E-learning – Pros and Cons

“We are born in the modernized world, we live in the modernized world, we shall be living in the modernized world.”

Round the clock, from a single pin to an elephant we are transforming our lives into online modes. With the trend of e-commerce, the trend of e-learning has also been emerged. E-learning has gained much importance in today’s age. Technology has made the platform of e-learning possible in current scenario of COVID-19.

Concept and Meaning- The term e-learning has only been in existence since 1990s. With the introduction of internet and computers e-learning tools expanded and many opportunities explored. E-learning is the learning that is enabled electronically through use of internet facility by use of electronic devices.

As every coin is having two sides, a cycle runs on two wheels, similarly e-learning is associated with both pros and cons.

PROS:

Cost Saving:  E-learning helps to reduce infrastructure cost as there is no need to set physical classrooms and there is no need of smart screens. It reduces space requirement thus, helps in reducing cost.

Wide Reach- Students from different locations can avail the benefits and can interact with each other sharing each other’s traditions and values. Various guest hosts can be introduced in the virtual meetings worldwide.

Promotes Innovation- Today, we can see that the small vendors and vegetable sellers have entered the way of digitization through system of online payments. This is only because of knowledge gained by them through e-learning platform.

Accessibility- Anyone from anywhere at any time can access the benefits of e-learning by scheduling their busy schedule.

Creates interest- When teachers teach students through videos and presentations then it helps to develop practical and pictorial mind for students. It helps to create interest among the students.

Encourage Students to speak- Online classes make students speak. Shy children who lack public confidence share their views on e-learning platform, this boost confidence among them. Chat box facility help students to share their views.

Eliminate Barriers- There is elimination of distance and time barrier. Learning is no longer an obstacle with the help of e-learning.

Eco-friendly way- E-learning is an eco-friendly way of sharing knowledge. It creates positive environment as there is no need to travel to schools, colleges or institutes, thus reducing pollution and there is less use of paper. So, e -learning is an environment friendly tool.

Versatile- E-learning is multi-dimensional in nature. There are multiple number of options available to suit our multiple demands.

CONS:

Lack of personal touch- There is lack of personal touch, Teachers and students are involved in impersonal way of imparting and gaining knowledge. Teachers are unable to understand that are the students getting their points or not? Are the students even listening or not? Thus, e-learning lacks in personal touch.

Lack of interaction- Sometimes, students cannot interact with the teachers and teachers cannot interact with the students. It weakens the communication among the users.

Not suitable for all styles- E-learning is not suitable at every time, and it deals with human nature which varies from person to person so it is not suitable for everyone.

Technical issues- There may be network issues, technical issues and power issues. So, it does not serve its motive.

Not everyone is tech savvy- Not everyone knows about the technology. So, it is a useless tool in the hands of an inexpert.

Security issues- We all are online but we all are not safe, there exists many security issues. There may be breach of our personal data so, it suffer the limitations.

Difficult for junior students- Although e-learning is a golden spoon, but it is not an easy way to feed the students, specifically the junior students with such a golden spoon. It is difficult for teachers to make the junior students to grasp the points.

Health issues- It creates health issues, due to long screen visibility. It causes eye strain, problem of head ache for the students as well as the teachers.

Increase in boredom- There is lack of social interaction, which weakens the communication, thus, results in isolation among the students. Lack of physical activity may result in boredom among students and teachers.

Objective Assignments- The assignments are of objective nature and there is high chance of doing it by cheating.

So, it can be concluded that e-learning involve multiple benefits but there is a darker side too. E- learning is a substitute of classroom learning but it is not a perfect substitute.