Online Learning Advantages and Disadvantages

What are the advantages and disadvantages of online learning?

    We have been through many successes and challenges in the previous year regarding online learning. Some of the advantages of online learning are Learning new technical skills, demonstrating self-motivation, improving virtual communication, and refining critical-thinking skills. 

   The disadvantages of online learning are Lack of communication, No face-to-face interactions, Intense requirement for self-discipline, spam, and affect the focus of the students, etc. 

   Therefore, It all depends on the angle we are looking at. Most online courses are great, to say the least especially, when it’s with a live instructor, the instructor can go as far as citing needed examples to make sure the students understand what he/she is trying to pass across from the comfort of their homes. Plus, one of the important things is that students can watch the sessions as much as they want since they are recorded. On the other hand, most prerecorded courses don’t get completed, as students get tired of simply listening to instructions with no interactions.

   Now, that been said, nothing beats face-to-face facilitation as the preferred means of learning, but there are other factors we need to look at; factors like time, stress, transportation, risk, and all. So, both points of view have their good and bad impact on students, but it depends on how they react to the situation and how much they can hold responsibility. 

What can I do now that I was not able to do a year ago?

Things I am now able to do: 

• Have the skills to make students feel engaged without attending face-to-face classes.
• Make teachers feel more familiar with Platforms and technology.
• Prepare lessons through technological Apps. 
• Able to participate more in virtual training.
• Interact through virtual classes.
  

Challenges while Learning/Teaching Online

Challenges that I face while learning/teaching online are the following:

• Lack of In-Person interaction.
• Technical Issues. 
• Time Management.
• Staying Motivated.
• Class Engagement.
• Controlling cheating.
• Adapting to unfamiliar technology.
  

What Students Should be Taught When Working Online to Avoid Problems?

To learn in a safe environment students should know the following:

• Clear instructions for classroom rules. 
• Use strong passwords to protect students' accounts.
• Never share personal information.
• Be aware when mics and cameras are open.
• Use safe devices when logging in.
• Be a good digital citizen. 
  

How to be a Digital Citizen?

To be a good digital citizen you should do the following:

• Teach students to encourage critical thinking skills to think about what they do and how they interact with others online
• Keep private information private.
• Avoid and report cyberbullying.
• Connect with your community
• Think about the future.
• Be yourself.
  

Tools that can be Used in Online Assessment

Useful tools for assessing students in the classroom and outside the classroom: 

• Google Forms 
• Padlet
• Kahoot 
• Poll Everywhere 
  
• Mentimeter 
• Coursera 
  
  
  
  
  

Opinion about Integrating Technology into Education

Technology empowers teachers to develop interactive classrooms. It makes teaching easier by using visual presentations, videos, and share links. Besides, technology provides many tools and applications that help in the process of learning such as Google forms and virtual classes. 

EDUC561 Course

What do I learned in this course? 

This course helped teachers use computers easily in teaching and learning. We can use the computer to impart knowledge in the classroom, conduct activities, and instill interest in the lesson we are teaching. Plus, it lets the students be able to collaborate with their own classmates through technological applications. In addition, the media enhance the teaching/learning effectiveness by utilizing various media like videos, e-learning, and multimedia.