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What Are The Weaknesses of Virtual Learning
Although online courses have numerous beefiest and provide unprecedented access to quality learning, there are weaknesses in the utilization of this model, which may result in potential threats to the success of any virtual course. Here are the top weaknesses of learning online.
Technology
Facilitators and learners must have computer skills so that they can succeed in a virtual learning environment. Online participants should be able to utilize numerous search engines and be able to navigate on World Wide Web. Also, they should be familiar with email and FTP processes. In case they do not have these technology tools, they won’t succeed in a virtual course; a faculty member or learner who can’t function on the system will drag the whole course down.
Accessibility to Technology
For online programs to be successful, learners should be able to access the virtual learning environment. Qualified students can be excluded from online programs due to accessibility to technology. This is common in rural areas. Additionally, if learners can’t afford technology used by their schools, they are lost as customers.
Internet accessibility isn’t universal, and in some parts of the U.S. and across the globe, access to the internet results in high costs to users. If students’ time online is limited to the internet that they can afford, then the participation in a virtual course and instruction won’t be equitable for all learners in the program.
Limitations of Technology
Reliable and user-friendly technology is crucial to any online course. Nevertheless, even sophisticated technologies are not 100 percent reliable. Also, equipment utilized in online learning courses can fail at any time. Breakdowns might occur to online learning systems.
For instance, servers that host courses can crash hence cutting all students from their courses. Students can access online classes through their networked computers that might crash. Also, individual computers can have many issues that limit learners’ access. An Internet connection can fail, and a company that hosts an internet connection can be flooded with many users making it slows down. In such circumstances, technology is not reliable, and it has a negative implication for online learning.
The Learners
Although the online method is an alternative model of learning for self-disciplined learners, it is not appropriate for more dependent students. Online asynchronous learning provides learners with control over their academics, and this offers the flexibility of learning schedules for online learners.
However, online learning demands students to be highly disciplined. To succeed in an online program, learners must possess time management skills, be self-motivated and well organized so as to keep up with the program’s pace. Due to these reasons, virtual learning isn’t right for dependent and young students since they have challenges in assuming tasks of online learning.
The Teacher
Successful face-to-face teaching doesn’t necessarily translate to successful virtual teaching. If teachers aren’t adequately trained on virtual learning methods and delivery, there will be a compromise on the quality of online programs. Teachers are supposed to communicate well in writing as well as in the language in which the program is provided. Virtual courses will be comprised if teachers aren’t prepared well to teach in online classrooms.
Online teachers should be able to provide supportive online learning environments where learners are comfortable taking part and making it possible for learners to know that they can access their teachers. Failing to do this alienates students from their colleagues as well as from their teachers. Nevertheless, even though an online instructor is competent to create a comfortable online learning environment where the class can operate, a lack of physical presence at school might be a hindrance to online courses.
Virtual Environment
Synergy Levels
Virtual education has the most promising potential in the high synergy represented by active dialog among students and teachers, one of the crucial sources of studying in an online classroom. Nevertheless, in bigger classes of 30 students or more, the synergy level begins to change on the learning continuum until it becomes independent learning so as to accommodate a large classroom. Additionally, dialogue is limited, and interactions among students and teachers. Online learning is not utilized to its greatest potential.
What Ought Not to Be Taught Virtually?
Even with enthusiasm and excitement for virtual courses, it is crucial to note that there are some subjects that are not supposed to be taught online since the electronic mode doesn’t allow the best mode of teaching. Examples consist of subjection that requires laboratory sessions and sports where practice and physical movement contribute to the accomplishment of educational goals. Subjects such as this are perhaps best taught in brick-and-mortar learning settings.
Hybrid courses might represent a short-term solution to this kind of challenge, hence making it possible to access such kind of course by many students who find it hard to go to schools. Nevertheless, solutions of this kind still emphasize that virtual learning can’t satisfy all learning goals and needs. Since it might not be technologically easy to stimulate a face-to-face learning experience, this doesn’t automatically mean that it’s the best way of teaching it.
The Curriculum
Online learning courses should be considered carefully and developed to make them successful. Many learning institutions overlook the importance of looking for qualified people to assist in developing online curriculums. Teaching methodology and curriculum that are usually effective in face-to-face classrooms will not lead to effective virtual programs where instructional paradigms and learning are different.
Online curriculums ought to reflect the utilization of dialog among learners and group participation and interaction. Brick-and-mortar classrooms have no place in effective virtual programs. High education quality can occur in a virtual program so long as the syllabus has been converted or developed to meet online learning needs.
How To Overcome Online Learning Challenges
Online learning is becoming popular these days and it provides many benefits, like a flexible timetable, affordable prices or quick access to lectures. As e-learning technology is rapidly expanding in the world, more and more people choose online courses as their study mode. However, at the same time, you may experience some unexpected challenges when taking online courses. Here, I will talk about several tips on how to overcome those challenges.
- Be Patient and Persistent
Online learning is not so easy as we are used to traditional classrooms, because there are some significant differences between online courses and face-to-face classes. When you are taking an online course, you have to spend much more time on your homework than in the classroom, due to the unfamiliarity of new technology. So, it takes time for you to adjust to this new way of studying. Moreover, if they happen to make a mistake while working on their assignments or writing academic papers during an online course, students might be frustrated from these unpleasant situations. Besides, many American institutions offer financial aid for prospective students who wish to pursue an online degree, but enrolled students often face financial challenges. Therefore, online students need to have a lot of patience and persistence when they are trying to adapt themselves with this new learning mode.
- Participate in Online Class Discussions Actively
In an online course, you can communicate with your classmates through discussion boards or blogs without being embarrassed. It is a great chance for you to get along well with other people who are having the same interest as you do. Some teachers also use these methods to help their students learn better, because it is easier for them to notice if one of the student’s questions is inappropriate in this kind of situation. Plus, there will be more chances that you would want to add your request on the instructors’ page such as “post-class assignment”, “Question”, etc., when there are many classmates talking about them. Therefore, you should make good use of discussion boards or blogs to learn more knowledge and improve your writing skills.
- Be Careful When Choosing an Online School
In the age of the internet, it is easy for anyone to retrieve information from websites or chat rooms as long as he/she has a computer with access to the internet. However, in those sites, you cannot guarantee that all of the information provided by the hosts is trusted. Some students might choose an institution which only takes a limited amount of people because it looks perfect on its website without considering whether it has other disadvantages such as lack of extracurricular activities among participants or far distance between students and teachers. Therefore, you should learn more information about an online school and read some comments from its former students before deciding to apply there or not.
- Find Time for Extra Activities
Online learners may feel a little lonely when they are working on their assignments or writing academic papers during an online course. So, it would be great if they can take part in some extracurricular activities which would make them have more chances to interact with other people so that they will not feel antisocial while taking the e-learning courses. Some students choose to join chat room websites where they can talk with different people who share the same interests with them or play games together even though such extracurricular activities are often considered a waste of time by some. Some students who live in other countries may want to do so because it is more difficult for them to interact with native speakers on a daily basis than those learners whose hometowns are near their schools.