When people get busy with life they look for other ways of doing things that are less traditional than what was once considered the norm and education is no different. Because people need to work full time and need to spend time with their families or learn on their own time, students can use online education as a means to advance in their careers and increase their knowledge. Turning to education. Online education offers a great opportunity to non-traditional students to get an education that may not otherwise be available to them but it also presents many challenges. However, these challenges can be met and students can be very successful in their online learning.
Some of the challenges faced by online students include:
Communications
Some students find that they miss face-to-face verbal communication or in-class communication in the form of lectures. There are no classes to go to and most online education courses have minimal (if any) face-to-face communication. Facial expressions, tone of voice, and eye contact are some of the elements that are sometimes missed when taking an online course and some feel too impersonal.
If you think face-to-face communication is important then you can look for a course that integrates things like recorded lectures, webinar meetings, and online chats with webcams. These things can make an online course feel more personal and make you feel like you are in the same room with the person(s).
Work On Your Own
Many students find it a real challenge to work without the help of an instructor to talk about lessons and discuss lectures and assignments with other students. Without the guidance of an instructor, they may have difficulty telling themselves what they should be doing at the moment. For those who are inspired by others, this can be a big challenge to overcome.
To overcome this challenge, find out if there are others in your local area taking the same course as you. While an educational facility that runs online courses may not give you the names or phone numbers of people who are also taking the course, you can let the instructor know that you are interested in meeting other people who take courses in your vicinity. and can give him permission to send your email. You’ll also want to find out if there are any discussion groups or online chats that will help and give you the social aspect you want.
Technological Add-Ons
While technology can add a lot to an online education program, it can also prove to be a challenge for those who either do not have the knowledge or do not have access to the technology used. Online learners who use dial-up may have difficulty accessing video or audio streams or students may not have the correct programs to access them.
Ask what you need before starting an online program. Do you need high-speed internet or will you be fine with dial-up? Do you need any specific type of software to view course material? What type of technology is used? And can they help you if you’re not sure how to use them?
While there are many challenges to online learning, they can be overcome if you ask the questions first. Find out what support the school offers, how fast you can get help, and what other resources may be available. Also, find out who you should contact if you have trouble and how quickly you should expect a response from them.
Other Challenges Of Online Education
Online education provides people who otherwise would not have received further education, an opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills, but innate challenges have made it lack quality and effectiveness. As the world gets busier, many people often find themselves working while getting an education. Many of these people enroll in online courses that do not require them to physically attend lessons. Learners should read the educational material and watch the videos sent by their instructors. At a high level, lessons are conducted via video links. Exams are also taken online and term papers and essays are submitted via email. Despite this new approach, online education faces various challenges that make it less quality and less effective than traditional education delivered in the real classroom.
Students taking lessons through virtual learning have no personal contact with their teachers and fellow learners. Even when taught via video link and they can see their teacher, they still lack the key interactions that help them understand concepts more effectively. Face-to-face communication between learners and trainers can never be replaced by a video link. The latter also becomes less effective, when the lecturer has to deal with a large number of students. A student coming out of such a class, if so-called, is of less academic ability than a learner taking the same course from a class where there is physical contact with the teacher.
Studying in virtual universities also requires the learner to invest in or have access to Internet technology and relevant equipment, which can increase the cost of education. Online education will not happen without computers and high-speed internet connections. Apart from the fact that there is no internet technology around the world, the student must also have the skills to operate a computer and communicate using video links, email and other methods. As they serve a global clientele, virtual educational institutions face challenges in reaching out to many potential clients who lack such equipment, technology, and skills.
Virtual universities are also logically limited in the kind of courses they can offer. Science-based courses that require laboratory experiments or are mechanical in nature are off-limits. This means that engineering, medicine, computer science, drama, and public speaking cannot be taught in virtual classrooms. In short, learning of any kind cannot be offered by virtual universities. Students who need to gain knowledge in these areas should attend traditional lessons. As a result, online education can only meet the needs of students who require largely theoretical courses.
Some More Challenges of Online Education
According to a recent study by the Sloan Consortium, enrollment in online education is at an all-time high. Based on responses from more than 2,200 colleges and universities across the US, the study shows that 3.2 million students took at least one online course in the fall of 2005, up 850,000 from the year before.
With the rise in the popularity of e-learning comes some unique challenges that do not exist with more traditional classes. Students should be aware of the differences between online and traditional classes and be prepared to make the necessary adjustments. Important challenges faced by online students include the following:
Technical Problems. Computer hardware and peripherals such as printers, modems, and routers are not indestructible; Like any other man-made tool, they can break or wear out at the most inappropriate times. In addition to equipment failure, an outdated computer may be incompatible with some software required of course. Viruses, Trojans, spyware, and other malware can infect a computer, causing it to run poorly or not run at all. The slow internet connection can cause problems entering class, receiving and submitting assignments, and posting in threaded discussions. Any of these problems can cause a lot of frustration for a student trying to complete a course assignment. Therefore, it is important for the student to have access to a backup computer to use in case of equipment failure.
Staying Motivated. Going to school always requires a certain level of motivation from a student, whether it’s a “brick-and-mortar” institution or an online class. In a traditional classroom setting, a student has live, face-to-face interactions with the instructor and fellow students – a camaraderie that can help foster enthusiasm and motivation for the course. In an Internet-based classroom, however, there is no direct interaction with the instructor and classmates – the student works alone in a virtual environment. A lack of live contact can lead to a sense of isolation, and without high internal commitment or personal drive, it can be difficult for a student to stay motivated during the course.
Self-Discipline. Along with motivation, a student needs good self-discipline to be successful online. The freedom and flexibility of e-learning are what make it so appealing to many. There is no obligation to enter the class at a specific time or place — you can go to class and do your work whenever it is convenient for you. However, this same freedom can lead to procrastination, and cause an unreasonable or undisciplined student to lag behind in his work. Once behind it can be difficult to catch.
It is difficult to improve Oral communication skills. There are many classes like speech, drama, debate, teacher education, etc in which students are required to make oral presentations in front of a group of people. This is not practical with online courses, as the classroom is virtual, and not all students gather in one room at the same time. A student wishing to improve verbal communication skills may need to take these classes in a traditional classroom curriculum.
Classes with laboratory or practical requirements may not be available online. If a laboratory course cannot be simulated or practically offered online, a student will need to take the course at a local college campus or other location with the necessary facilities to complete the course work.