Result of coronavirus, Online learning
“Google it”, has become a well-known term in modern society. Google and other search
engines like Bing and Yahoo can deliver information to you within seconds. Whether you are
using a desktop or phone, information has become highly accessible in modern times. With
information being widely accessible, learning how to fix a flat tire can be done by watching a
video. With coronavirus impacting the world and creating lockdowns and restrictions, online
learning has excelled. Before coronavirus came tutorial and how-to videos were popular but now
with coronavirus, their impact is even greater. Learning through videos has many benefits, and
what better to do but learn how to make sourdough bread through a Youtube video.
The first benefit of online learning is accessibility. In modern times it has never been
easier to find the information we seek. All you need is a device that connects to the internet,
where it is a computer or phone and a wifi connection. The portability of smartphones and
laptops have made it even easier to access the internet. Wi-Fi has increased in availability over
the years as public places such as cafes, libraries, restaurants, and parks have free public wifi.
Whether it’s 2 pm or 3 am, the internet does not have any time restrictions. You could be
watching a video on how to bake a cake at 3 am in a Mcdonalds. As long as you have wifi and a
device that can connect to the internet, the information you can access is endless. The
information we seek is at the tip of our fingers, all we have to do is do a quick search, and a
video or article will appear before our eyes.
The coronavirus has affected in-person learning causing many schools and colleges to
transition to online learning. With a pandemic like this, online learning is the safest approach
until the pandemic is under control. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, only 4%
out of 3000 colleges have in-person learning. This pandemic has shown the accessibility of
online learning. Although online learning may not be ideal for long periods of time, it has made
it possible for colleges and schools to continue teaching. This is the first time students have been
able to attend class from anywhere in the world as you need a device with an internet connection
to connect to the virtual classroom.
The second benefit of online learning is the effectiveness/flexibility of online learning.
Students are able to learn at their own pace instead of staying at the classroom pace. Online
learning resources like articles and videos can be quickly navigated compared to a textbook.
Students are able to skip to key concepts in the video instead of watching filler for ten minutes.
They can also pause or resume an article or video and review important information or concepts
that are difficult. According to the website World Economic Forum, some research shows that
students who learn online retain 25-60% more information. The website also says that online
learning requires 40-60% less time to learn compared to in-person learning. While I do believe
these studies are true I think online learning depends on the student. If the student is self-directed
and does not need assistance from the teacher they will reap the benefits of online learning.
Online learning does have its disadvantages. The major disadvantage of online learning is
students needing a large amount of self-direction and motivation. Many students have lost
academic motivation because online classes are not the same as in-person classes, and they don’t
have face to face interaction with their classmates. In the current landscape, it is easy to stop
caring about school work and become discouraged. I and many of my friends in my school have,
at some point, lost motivation to complete assignments. The other disadvantages no face-to-face
interaction and increased methods of cheating on tests. Online learning makes it difficult to
proctor tests, which can lead to students looking up answers. Interaction with fellow students is a
key part of high school. It is possible to interact with classmates virtually, but everyone would
agree that it is not the same. Not seeing or interacting with your friends at school can cause
loneliness, which if not treated could lead to mental health issues.
The coronavirus has shown the advantages and disadvantages of online learning. With
the pandemic still strong and lingering online learning is not going anywhere. I’m excited to see
the parts of online learning that will stay as a result of the pandemic. Online learning will
continue to evolve and thrive in the following years. Maybe one day, we will see online learning
become a staple in schools and colleges.
Sources
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-digital-
learning/
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/coronavirus-impacts-on-students/
https://4ts.org/blog/9-benefits-of-learning-with-video-tutorials
https://e-student.org/disadvantages-of-e-learning/
