Pros And Cons Of Online Learning

In the past few decades, online education has gained much popularity due to its manifold advantages all over the world. At present more than 4 million students are enrolled in online schools and universities and there is 30% per year increase in the online students. The first and the foremost advantage of online learning is its flexibility that runs contrary to the traditional way of education. Online learners have the independence to attend classes at their own places and need not to follow the strict time schedule of attending classes at a given place. In case of small children online education is also enormously helpful for the parents who can look after their children easily at home.

In online education students can attend their classes anywhere. They have only to make sure the availability of Internet at their places. This facility of online education is of huge benefit to the working students and the business people who may suffer in traditional educational system due to their work schedule. Moreover the online colleges and universities are also flexible in enrolling students of all ages in their programmes and do not usually follow the stereotype academic standards of traditional education regarding age limit. It widens the chances of education for many more people who would not have got education otherwise in the traditional system.

Contrary to the traditional methods, the online learning has developed a student-centered teaching method, which gives a lot of freedom to the students to follow their own methods of learning suitable to their perception level. The students may have different learning approaches; some prefer visual aids and learn best while other prefer practical work. Online learning does not bind students to any specific method.

One of the most glaring advantages of online learning is the 24 hours availability of course material online. Furthermore it is accessible through out week with no conception of holiday. In a traditional classroom, the students miss most of the spoken material by the teacher. While in online education, they can go through their study material online whenever necessary. In a traditional classroom student’s attendance is based on his physical presence while in online education students have to participate in the ongoing discussion to prove his presence. This ensures an active participation of the student in the class work and widens the discussion scenario. In online education a global interaction of students and teachers is possible. Usually the participants come from various regions of the world and hence make sure diversity of opinion and experience. Consequently the online students are benefited by the variety of knowledge in comparison to students of traditional colleges and universities.

Although there are many advantages of online learning and there is a growing increase in the fashion of online education yet there are disadvantages as well of this way of education.

It is said that in online education, students feel lonesome, as there is no physical participation of students in course work. As there is no teacher-front class in online education, therefore, some of the students fail to establish a contact with their studies. There are also objections of high expanses, which occur in developing webs and Softwares in online education. Moreover the preparation of adaptive material in online education is much more time consuming in comparison to traditional education. Some of the critics of online education brand it ‘un-educational’ and against the philosophy of education.