Positive and Negative Impact of Online Learning on Students

Online learning that is a trend today is serving out students more than ever. The profundity of the influence that it has is immense by all means.

It is an innovation that people have allowed to persist over time and prove its efficacy by tapping into its limitless potential.

Online learning without an ounce of doubt has good points but it has also limitations that needs to be overpowered with the right strategy.

This article will present the positive and negative impact of online learning so that its overall impact can be realised.

But, before that, let’s get to first understand about….

What is Online Learning?

Online learning is a branch of a study mode where a student from their homes or any other place can reach out to education via a device and a stable connection.

It is in many ways diverse from a physical classroom where students can see their instructors right in front of them.

To make studying more easy, innovators have turned learning management systems and other tools into a reality. Now be it designing programs or tracking them, these tools stand out as the best examples in technology.

Also read about: How is Technology Changing Education

Positive Impact of Online Learning for students

1. Easy Access to Course Materials

Online learning has made the methods of accessing files a more easy endeavour that do not run the risk of getting damaged.

Simply by clicking, all the notes will be there right in front of the students. All the assignments are arranged that will make students take online learning to be an organised approach.

Online learning is a matter of ease as students get to choose their homes as their convenient place of study. 

2. Instant Feedback:

Technology is a boon that when utilised in coursework has big rewards to offer.

For example, there is no need to look up to the day when the results will finally be announced as online studies pave the way for immediate feedback.

Students can upload their homework and store it for a teacher to review them.

The feedback will then be recorded and provided through network so that students can have an instant idea about the things that must be worked upon.

3. Fun in Learning

Technology has made studying more fun by offering students with an experience that will have them engage completely.

It is often normal to expect that learning through laptops or any device may only reduce the students to be mere listeners but it is not the case as there is a whole lot of demand for complete engagement.

Staying active in classes is possible when the teachers rely on multimedia for helping learners experience learning as an exquisite process.

4. Highly Flexible

Online learning grants the complete ease to make a choice for a timetable without the need of depending on a source that has preset timings.

Plus, they can continue on the learning journey simply from their homes that makes it highly freedom-oriented and choice-based.

Employees often find juggling between office work and course studies too much of an engagement. In that case, they can derive the most out of this approach by fixing a time that doesn’t coincide with work hours.

5. Affordable

Online learning is more easy on the budget as the fees that are demanded are quite less than offline learning.

There is also no need to pay exorbitant prices as the tuition fees in online study are reasonable enough.

Moreover, students can freely pick up specific topics or can stick along with many subjects that is not the case with an approach that goes by convention.

Negative Impact of Online Learning for Students

1. Increased Screen Dependency

Students run the risk of weak eyesight when they continue to keep exploring the online materials for hours at a stretch.

Plus, they may be tempted to click other pages that are more interesting that makes them more distracted than ever.

When teachers are eager to make things work by making students more focused, they will share in the efforts by displaying interest in the subjects.

Read to know: Ways to Limit Screen Time

2. Technical Issues

Online learning is ruled by internet connectivity, the absence of which disturbs the classes.

Network connection is not often a problem in big cities as it is mostly the remote places where connection refuses to reach.

Students who are not very sincere often make excuses for a technical glitch that didn’t happen in order to keep their cameras turned off.

Moreover, if the laptops or the tablets are not serving useful for them because of a pitfall in functionality, it can be quite tricky to use.

3. Lack of Motivation

Students often feel motivated to complete their tasks when they are surrounded by those that are equally competing for the similar results.

Online learning only leaves students to engage in a virtual world that is completely apart from the usual mode of study.

As a result, there is less need for urgent actions and compulsion that fails to fuel their inner drives.

4. Physiological Problems

Students may complain of back ache or numbness in the feet while sitting before the laptop or the tablet for hours.

Slouching during study is a bad posture that can worsen the pain in the back and the shoulders.

Just as too much screen hours is bad for the eyes, similarly over engaging with online study materials can sometimes be the reason behind physiological problems.

Conclusion

You have understood by now that students find online learning to be both positive and negative.

By making studying more flexible and easy, this mode is here to stay and renowned for its list of usability for different purposes.

However, the limitations can make a student rethink about embarking on this new journey.

In that case, it is better to align with a hybrid process where one doesn’t give up on traditional studies and at the same time relies on online learning.