Since 2020, Covid has affected people worldwide, especially in education. Some would say it’s for the better, while others thought it took a turn for the worse in their learning. Today I am going to point out some of the pros and cons of online learning so you can see whether or not it’s right for you.
First off, how it affects your social life and relations. In truth, going virtual also means losing contact physically. Many students have reported sensing a feeling of isolation or loneliness while using virtual learning, whereas more introverted individuals don’t seem to find much discomfort in this situation at all. However, according to a study done on multiple colleges throughout the U.S. during Covid, almost 37% of students felt negative effects to their mental health due to lack of socialization and developed anxiety and depression. Secondarily, you can be more efficient in your work and time, as both a student and a teacher. Working or studying from home can make it much easier for students to find textbooks and/or school materials and opens up the opportunity to get creative with how they organize instead of being limited to one space or desk. Students can also learn at their own pace for their day-to-day assignments since there aren’t as many regulations to how you spend your time whilst utilizing online education. However, many students reported that it was easy for them to lose concentration and their daily schedule. Lastly, it’s easy to afford and accessible. Instead of having to pay for meals at school, you can enjoy cheap, homemade meals or easy-to-make leftovers, and students also (probably) don’t have to worry about finding a place to stay because they can stay from the comfort of their home, and easily access any assignment by just one to two clicks on a computer. One of the only hindrances I can think of for this benefit is that it’s easy to get distracted with such different surroundings.
I know that online learning definitely isn’t for everyone, with all of its ups and downs and some of the flaws within the World Wide Web, but I hope you can consider some of the amazing benefits that can come with it.