The Pros and Cons of Online Learning

Online learning is still a pretty controversial subject that many debate about. It was most prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone was in quarantine and schools everywhere shut down. Teachers and students relied on technology to do everything, including classes, assignments, study materials, etc. There are many pros and cons, some which are more valid than others.

A benefit that many focus on is convenience. Instead of having to drive, walk, cycle, or something else to school, you simply just had to log on to your computer. Online classes lead to the boom of many online meeting platforms, such as Google Meet and Zoom. Students may also feel more comfortable learning from their own house.

Another benefit is the cost reduction. While learning in schools would call for textbooks and materials for the students, such as notebooks, they would probably cost a hefty amount, especially in larger schools. Online learning eliminated the need for all that, replacing notebooks with platforms such as Google Docs and Microsoft Word.

A con was the lack of social interaction. For extroverts, the pandemic would not have been extremely fun. For introverts, the pandemic was like a dream come true, minus the terror that came with it. Even if you are an introvert, the lack of social interaction is never good for anyone. It can diminish the sense of community among peers and lack the support from teachers that comes with traditional teaching.

Another con is the distractions. While in your own house, there is almost no doubt that there will be distractions. Not being in the classroom allowed for more flexibility, but it depends on what students do with the flexibility, if it is good or bad. A good case would be taking the time to learn how to manage time, and then eventually applying those skills to higher levels of education or a job. A bad case would be exploiting the flexibility to your advantage, not paying attention in class but instead doing something else.

In conclusion, online learning has many pros and cons, these are just the most reasonable and prominent ones. While most schools have gone back to traditional learning after the pandemic, some still offer online learning. Online learning has much potential to improve, as well as many obstacles to overcome.

Good work 🙂