Online Distance Learning: A Mini-Reaction Paper
Online distance learning is being widely used nowadays
ever since the pandemic started. This new type of learning was
issued to be able to continue the education and learning of the
students. Online learning is all about learning using digital
resources. Students learn this form of education, which is now
extensively connected to the internet, using computers, mobile
devices, and tablets. It enables students to learn remotely and
via the use of digital platforms at their respective houses to
prevent getting infected by the COVID-19.
As a student who also experienced online classes for
already one year, I can say that it was not that quite effective as
face-to-face classes. Firstly, online distance learning is prone to
having technical difficulties. Since now that we are using
gadgets and internet as our primary medium in communicating
and conducting classes, it is very inevitable to experience
getting disconnected in the class due to poor internet
connection, having issues or problems with regards to audio,
microphone, and video. I, myself, experience this kind of scenario
which makes it hard to catch up with the lessons since I get
behind due to getting disconnected with the class. I can say that
this is the worst things that happened to me especially when I’m
taking a quiz online. Your focus gets disrupted as well as to your
learning. Secondly, students lack focus during an online class
due to social medias and entertainment apps just a click away.
According to one of classmates whom I interviewed, she easily
loses her focus during the discussion because of social media
such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and other social media
platforms. Social medias have this kind of ability to divert the
student’s attention from listening to the discussion to using their
phones. Students are unconcerned about this since they know
that teachers can’t see them using their phones during classes.
They don’t pay much attention to the teacher talking because
he/she can’t see them personally. Thirdly, online classes cause
problems to our health. According to Thompson (2021), excessive
screen-time can lead to all sorts of physical ailments like poor
posture or headaches. Too much exposure to gadgets may lead
to complications such as having poor eyesight due to radiation,
headache, low metabolism, and etc. Compared to face-to-face
classes, we don’t get to experience some of these because we
are not that exposed to gadgets and we get the chance to be
participate in various physical activities to become more healthy
and physically fit. Fourthly, students get distracted at home due
to noise and household chores. According to Ms. Ella, she always
gets distracted at home because of household chores and her
siblings who are always noisy, which hinders her from
understanding their lessons. It’s hard to do the dishes while
attending online class because your attention is being
distracted. The noise coming from your siblings (if any) or your
mom yelling at you to do the laundry is also distracting and
pretty much frustrating while you are listening to the discussion
of your teacher.
On the other hand, online learning has also good side.
Online learning is less expensive compared to face-to-face
classes. Face-to-face classes increases your expenditure as a
student because you need to spend money for fare, food, and
supplies for school such as books and etc. You need to spend
money especially if you have no service in going to school and if
you forgot to bring your lunch with you. It’s either you starve or
you spend your money. Also, I experience this every time I go to
school. Whereas, in an online class, you don’t get to spend that
much money since you’re conducting classes at home.
Nonetheless, students' homes are different, and they
perceive them differently. There are many different perspectives
on the usefulness of online learning. After all, in the midst of the
pandemic, this new learning mode has done a lot for our
education. Instead of freezing the academic calendar, it has
continued education.
