It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Internet rules the world today. Traditional methods have taken the backseat, and online methods prevail at the forefront of almost all important tasks. And education, being one of the most important parts of our lives, hasn’t been an exception.
E-Learning has revolutionized the way we study and has dramatically transformed our learning methods in unimaginable ways. Factors like distance and money vanish into thin air as E-Learning makes it possible to study anytime, anywhere, at affordable costs. All it takes is a good network connection.
Wait. Is E-Learning really as cost-effective as we think it is? Or does it take a lot more than what is directly visible? Perhaps, the advantages of E-Learning come at the cost of widely overlooked but considerable disadvantages. And if that’s the case, should you give a second thought to whether you should go for online methods of studying?
Well, it turns out that E-Learning is no different than other things in the world. It has some great advantages, albeit at the cost of some significant disadvantages. It is up to us to weigh the two aspects and make an informed decision. That’s why we created this blog!
In this blog, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of E-Learning that are worth considering before you choose your way of studying.
Advantages of E-Learning
It’s always best to start by assessing the positive before getting into the negative. Therefore, let’s start by discussing ten advantages of E-learning:
Very convenient
It doesn’t need to be mentioned how convenient it is to study online at home without moving an inch. You just need to take out your mobile phone or laptop, plug in your earphones, and start studying.
Extremely flexible
E-Learning has made the overall learning process more flexible than ever. You can study in real-time with other students via live classes or watch recorded classes later. You can learn anything anytime, anywhere, for as long as you want.
More affordable than ever
It is one of the greatest advantages – it has made education extraordinarily cheap. Learning through your devices is not just convenient but also way more affordable than traditional offline classes.
Education Everywhere
The power of online learning is far beyond what most people usually think. Technology has made it possible to spread education to the world’s most remote corners. Distance is no longer a factor if you have internet connectivity.
Education for all
Online learning benefits everyone. But the ones who have benefitted the most are perhaps the ones who didn’t even know about education a few years ago. E-Learning has introduced the most underprivileged young students to a world-class education.
E-Learning is green-learning
One of the less appreciated but significant benefits of E-Learning is that it is beneficial for the environment. Learning online from your homes on your devices means there is less need for paper, electricity, and fuel. You indirectly contribute to a greener earth.
The concept of FREE education
The advent of YouTube and other free video-streaming platforms, combined with teachers and organizations willing to spread education to the masses, has given birth to one of the most revolutionary concepts ever: FREE education. What can be better?
Quality Education
A student in her home learning from a Harvard professor teaching in the USA is no longer a dream. Since distance and money are not factors, one can learn from the best teachers within the comfort of their home.
Learn at your own pace
One of the most common issues every student struggles with at some point is the inability to keep pace with the syllabus and the teacher. With E-Learning, that problem does not exist. You can learn from any teacher, pause any time, and switch to another teacher if you want.
The magic of visual learning
Learning from books often becomes difficult when the topic involves an in-depth visual understanding of an object, such as the atom or the solar system. Understanding complex topics becomes much easier with multimedia, animations, and vividly detailed visuals.
Disadvantages of E-Learning
If you’re already contemplating switching to E-learning, wait a minute. Much like any other trend, there are both advantages and disadvantages of E-learning. We’ve already highlighted the bright side of E-Learning above; it’s time to explore its dark side now.
Here are ten disadvantages of E-Learning:
The problem of unsolved doubts
Doubts and mistakes are an integral part of the learning process. And the natural way to handle doubts is by getting them cleared. However, online learning makes it difficult for students to ask doubts. And likewise, it makes it difficult for teachers to solve the doubts of so many students.
Lack of adequate learning environment at home
Schools, colleges, and other physical learning centers have a vibe of their own. Almost everyone in these places either comes to study, teach, or is involved in maintaining an uninterrupted learning process. Learning at home is naturally not the same.
Lack of peers
Traditional educational institutions are much more than what they are defined. They also give you peers who study with you, discuss topics with you, and solve your doubts. Online learning is a fairly lonely experience, and not everyone may find it useful.
The problem of accessibility
E-Learning is accessible to most people nowadays. But, some underprivileged students still don’t have good internet connectivity, or even if they have, they cannot afford a smartphone. To these students, E-Learning is everything but possible.
Lack of technical literacy
Even if a student manages to get a smartphone or PC, they might struggle with learning the workings of the device before learning the topic. Lack of technical literacy has also been seen in some teachers, who find it difficult to wrap their heads around online teaching methods.
Overdependence on technology
Technology can be quite unreliable sometimes. Technical glitches can occur at any part of the system. There can be problems with the source’s servers or with your connectivity. Though these problems are rare, they are very problematic.
Lack of multilingual learning
Most online courses are in English, which can cause problems if a student is not well-versed in the language. Finding quality educational content in regional languages is sadly pretty difficult.
Not everything that glitters is gold
The convenience of learning and teaching online has led to a burst of available learning options. There are hundreds of thousands of teachers, thousands of online courses, and innumerable videos. Finding the right set of courses is quite overwhelming, as most options are not worth trying out.
Challenging for some students
It is a truth not much acknowledged that online learning demands dedication, time management, and concentration from the students. Since everything is in the student’s hands, it might be difficult for students to study consistently over an extended period.
Lack of overall development
Education is much more than learning new topics. The best form of education involves the overall development of the student. This involves the development of communication skills, among other things. E-Learning largely overlooks this aspect of development.
Closing thoughts
E-Learning is a new way of learning and has some seemingly great advantages. However, every coin has two faces, and the dark face of E-Learning also needs to be realized. In this blog, we have talked about both advantages and disadvantages of E-Learning.
Each of the points mentioned above might or might not be relevant to every student. But it is important to know both sides of the method before deciding whether E-Learning is worth your time.
Wish to stay updated with all the upcoming trends in the Education industry? Then keep visiting our Books & Education space!
If this blog was worth your time, don’t forget to share it with as many people as you can.