The COVID-19 pandemic has become the proverbial “magic kick” for online learning. According to UN and UNESCO statistics, almost 1.5 billion children around the world have been affected by school closures.
Some parents voluntarily transferred their children to study in a "virtual" educational institution that issues a state-issued certificate. Others had to adapt to distance learning at their "native" school or university.
In this article, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of online education for children so that you can make a choice in favor of one or another option for educating your child.
Advantages
Flexible schedule
Students can freely combine their projects, clubs, leisure and studies, because in an online school they can always watch a lesson on record. And some online schools even offer an individual schedule of classes.
Reduction of material and moral costs
Online learning can be cheaper than in-person learning for a number of reasons. For example, you won’t have to spend money on travel to and from school. You won’t have to spend money on gifts for teachers, school uniforms, a cooler for the classroom, and other things that imperceptibly but significantly increase the cost of education.
It is also worth remembering that online learning takes place in a comfortable environment for the student. You won’t have to wake up your child (and get up yourself) early in the morning, frantically prepare breakfast, and try to complete a dozen necessary tasks before leaving the house.
And finally, online learning can be a great alternative for a child who has not been able to establish contact with students in his class. Such children go to regular school reluctantly, their academic performance deteriorates, conflicts with classmates may arise, even fights. In an online school, this does not happen and this is a significant advantage.
Easy access to the information you need
All the information that will be needed for learning, including lesson notes and an electronic diary, will be securely stored in an online database. And if there is a need to clarify something, the student or parent will be able to quickly access it, saving precious time. Agree, a big plus.
Increased attention to each student
Attention to each student and the opportunity to respectfully and confidentially communicate with the teacher to clarify unclear points are the distinctive features of online classes. This increases the chances of good academic performance.
In addition, online classes are small, 5-25 people each. So it is easier for a teacher to devote time to each student than in a regular classroom.
Less competition
There are fewer students in a virtual classroom compared to traditional classrooms. And the progress of each student is visible only to the teacher, the student himself and his parents. And the low level of competition reduces stress in children and makes them calmer and more friendly.
Easy access to the knowledge you need
Online learning provides access to specialized courses that may not be available at your local school. These may include creative courses, Chinese language training, programming, etc.
Flaws
Inability to focus on the screen
For many kids, one of the biggest challenges of online learning is having to focus on a screen for long periods of time.
There is also a high chance of getting distracted by social media messages or browsing an interesting website. Therefore, it is extremely important for teachers to maintain communication with students and make their online classes as educational and engaging as possible.
Problems with the Internet
Another key issue with online classes is the need for a fast, quality internet connection. While internet penetration in Russia has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years, in smaller towns, a consistent connection with decent speed is a challenge.
So, missing classes because the internet went down is a disadvantage of online schools.
Feeling of isolation
At school, students are constantly surrounded by a large number of people. However, in an online classroom, physical interaction between students and teachers is not possible. This often leads to a feeling of isolation.
In this situation, it is vital that the school allows for other forms of communication between students and teachers. This could include: chat, emails and video conferences that allow face-to-face communication, albeit virtually.
In addition, the lack of communication with peers in an online school can be compensated for if the child attends hobby groups, sports clubs, and other events where many children of a certain age gather.
Screen Time Management
Many parents are concerned about their children spending hours staring at a tablet or laptop screen. This is one of the biggest problems and disadvantages of online learning.
Sometimes students develop poor posture and other physical problems because they slouch while sitting in front of a screen.
It is good if the online school provides students with some breaks so that they can rest both their body and mind.
Personal motivation and perseverance
No matter how comfortable and interesting online lessons are, they need to be attended daily, even without leaving home. And homework in online schools has not been cancelled either.
Therefore, a student who is applying for home schooling must understand that he or she will not receive any concessions in their studies even if the teacher is not physically nearby.
Simple things like organizing your workspace so that it is free of temptations like gaming consoles, sweets, etc., having a clear schedule of breaks from studying, and dividing one large task into several smaller, simpler ones can help develop self-discipline.
Price
You are probably surprised, because such a point is present in the advantages of online learning. Alas, our life does not always follow a strictly scheduled scenario, and if there are financial problems in the family, parents may not be able to “pull” the payment in an online school. In this case, the need to return to a regular school can become stressful for the child.
Some online schools offer payment plans.
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