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Thanks to technology, e-learning is now made possible. Many students worldwide can now access all kinds of courses online without leaving the comfort of their homes. They are given opportunities to learn from competent educators and interact with other students from different locations.
But just like in-person learning, e-learning also has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Take a look at some of them below:
Advantages of E-learning
1. Saves time and money
One of the most obvious advantages of e-learning is that you can save time and money. You can manage your schedule and take online courses at your most convenient time, whether early in the morning, late afternoon, or evening. You save money, too, because you don’t have to pay for transportation or worry about eating on the go.
2. Better retention
E-learning makes use of different platforms like Pedagogue, which provides interactive content. Also, you can share your thoughts and opinions with others. The more engaging the lessons, the more students can remember the information.
3. Personalized learning
You can choose your learning path and study at your own pace. You become more motivated and invested in the course.
4. Cost-effective
Students aren’t the only ones that can save money in e-learning. Many educational institutions save money through this set-up because there’s no need to use a physical classroom, which translates to reduced monetary spending.
5. Environment-friendly
E-learning is also more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t contribute to the pollution brought about by paper production.
5 Disadvantages of E-learning
1. Lacks social interaction
E-learning is one of the causes of social isolation because you don’t see your teachers and classmates face-to-face anymore. Interaction is very limited to none.
2. Inaccessible to others
Consider yourself lucky if you’re located in an area where the internet connection is fast and stable. Unfortunately, some have very limited access to the internet. They have to go to internet cafes or use public Wi-Fis which is very inconvenient.
3. Cheating is unavoidable
E-learning includes assessment, just like in a regular classroom setting. However, there are no teachers or proctors to watch over you during exams. It’s easy for online students to share answers knowing there’s nobody watching.
4. Requires self-motivation and proper time management skills
You’re basically on your own in e-learning. You have to motivate yourself to study hard, take down notes, and gather more information. You should also manage your time well by learning how to juggle studying while doing other things like household chores or earning money part-time.
5. Focuses more on theory
You’ll spend most of your time listening to podcasts, watching videos, and looking at slide presentations. There’s no hand-on experience like conducting experiments.
It’s the most modern way of learning that requires only a gadget and internet access. However, it’s not for everybody. Being aware of the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning can help you decide whether this is for you or not.
