e-LEARNING- PROS AND CONS
BY ADMIN PUBLISHED October 28, 2020, UPDATED January 13, 2023
What is e-learning?
e-Learning is learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom. In most cases, it refers to a course, program or degree delivered completely online.
The Corona pandemic has made a global impact in the past weeks and continues to hit most of the sectors, with education being one of the most affected. Students across the world are losing valuable time in their education during the imposed lockdown amidst fears of pandemic. The situation has forced the schools to shut down and the students to stay at home.
Establishing a routine becomes crucial for children, especially while staying indoors the entire day, to which they are not used to. A routine will keep the child engaged and the discipline to follow that routine has to come from parents. The online courses help to do just that. Not only can many of the students now attend the online classes arranged from school, they can remain in a routine, if they choose to attend a few of the online courses from leading ed-tech and e-learning websites.
How effective is e-Learning?
- Online courses provide opportunities for students. Students in a school that doesn’t offer statistics classes may be able to learn statistics with virtual lessons. If students fail algebra, they may be able to catch up during evenings or summer using online classes, and not disrupt their math trajectory at school. So, almost certainly, online classes sometimes benefit students. In comparisons of online and in-person classes, however, online classes aren’t as effective as in-person classes for most students.
- It is not surprising that in-person courses are, on average, more effective. Being in person with teachers and other students creates social pressures and benefits that can help motivate students to engage. Some students do as well in online courses as in in-person courses, some may actually do better, but, on average, students do worse in the online setting, and this is particularly true for students with weaker academic backgrounds
- Students who struggle in in-person classes are likely to struggle even more online. It is found that there is very little difference in learning for high-performing students in the online and in-person settings. On the other hand, lower performing students performed meaningfully worse in online courses than in in-person courses. But just because students who struggle in in-person classes are even more likely to struggle online doesn’t mean that’s inevitable. Online teachers will need to consider the needs of less-engaged students and work to engage them. Online courses might be made to work for these students on average, even if they have not in the past.
ADVANTAGES OF E LEARNING
- Easily accessible- The e- learning method requires only an internet connection with good speed and a computer or mobile. While taking classes online classes attending is as simple as opening up your computer or tablet unlike physical classes. The sessions can be even recorded for later use.
- Available 24×7 -The teachers and the students can interact with each other at any time without the limitations of day or night, for providing study materials, clearing doubts or taking tests; provided the time is convenient to all participants.
- The students and teachers get an opportunity to maintain a warm relationship while communicating without fear.
- Can be personalized according to individual needs.
- More Individual attention.
- Social distancing can be exercised.
DISADVANTAGES OF E LEARNING
The online method of learning is not without issues.
- Experts point out that there is Intense requirement of self-discipline since responsibility is entirely upon the students to complete the work and studies on time.
- Lack of social interaction or personal connections with peers, students and teachers may also affect personality development to a great extent.
- The students also require good time management skills or else they might fall far behind since there is more freedom than one can handle.
- There are criticisms that students have Increased workload but little practical experience while learning online.
The point to be duly noted is that we live in an ever-changing world that is ripe with new possibilities. During this unexpected crisis of fight against the virus, there need not be a compromise on health or future of students.
Evaluating both the pros and cons of online learning will facilitate being better prepared to face the challenge of working in this new environment as well as embrace the new opportunities that it has to offer.
Privacy concerns in e-Learning
E- systems are vulnerable to a number of threats: serious security threats include software attacks (viruses, worms, macros, denial of service), espionage, acts of theft (illegal equipment or information) and intellectual property (piracy, copyright, infringement). E-Learning systems do have some peculiarities, having a variety of users, multiple applications and information to download and upload.
- Deliberate software attacks (viruses, worms, macros, denial of service);
- Technical software failures and errors (bugs, coding problems, unknown loopholes);
- Acts of human error or failure (accidents, employee mistakes);
- Deliberate acts of espionage or trespass (unauthorised access and/or data collection);
- Deliberate acts of sabotage or vandalism (destruction of information or system);
- Technical hardware failures or errors (equipment failure);
- Deliberate acts of theft (illegal confiscation of equipment or information);
- Compromises to intellectual property (piracy, copyright, infringement);
- Quality of Service deviations from service providers (power and WAN service issues)
- Technological obsolescence (antiquated or out-dated technologies);
- Deliberate acts of information extortion (blackmail for information disclosure).
Virtual learning can never ever replace teachers.
The classroom is the real, tangible, touchable place to teach and to learn. It is the place where teachers engage students, encourage participation from the entire class and expand on the thoughts and ideas raised by students. These interactions cannot be duplicated in a virtual classroom. Teacher-to-student interactions, along with student-to-teacher and student-to-student interactions, are all part of the learning experience. Spontaneous and random interactions via suggestions or stated opinions are necessary in presenting a full scope of the subject being taught. In the virtual classroom, the teacher is usually able to interact with only one student at a time and it is from behind a computer screen. Raising questions and listening to other students’ opinions typically takes place through group message boards, as opposed to real-time, face-to-face communication.
By-Vanshika Vishnawat
10 A
