Multiple Online Learning at Virtual Platforms (Updated 2023)

As with conventional teaching methods, Online learning through virtual platforms like zoom, skype, meeting, WhatsApp group video, and many paid learning apps also have their own set of advantages & disadvantages. Knowing and understanding these advantages, as well as disadvantages, surely help students, teachers, and educational institutes in drafting methodologies for more productive learning, thereby providing a qualitative nondisruptive knowledge gaining journey leading towards success.

Benefits and Pitfalls of Online Learning methodologies

One of the most commonly used terms during this COVID-19 pandemic is the term “new normal”. Which is equally applied in online learning methodologies. This Corona Virus pandemic has refreshed the online methods of learning. Throughout the World, learning hubs like schools, colleges, and universities are utilizing online teaching ways. To impart education to learning audiences.

The new normal way of life is a restructured educational method with online learning. Amid this pandemic with evolving times, online learning/education has sprung up as a mandatory resource both for students and teachers. For most educational institutes, online education appeared a totally new phenomenon that they have had to embrace.

Learning through these tech-based gadgets is not limited to academia but it covers extracurricular activities under its umbrella as well. In the recent past, online education cum learning requirements has risen to new heights undoubtedly, and with this new normal; it will be one of the basics of life ahead of the pandemic.

As with conventional teaching methods, online learning through zoom, skype, meeting, etc., also have their own set of advantages & Pitfalls. Knowing and understanding these advantages as well as pitfalls surely help students, teachers, and educational institutes in drafting methodologies. So, they can provide more productive learning. Therefore, providing a qualitative nondisruptive knowledge gaining journey leads towards success.

Benefits of Virtual and Online learning

image reflects ease of online learning at anytime and anyplace

A) Productivity

Virtual Online Learning methodologies offer institutions, mentors, and teachers a productive pathway to impart lessons to students. For example, videos, real-time screen sharing, podcasts, notes,

etc., to use these techniques as part of their class learning plans. Thorough application of these methods in planning beyond traditional ways like books to include online means; peers, teachers, and trainers including students have proven more productive.

B) Time and Place Adaptability

The second major advantage of online learning is that it provides adaptable time and place adjustments. To both teachers and learners to attend lectures. Furthermore, it provides educational institutions to gain a wider audience of students beyond their geographical scopes. Furthermore, online classes and tutorials can be record and store on multiple platforms like clouds. To use it anytime as per their own ease to students to attain the educational learning material. So, online platforms are flexible as well as adaptable in time and place both for students and institutions.

C) Cost Effective

Online education is also cost-effective as being far more affordable than traditional learning. As online learning decreases the budget points of real estate, food, physical movements like rides, taxies, buses, and most importantly stationary. Additionally, all course and learning materials do become available online, thereby helping in reducing greenhouse effects by reducing paper, printing, and transportation costs.

D) Attendance

As virtual learning platforms and classes are available at any place with the help of internet connectivity, the attendance of students improves significantly with lesser chances of missing the sessions.

E) Adaptable Learning Styles

As Each of us has a unique and different learning pattern and pace with individual learning skills. Some of us prefer pictorial cum visual methods while few would like audios. Similarly, some of the students prosperous in the physical learning platforms like classrooms, and others are introvert gainers who may get distraught by big audience groups.

Online learning is design with a wider scope of options, methods, and stockpile sources. It can be individualized in multiple adaptable ways. To prove it an excellent educational environment appropriate to the requirements of individual learners like students, trainees, etc.

Pitfalls of Online Learning

How a person can be easily distracted from online learning due to social media apps

A) Lack of Attention

Usually, for most learners, the imminent challenge of virtual learning platforms is the struggle to focus on screens thereby learning material. The second major concern with online learning platforms is the ease of distraction by different social media apps.

Hence, it is crucial for the mentors, peers, and teachers to keep their online class precise, time-limited, captivating, along with being interactive to help all to remain attentive and focused.

B) Internet usage and tech-based Issues

The second key challenge of virtual/online learning is internet connectivity and its user interfaces with availability. While over the past few years’ internet connectivity improved significantly, but still in suburban areas and small towns alongside villages, internet connectivity with wider bandwidth is an issue. Thereby it can prove inimical to the learning process.

C) Isolation and introversion

Human being social animals learn the best in the company of other human of same intent and desires. However, on virtual learning platforms, the physical interactions between students and teachers remains very nominal which may results in isolation and introversion among students which proved damaging than being beneficial especially during lockdown times where regular life is also at hault. For such conditions, it is very important for educational institutions to allow for other ways of connections between teachers, peers, and students. As for example online messages, video conferencing, emailing, virtual get togethers will allow interaction, connection among all learners so reducing the fear of isolation and introversion to improve productive learning.

D) Training of trainers

Virtual learning platforms demand a basic understanding of the use of technological gadgets. However, you need a trainer who is familiar with the available methodologies especially in todays’ increase pace of technology growth. If a teacher is not oriented and trained on these modern learning platforms, it would not give any good impact and will not impact the basic principles of teaching and learning. So, for successful online learning, there is always a need to have a parallel workshop for all teachers to build their capacity and skills. Along with the familiarity with user interfaces that are required for an identified online platform.

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