Pros and cons of Online Education.

 During the past few decades, it has been a topic of raging debate if computers, machines or robots can replace our teachers. The current world wide situation due to covid pandemic has partially answered this question.

               Shifting from traditional methods of learning to integrated learning that combines theory with interactive classrooms, practical case studies and interdisciplinary learning, is considered as the solution to many of our handicaps.

                                                                    Online education refers to enabling students to gain educational experience through technology. It takes place out of the classrooms, through digital platforms. In today's high-tech world of 21st century, societies are developing in almost all aspects. The field of education is also not behind in this race.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted education systems all over the world, and pushed us to adopt online education as an alternative to its traditional forms. Due to the increase in the threat of Corona all educational institutions have been closed to stop the spread of virus at some level. At this time, children are getting a strong support of online education to continue their learning. 

There are many eligible teachers, who remain unemployed due to cut-throat competition. Online teaching offers them a golden chance of employment and spreading their knowledge all over the world.

Due to high demnad for online education, many online learning platforms are providing their services  such as BYZUS, Unacademy, CBSE Digital Education, etc. From online platforms and applications, students can gain education not only from their country but can explore the whole world and be experimental. Online education saves our time and money because students need not go to educational institutions to be educated. 

If a student does not understand any topic during online lectures, he can clear his doubts by going through the recording of the class provided by his teachers. It also reduces the efforts of teachers and helps them in making the class more interesting by using some applications such as Google Maps, Google Earth, Geo Zebra, Videos, Animated images, etc. Online coaching facility is also available for competitive examinations. From downloading some applications like YouTube, learners can comfortably prepare for their upcoming examination, sitting at home.

                                                    On one hand, we see many advantages of online education. On the other, there are some limitations too. For online learning, students must have a device such as smartphones or computers and a good network connectivity. But there are many students in the country who are deprived of online learning, as they belong to economically weaker section of the society and could not afford such devices because of their high prices.

                             Some parents provide their children such devices with difficulty, still a problem remains permanently with internet network, which keeps disrupting students’ studies. This is not a problem only with students. Teachers also get stuck due to the same reason and are disconnected or disturbed due to poor connectivity during the classes. 

Online learning can serve us the whole bowl of knowledge but can never offer practical aspects of learning. Like, a science subject is all about practical experiences, especially Biology. But this online education has put our future medical experts in danger. 

Though digital education provides many facilities available to students, it also stimulates poor habits among students. According to a survey, online education is adversely affecting the physical and mental health of children. It does not provide the right environment for study to the learners, as students get distracted by games such as PUBG, Free Fire, etc. Also they spend maximum time on chatting apps. or social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc. These trivial activities adversely affect students' behaviour and attitude. 

Continuously watching the screen requires a lot of patience and determination. But most of the students fail the same.  It adversely affects their eye sight. Teachers also find increase in the power lenses and reciprocally decrease in the eye power. Also plugging earphones for such a long period of time is hazardous for our eardrums and ears.

The worst thing about this type of education is that it inculcates a lazy attitude and behaviour in the students. Students opt cheating and other mischief activities and are not able to become an active part of the study.

         Teachers could not pay proper attention and could not guide students while teaching digitally. Children are at liberty to mute their mikes when taking online classes and wander away from their classes. Hence teachers fail in engaging students effectively in the online classes. 

Though people believe more in traditional way of education in the classroom of the school, for the last few years, online education has become more popular and famous all over the world. As everything has its positive and negative effects, we should adopt the white side of it and save ourselves from being influenced by the black one. Still we have a long way to go ahead in the field of online education to overcome its limitations. It’s a double-edged weapon. We have to use it in such a way to get the best out of it. If enough attention is paid and suitable study plans are made, online education can fulfil its primary motives.

                                                                                                                                      - Siddhatri Gupta 

                                                                                                                                                       12th 'C'