Empowering Student-Centered Education

Online Learning

Our remote access reinforces our robust student support provision, no matter where they are. At students’ own pace, on our LMS which allows students to study even offline once you have downloaded the courseware, online assignments, online assessment and moderation, online workshop and online/telephonic and on campus support.

In this article, we present the advantages and disadvantages of online learning.

Advantages of online learning

1. Efficiency: In our world of education and transformation, flexibility is one of the main benefits of online learning. This allows students to set their own schedules within the program schedule drafted by the institute. This flexibility includes the ability to attend classes from anywhere and to fit classes into a busy schedule. At Elada Institute, we take this one step further by also offering flexible assessments and examinations.
2. Accessibility Of Time And Place: Another advantage of our online education is that it allows students to attend classes from any location of their choice within their comfort. It also allows schools to reach out to a more extensive network of students, instead of being restricted by geographical boundaries. Additionally, online lectures can be recorded, archived, and shared for future reference. This allows students to access the learning material at a time of their comfort. Thus, our online learning offers students the accessibility of time and place in education.
3. Affordability: The third advantage of online learning is reduced financial costs. Online education is far more affordable as compared to physical learning. This is because online learning eliminates the cost points of student transportation, student meals, and most importantly, real estate. Additionally, all the course or study materials are available online, thus creating a paperless learning environment which is more affordable, while also being beneficial to the environment.
4. Improved Student Attendance: Since online classes can be taken from home or location of choice, there are fewer chances of students missing out on lessons.
5. Suits A Variety of Learning Styles: Every student has a different learning journey and a different learning style. Some students are visual learners, while some students prefer to learn through audio. Similarly, some students thrive in the classroom, and other students are solo learners who get distracted by large groups. The online learning system, with its range of options and resources, can be personalized in many ways. It is the best way to create a perfect learning environment suited to the needs of each student.

Disadvantages of online learning

1. Inability To Focus On Screens: For many students, one of the biggest challenges of online learning is the struggle with focusing on the screen for long periods of time. With online learning, there is also a greater chance for students to be easily distracted by social media or other sites. Therefore, it is imperative for the teachers to keep their online classes crisp, engaging, and interactive to help students stay focused on the lesson.
2. Technology Issues: Another key challenge of online classes is internet connectivity. While internet penetration has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years, in smaller cities and towns, a consistent connection with decent speed is a problem. Without a consistent internet connection for students or teachers, there can be a lack of continuity in learning for the child. This is detrimental to the education process.
3. Sense Of Isolation: Students can learn a lot from being in the company of their peers. However, in an online class, there are minimal physical interactions between students and teachers. This often results in a sense of isolation for the students. In this situation, it is imperative that the school allow for other forms of communication between the students, peers, and teachers. This can include online messages, emails and video conferencing that will allow for face-to-face interaction and reduce the sense of isolation.
4. Teacher Training: Online learning requires teachers to have a basic understanding of using digital forms of learning. However, this is not the case always. Very often, teachers have a very basic understanding of technology. Sometimes, they don’t even have the necessary resources and tools to conducts online classes. To combat this, it is important for schools to invest in training teachers with the latest technology updates so that they can conduct their online classes seamlessly.
5. Manage Screen Time: Many parents are concerned about the health hazards of having their children spend so many hours staring at a screen. This increase in screen time is one of the biggest concerns and disadvantages of online learning. Sometimes students also develop bad posture and other physical problems due to staying hunched in front of a screen. A good solution to this would be to give the students plenty of breaks from the screen to refresh their mind and their body.