boring, clumsy routine.

What will the learners do now? How do keep students in touch with their studies? What to do in this tough time, when educational institutions are in lockdown? How to save the future of students?

All the wise heads come together to attain an answer to these questions. Because of their profound thinking, a new solution was founded named “online learning”.

MERITS OF ONLINE LEARNING:

Online learning, the favorite of all sleepy heads, also has in its pocket a few pros and cons.

1. FLEXIBILITY:

While considering the bright sides of online classes the topmost advantage is flexibility. Students living in any area around the globe can access quality education from an institute of their choice just by access to fingertip.

2. LESS MONEY:

Further, online classes also reduce the overall expenses involved in physical learning. Since there are no expenses of transportation… meals, and expenses of other functions as that in on-campus classes.

3. ATTENDANCE:

It even reassures the attendance of students in high numbers, as most of the students do not find it hard enough to switch on zoom classes simply from the comfort of their homes.

4. INNOVATION IN LEARNING:

In online learning, there are many chances of innovation for teachers. They can teach with the help of colorful slides, interactive sessions, and short videos.

DEMERITS OF ONLINE LEARNING:

However, there are also few demerits attached to the online learning process.

1. ISOLATION:

During online learning at times, students feel a sense of isolation, as there is no face-to-face contact with the community as in the case of physical learning.

2. INTERNET CONNECTIONS:

Another big hurdle of an online class is the internet and its connection problems. Students especially from remote areas find it hard to remain on the same level as other students as they barely have access to proper internet connections.

3. DISTRACTION DURING ONLINE LEARNING: 

In addition, there are also chances that during live class students get attracted to social media apps, which result in a poor lack of concentration on the screen.

 WHAT IS BETTER ONLINE OR ONCAMPUS LEARNING?

When we compare both modes of learning, further we concluded that both are equally crucial. While on-campus learning is beneficial for students to learn cognitive behavior and to participate and groom themselves through co-curricular activities, online classes are blessings for students who have less time and more jobs commitment and a family to look after as they cannot give 8 hours of their day in attending on-campus lectures. Moreover, online class saves the money spent on transportation and stationaries and meals, but, on the other hand, the Wi-Fi, laptops, mobile data packages, and other electronic gadgets also cost almost a lump sum of money. As matter of fact, online learning does create a sense of loneliness as students do not interact face to face with their friends but it also saves poor students from bullying as in on-campus learning.

WHAT IS ANOTHER OPTION BESIDES ONLINE LEARNING?

The solution to this problem is hybrid classes. A mixed version of both on-campus and online learning.

 FINAL WORDS ON ONLINE CLASSES:

Briefly, online and on-campus, both forms of learning have good and bad connotations attached to them. It depends on the students on how they deal with it.

 Particularly, in the global pandemic, online classes are no more than a blessing in disguise for all the poor students who were bored of sitting at home and being idle all day long.

Of course, the fun of meeting up with your friends, eating snacks from your canteen and learn some new morals from your teacher are few charms of physical learning missed the most. With that being said let us embrace both the form of learning be it online or on-campus because learners are not mourners, so instead of complaining about circumstances, let us take on oath of learning to our fullest and giving out our best, no matter what the form of learning is!