Pros and Cons Of Online Learning For Students

Document Type:Research Paper

Subject Area:Education

Document 1

Perez, Jr, 1567 Miami, 19th April, 2018. Mark B Rosenberg, FIU President, 26546, Miami. Dear FIU President, The following is the analytical report that analyses the pros and cons of online learning for students. I would recommend that the study system which should be used by students should be the formal study system that involves students going to school on daily basis. My recommendation is based on the matter of fact that majority of the students who study online don’t take their studies serious and some do lag behind when it comes to syllabus coverage. This report is as a result of students failing to attend their online lectures due to their busy schedules, the existing beliefs that online learning doesn’t offer any kind of support to students and also the fact that learners don’t see any real-world application of their online studies.

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Key facts are; majority of the students who take online courses are either working or are doing business and due to their busy schedules, they can’t be able to attend their online studies. Statistics and findings indicate that 36% of the students who are taking online studies are studying business courses, 40% of the students taking online courses are aged between 19-30 years of age and also 72% of students involved in online learning are female. In conclusion, it can be articulated that due to the increase in online studies there is need for students to be scheduled online lectures according to their availability and regular checkups be done on the progress of their studies. Through the adoption of that majority of the students will take their studies serious since they know they will be followed up on.

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Thus, the undertaking of the degree online can indicate that the individual is ambitious, hardworking, well informed and prepared to take up on challenges that may arise. Hence this can lead to one being hired by a potential employer who has seen the capability of the individual who can be relied on when it comes to challenging tasks and many others. Online learning has lower costs as compared to attending college. Li and Irby,2008). The programs that are offered online are cheaper and affordable to many individuals as compared to attending college. One can be able to take courses online according to the flexibility of the course and his own schedule hence this will save the student time and resources unlike going to college daily. Students can be able to earn academic degrees online starting from certificate courses to postgraduate degrees thus enabling the student to have more varieties to choose from like which course to start with and which course to end with.

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Online studies provide more interaction and concentration unlike the attending of classes. Online studies do offer the students the opportunity to concentrate fully on their studies since they are not disrupted by any activity unlike in lecture room situation where the student is prone to be disturbed by others. Like for instance a student may need to do some revision on an upcoming exam while his friends are coercing him to join them in a party they are going to attend overnight. The following are some of the cons that come up as a result of online studies. Majority of private online schools are expensive. Private schools were the first to introduce online learning and this made them make a much huge profit since they are profit based schools as compared to the schools which are run by the state.

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Their programs are doing great several years down the line as compared to the state-run schools. Due to their profit nature it makes them expensive as compared to the schools run by the state. When one attends college where assignments are given by lecturers, he will be forced to do the assignment like others since the lecturer will be there waiting for the assignment. For the case of online learning platforms, the student is the one to decide when to do the assignment and also when to submit it since no one is pressuring them. If the student is the lazy type he may end up not attending to the assignments and also miss to undertake his online studies hence making the student to lag behind and when exams and tests come the student will fail terribly.

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Formats used in online learning are not ideal for all the students. If the student is that of a type that lacks motivation and needs the attention of the instructor taking online courses will be a problem for him. Managing of computer files among other online learning software’s may be difficult for students with beginner knowledge on computer. Robert,2002) This will hinder the student from getting all the information and knowledge that is required for him to undertake his studies efficiently and may in return leave the student more confused and scared. For the case of the student lacking enough knowledge on handling computer files it may make the student to mix up study material and in the process the student may forget to read them when hurriedly revising for exams.

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Slow internet connections and the use of old computers. It can make the student not to be able to access study materials and this can sometimes be very frustrating for the student if he relies on the same computer and lacks funds to buy a new computer. Students who were undertaking online studies indicated that they found it challenging to cope up with studying online like the factor of not finding instructors online when they needed them and also the lack of motivation. Studying online was also challenging since if the student didn’t complete his tuition fees he could not be able to access his reading material online unlike the case of attending college where he could attend lectures and pay when he gets funds. Recommendation I could like to recommend that: • There is need for universities to develop their programs and web resources so as to be able to accommodate more instructors and tutors.

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This will enable the instructors to implement active learning methods which students will be relying upon in their studies. • Faculties should also take an initiative to ensure that students who enroll in online learning are taught and well informed about the use of computer applications so that it will enable even freshmen understand how to organize their files and how to recover materials online easily. pm. Cook, D. A. Web-based learning: pros, cons and controversies. Clinical Medicine, 7 (1), 37-42. Robert W. Taylor (2002) “Pros and Cons of online learning – a faculty perspective” Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol 26 Issue 1, pp24 -37.

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