In the recent years, the role of education has undergone various changes, followed by the advancement in internet and technology. From studying in classrooms which was a traditional method to learning in your own room with the help of various social media platforms, education has gone through significant changes. Earlier the method was use to educate the people that are far away from our reach, giving opportunities to those who cannot afford the expenses of school, college or university. In corona time, we have seen maximum use of this method, as everything was online from teaching to learning.
In the mid of twenty centuries, television used to broadcast programs that were related to education, giving access to those who are setting in their home, and not getting education. And that is how the method of online learning started. Later, internet and social media contributed to this online learning and make a way for everyone to learn various skills and improved the power of communication and education. As Biran Herbet stated, “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”
Online learning offers immense advantages like; firstly, it is costly friendly, a lot of people can have access to it, all they need is a phone and internet. And they are all set to learn a lot of new things which their financial conditions might not allow them otherwise. Secondly, learners from any place can have access to wide range of teachers and education platforms, enhancing their chances of learning. Thirdly, student can learn things according to his own potential, if he feels that a topic is hard, he can give it more time. Unlike the physical education class in which you are supposed to go according to the pace of your subject teacher.
Fourthly, online available books lessen the expenses of buying new books and assessment materials. Also, you do not need to go away from your house for learning, so that save the money that can otherwise be used for transportation purpose. Fifthly, it helps us to improve our use of technology, because now is the time of technology and it is important to have a sense of how to use it. Lastly it helps us to schedule our day and teaches us the power of time management.
Despite the benefits, online learning also offers some challenges like; not all the available data on internet is reliable for learners, that question the qualification of all others, as a ‘black sheep spoils the whole flock’. Sometimes the student might depend on the data that is not even true. So, everything that is found on the internet does not necessarily need be true and right. Those students that live in rural areas might not get stable internet supply that will affect his approach to learning. One big disadvantage of the system is that, there is no interaction or discussion among the students, which might affect the learning. As we learns things better by discussion and exchange of views. There are limited opportunities to make friends and enhance the communication powers. Lastly, there is no check and balance mechanism among teacher and student which also act as a hinder in learning.
In conclusion, online learning has made the education easy, time saving and money saving. Although it offers some challenges, however focusing on the positive sides, will help us to enhance in digital world.
Author is an undergrad English literature student and can be reached at anaabsaeedswb3@gmail.com