Education has been part and parcel of human lives from time immemorial. It is important to mention that the methods of learning can be broadly categorized into two, that is, physical and online education. These two systems or methods of learning are applied in different environments, and this is mainly influenced by several factors. According to Arkorful and Abaidoo (2015), e-learning is the application of telecommunication technologies in teaching and learning. Online education is gaining momentum and this may be attributed to the ever increasing number of students and technological advancement. In as far as online education enables people to achieve the set objectives, it is clear that several advantages and disadvantages are experienced and they affect the outcome of the learning process.
Pros of Online Education (e-learning)
Online learning tries as much as possible to avoid physical contact between learners and instructors. In doing so, learners are given enough time to manage themselves appropriately. Students, therefore, spend majority of their time as they wish, and not in accordance with an already predetermined schedule, which may sometimes be inconvenient. It is crystal clear that not all learners may have the same abilities, that is, while others may be fast learners, a significant portion of them may understand the learned concepts slowly. Usually, in the other learning approach, what students are supposed to go through is guided by their tutors. However, the case is different in e-learning, and this is beneficial to students since they are able to plan and manage their time according to their strengths and weaknesses. Gilbert (2015) believes that e-learning is believed to be highly self-guided, and, thus, students can evaluate themselves and focus on areas that are posing challenges to them (Gilbert, 2015). The learners may, therefore, make all the necessary arrangements to ensure that they understand all concepts clearly, and this not only improves their academic performance, but also their effectiveness as far as the real world application is concerned.
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Similarly, e-learning is very conducive to nearly every student. The need to attend physical classrooms on a routine basis is avoided since the learners have the opportunity to learn while at home or at their convenient places. It may be very challenging for some students to attend classes during cold seasons due to health conditions such as asthma and flu. Fortunately, online learning presents an excellent opportunity for these individuals since they will not have to struggle with cooler conditions during morning hours. In addition, Clover (2017) shows that online learning helps avoid the irritation that may arise due to the interaction with some classmates. Usually, not all human beings may interact well with others as some may be very annoying. E-learning presents a very conducive environment for people to avoid such situations resulting in better academic performance. As a result of the convenience, e-learning students are at a better position of dedicating maximum studies as opposed to physical classrooms. It is also important to note that e-learning may have health benefits to students since it prevents physical contact, which may encourage the spreading of contagious diseases such as flu.
Cons of Online Education (e-learning)
Online education is largely influenced by the availability of telecommunication technology and power availability. Hence, it is problematic to instructors, discourages social interaction, and it requires advanced technology (North Carolina State University, 2015). Without a reliable power supply, it is very impossible for learners to undertake the program as required. For instance, it may be totally impossible for the students to revise and take an examination conveniently without a reliable source of power and internet supply. Online learning may also encourage laziness and learning malpractices. Plagiarism and piracy may be pronounced in e-learning due to limited access to quality academic materials, poor strategies in research, and poor ethics (Gasparyan et.al, 2017). Usually, learning assignments, tests, and exams are administered online, which makes it nearly impossible for instructors to ensure that learners are always focused and practice high standards of integrity. For instance, assignments may be submitted via the discussion board. Hence, this offers an ideal opportunity for lazy learners to plagiarize or paraphrase the work that is submitted by their colleagues, hence, encouraging laziness. The success of online education is dependent on the commitment and ability of learners to take charge of themselves (Charter College, 2019). Failure to be responsible may result in poor performance. Specifically, instructors do not have the privilege or opportunity to monitor learner’s activities on a daily basis, and this may not be very helpful to careless or lazy learners.
My Position on Online Education (e-learning)
I am in support of e-learning because its advantages outweigh its disadvantages. Moreover, e-learning has been instrumental in my educational life due to the conveniences it has given me. To support my position, Arkorful’s and Abaidoo’s 2015 article shows the effectiveness of teaching using e-learning in tertiary institutions. The article reviews literature and offers a scholarly context to the study by reviewing contributions made by several researchers and institutions on the issue of e-learning, especially its usage in higher educational institutions. Moreover, the article by North Carolina State University in 2015 adds to the reasons as to why I support e-learning. The article shows that e-learning helps ensure convenience, it is less expensive, and enables the use of technology by learners. Finally, Gilbert’s August 2015 article is instrumental in my quest to show the significance of e-learning. The article indicates that t he extensive nature of the Internet and the approachability of technology have created a heave in the call for web-based teaching and learning. As such, online education has rapidly penetrated into school districts and colleges. Subsequently, high school students are benefiting from online courses.
References
Arkorful, V., & Abaidoo, N. (2015). The role of e-learning, advantages and disadvantages of its adoption in higher education. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning , 12 (1), 29-42.
Charter College. (2019). The pros and cons of online learning. Retrieved from https://www.chartercollege.edu/news-hub/pros-and-cons-online-learning
Clover, I. (2017). Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-elearning
Gasparyan, A. Y., Nurmashev, B., Seksenbayev, B., Trukhachev, V. I., Kostyukova, E. I., & Kitas, G. D. (2017). Plagiarism in the context of education and evolving detection strategies. Journal of Korean medical science , 32 (8), 1220-1227.
Gilbert, B. (2015). Online Learning Revealing the Benefits and Challenges. Retrieved from https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_ETD_masters/303/
North Carolina State University. (2015). Pros and cons of online education. Retrieved from https://www.ies.ncsu.edu/resources/white-papers/pros-and-cons-of-online-education/
