Most modern industrial societies have adopted innovative and unconventional teaching methods. With the advent of the internet, digital means of education are becoming increasingly popular. Henceforth the fundamental question arises; why are so many students opting to study online and what effect will this have on the future generations? There are several plausible explanations for this. Mentioned below are some advantages and disadvantages of online education which will help you evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of online education.
In general, it is less expensive than going to a learning institution. Furthermore it saves time as you do not have to go on campus and at the same time saves money because there is no need to pay for your accommodation at a university. Another major benefit of this is that the quality of education you receive is very precise and specific to your course. Put another way, irrelevant information is avoided and thus you are able to have a clear understanding.
Beyond this, it is easily accessible so it provides virtually everyone with the opportunity to have a formal education. In addition to this, course work and instructions are often customized to your subject. This further helps to improve your understanding significantly. However, having said this, there are various cons for online education.
First and foremost, it inevitably limits your social skills. Schools and Universities are essentially a miniature version of society; just like there is diversity in society there is diversity within these institutions as well. This helps us to understand the world around us and develop a sense of tolerance and acceptance towards others. However, those who receive education online do not have such exposure and are therefore liable to limited social interaction. More often than not, these people develop social anxieties which ultimately lead to depression in most cases.
Breakdown of computers and slow internet can have a negative impact on you. Due to this you might skip lessons and therefore are likely lack behind. Additionally, students may pay extra for high speed internet which increases their expenditure.
Students will not be given individual attention which is crucial to clear their concepts and hence improve their understanding. Thus students do not have a through grip on their subject.
Therefore common sense dictates that the pros of online education are overweighed by the cons of it. It is, therefore, not advisable.