Online learning has permeated education with enormity not witnessed before. Schools, universities and online training colleges have leveraged developed 5G infrastructure. Recent research has unveiled that emerging technologies will eliminate most barriers and scale access to online education.
Distance learning and its relationship with online learning has offered several promises in the field of education along with challenges that, according to the contributor for the platform Metalecture, are bound to happen. “Traditional education is, in most respects, gated, while unrestricted access to online education leverages internet-enabled devices to spread information,” she says. “Premier institutions are bracing for challenges to speed up customization of an all-inclusive online education system.”
Perhaps the top problem facing eLearning platforms, designers take an impersonal hands-off approach that fails to recognize students’ social, mental and physical health. As challenges that can severely jeopardize academic development, these issues have raised concerns among various stakeholders.
Anxiety and Depression
Online learning is, without a doubt, convenient but comes with a few downsides. Connecting with fellow academic peers, communicating with the tutor and maintaining fundamental social interactions have become a challenge when learning takes place online.
Although not formally recognized as an illness, internet addiction creates difficulties focusing on other non-electronic engagements. Ultimately, effects such as depression set in and significantly contribute to dwindling academic performance among students.
Diminishing social aspects can be a source of frustration for many learners pursuing technical courses. Transitioning to online learning is challenging for units that need face-to-face learning, like practical science. Some providers have fostered personal connections using synchronized webinars and group forums, but the anxiety from isolation confines students to a small interaction window.
Distractions and Time Management
While studying from home offers incredible flexibility, experts argue that finding the motivation to start coursework can be complex. Access to distractions makes it challenging for students to keep up with incoming assignments and course expectations.
A time management system is the most viable solution but entirely difficult for students to maintain because of a lack of motivation. Even with the convenience that comes with online learning, students’ motivation can only happen intrinsically. At the same time, online learning eliminates metacognition awareness, time management skills and self-discipline associated with interactions with other students.
For years, educators have identified that procrastination had been a significant hurdle to student growth. Sleep deprivation that comes with staying up late to beat deadlines leads to poor memory retention, learning and performance.
Staying Up to Date
Driven by the need to pace up with high-speed applied learning, different manufacturers have designed sophisticated tools. Although finding good internet connections and technical expertise is within reach of many students, some software applications come with advanced interfaces.
Students are generally tech-savvy, but figuring out how to navigate complex computer programs is an inherent challenge. The only viable solution that appears to offer a long-term fix is deploying technological support to train, maintain and adjust those systems. However, limited fiscal capabilities in schools make this solution unreachable. Although the struggle to adapt to new technologies appears to be prevalent, making optimal fiscal decisions coupled with technical assistance will leverage the latest technology in online learning.
