Education Transformation: online schooling as a new standard in education

Online schooling has now become the new approach to achieve educational goals after the pandemic hit the country. Today, it has emerged as a necessary resource for both students and schools all over the world.

For many educational institutes, this is a completely new way of education but they have managed to achieve academic continuity. In recent times, the demand for online learning has risen significantly, and it will continue to do so in the future.

What Are The Advantages Of Online Learning?

Accessibility of Time and Place

One of the major advantages of online education is that it allows students to attend classes from the comfort of their homes. Online classes only require a laptop, computer, or smartphone; hence it is quite hassle-free. Additionally, online lectures can be recorded and shared for future references, which can help students access the materials during exams. 

Affordability

This can be a significant advantage because the pandemic has hit the budget of many families and online learning has cut down the financial costs of both schools and students. This is because online learning eliminates the cost of transportation for students and infrastructure maintenance for schools. Additionally, all the course material  is available online, creating a paperless learning environment which is affordable and environment friendly.

Regularity and Discipline 

A virtual classroom allows the students to study online , which is comparatively easier than getting up early, dressing up, and going to school. Since students can easily attend online classes from home, there are fewer chances of missing out on lessons. Online classes also save a lot of time which can be devoted to other things like assignments and homework to keep them committed and disciplined towards their studies.

Distractions at Bay

Some notorious students in the classroom don’t let others stay focused, whereas, in online classes, there is no such problem. Each student can directly interact with the teacher, ask doubts and learn at their own pace. 

What Are The Disadvantages Of Online Learning?

Inability to Focus on Screens

One of the biggest challenges of online schooling is the struggle to focus on the screen for long. Online classes can make social media and other sites easily accessible for the students distracting them from their studies. Therefore, the teachers must keep their online classes crisp, engaging, and interactive to help students stay focused on the lesson.

Technological Issues 

This can be the biggest disadvantage of online schooling. Though internet penetration has grown tremendously in various countries, a consistent connection with a proper speed is still an issue in many smaller cities and towns. Breakdown of internet connection can break the continuity in learning for the child. This is detrimental to the education process.

Sense of Isolation 

Students can learn a lot from their classmates. Many students also learn better when they participate in group studies and group discussions. However, in an online class, there is no interaction between students, which can often result in the sense of isolation and affect their studies severely.

In this situation, schools should organize other forms of communication between the students and teachers. This can include online messages, video conferencing, or any other activity that will allow face-to-face interaction and reduce the sense of isolation.

Role of Parents in Online Schooling 

Provide Pleasant Environment

Parents should make sure that children are provided a peaceful and pleasant environment at home. It is good to avoid family problems in front of children and create unnecessary quarrels.

Help With Home Assignments

Supporting your kids in their studies would really lift their spirits. Show it with small gestures like helping them with home assignments, projects and encourage them to work independently. 

Monitor Their Learning

In schools, there are teachers to guide your child at every step but in virtual learning, parents have to play the role of teachers also. 

Parents should make deliberate interventions and monitor their learning process. Nothing should be forced but friendly advice can be given. Have a check on their leisure time if they lack in performance.

The pandemic has transformed the way of learning to a great extent because the technological capabilities have reached new heights. Earlier, online learning was the need of the hour, but now online learning is the coming future. 

Also read – How To Make Online Classes More Effective For Primary Children