BMAF000-20 Academic Study Skills: Online Learning Advantages and Disadvantages Assignment Sample

Introdcution: Exploring Online Learning Benefits and Drawbacks in Education

Academic learning skills including the abilities, habits which can help pupils flourish in academic setting. It generally shapes on students literacy and technical subjects such as science and mathematics. This report will provide deeper insight about the benefits and drawback related to online learning with reference to the pandemic Covid-19. It also entails how online learning and classes benefitted to the students.

Main Body

The online learning has numerous of advantage and disadvantages for the students; some students consider the online learning and other gives priority to offline mode. The students can find out it effective and beneficial, it has advantages and disadvantages as well. Online leaning is about the ability to learn alone with own schedule.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Learning

Advantages:

• Efficiency: Online classes provide all teachers actual way to convey lesson to the students. The online knowledge comes with the numerous of tools such as podcasts, videos, PDFs, these tools can be used by the teachers to deliver the lessons (Sera and McPherson 2019). Through extending the lesson plans it can be work as traditional schoolbooks which involve some online resources; tutors can be more well-organized teachers. For instance, the leaning with the traditional classroom can't gain knowledge about the tools.
• Accessibility of time and place: Additional benefits of the online learning which permits students to join the courses from anywhere of their choice. It is beneficial for universities to reach out the more students with the extensive network, apart from get restricted from geographical limits. Moreover, the main point about the online classes is it can be recorded and can be saved for the upcoming reference (Sera and McPherson, 2019). This provides pupils to access the lessons at any time as their ease. Therefore, online classes are beneficial for students to get contact at any time and any place in education.
• Affordability: Learning Online can reduce the financial charges; this is far additional pocketed friendly than the physical leaning (Al et al, 2021). The online classes exclude the charge for the learner's transportation, student's meal, real state. Moreover, the all kinds of course and materials can be available online, thus developing learning which is paperless can be more affordable and beneficial for the environment. For instance, some student can't afford travelling it is beneficial for them.
• Improved student attendance: Due to the online learning students can attend the classes from their location which can improve the attendance of the student and can be fewer chances to miss the classes.
• Suits a variety of learning styles: Each learner has different leaning style and journey, some student can learn better with the use of visualising and on the other hand some prefer learning through audio. Some leaners flourish in the classroom and some can learn solo with the large group they can be distracted (Bailey and Lee 2020). With the use of online learning via the use of wide variety of resources and options the learning may be customized and modified. This is the best technique to make leaning environment with the suitable desires of the every students. For example, Students can be customising the learning according to their needs and requirement.
• More free time: Due to the schedule by the classes, students can spend time to do other things, which can save the time and students can utilise the time. Moreover, student can save money with the time without travelling to campus. Students can utilise the extra time for further learning, focus on their career and spend time with the family as well.
• Increased course variety: This is other factor why the online leaning is healthier because it can increase the variety of the options in education. The students don't have to go to the campus for particular time and days; they can have enrolment in the courses in which they are interested (Purwanto, 2020). They don't have to rearrange the schedules because in the online classes students can take the courses they want and convenient according to the time. Via online courses learners may increase the knowledge which they have to receive through degree and can grow in the professions. For instance, with online learning students can get different degrees by utilising time according to the comfort zone.
• Career advancement opportunities: As courses which are taken through the traditional classroom setting, online learning also can provide the numerous career advancement opportunities (Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education, 2023). With personalise time schedule, students can have more time to pursue other courses and can get a job as well.
• Increased collaboration: Online learners have the improved chance to cooperate with the colleagues via online group work and meetings. The main benefit of the online knowledge can be grouping tools and message boards which allow the learners to post the feedbacks about the readings and assignments. The leaners can have one on one time with the teachers with the online learning; this can be beneficial for the networking and leaning both. Students can easily share their assignments with the teachers and get the feedbacks.
• Personalise education: Some learners suffers about the focus in the class can be have benefits from the online classes. Some students can be assertive so they can have chance to be part of discussion in the online classes (Almusharraf and Khahro 2020). Students can get their own personal environment of learning can be result in the personalised learning. In the online leaning, leaners can choose time according to the choice.
• Enhanced time management skill: With the various benefits one benefit of the online learning is flexibility to complete the assignments. The online classes can teach student about managing time with the classes. With virtual learning student not only gain knowledge but also improve the time management skill.

Disadvantages

• Inability to focus on screen: One of the big challenges of online classes for many students is the problem with concentrating on the display for the long time. Due to the virtual learning students are facing visual issues. During the online learning are better chances to get unfocused by social media easily by the students. Consequently, it is vital for the tutors to remain their courses engaged, crisp and communicating for every student to stay attentive on the classes. For example, Student can't face such problems in the traditional classrooms due to the learning without screens.
• Technology issues: One of the key challenges of the online leaning is connectivity of the internet. The penetration of the internet has been grown in leaps and bounds over the time, in the small towns and cities it is not possible to have decent internet speed with the consistent connection (Mukhtar et al, 2020). Without the smooth internet connection it is impossible for teachers and students to be connected for continuous learning. This is the disadvantageous for the educational procedure.
• Sense of isolation: leaners can learn lot more with the company of their teacher. However, via online classes it mitigates the physical interaction of the teachers and students. This can be result in the isolation of the students. In this case, this can be subservient to allow for the interaction between the teachers, peers and students. It can involve the emails, online messages, conferencing via video; this online can allow the face to face interaction. For example, students have to sit on the single place to attend the classes; this can be harmful for them.
• Teacher training: The learning online necessitates educators to know about the basic knowledge of the digital procedures of leaning. However, this can't be possible always. Only few teachers can have understanding about the technology usages (Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning, 2023). In the some cases teachers don't have the access of the tools and resources to teach online.
• Manage screen time: Many parents not allowed students to use screen continuously and some are concerned about the health of the students. By increasing the screen timing can be harmful for the students; it can be develop bad posture and issues physically with the students due to the sit bent in front of the computers.
• Difficult in straying motivated: This is another drawback of the online learning which is difficult to be focused for the students (Paudel, 2021). In the online learning student has to learn independently, which can be come up more challenging to stay motivated and engaged.
• Cheating is garden to monitor: The biggest drawback is to learn online is cheating while assessment. This opportunity offers different method of cheating. Learner may have assessment in their environment via use of the devices. The teacher has access to the live cameras only, knowing about cheating is difficult. Student can have the devised involved in the cheating schemes and they also let another person take their exams.
• E- Learning can be unreachable to digitally uneducated people: In the digital era, each single person has laptop and mobile devices. Some people have the degrees in technology, so they can understand it easily (Purwanto, 2020). However, there's some people don't have the devices, and the internet. Due to the gap the learning is inaccessible to some of them. Attending online classes is not possible for each and every student it can be difficult for some of them.
• Need self-motivation and time management skills: Online classes give freedom to every student to learn on their space. It is the difficult task to be motivated all the time through online learning. In the classroom every student needs to follow the schedule and curriculum. To learn by self is challenging to manage the time with study while make sure about the deadlines. This is the biggest drawback of the E-learning which is personally can't be pass over.
• The practical component of learning suffers: The online learning is more about the theory based knowledge rather than ability of practical (Paudel, 2021). The main reason which boils down the fact about the implementation of theoretical lectures apart from the practical one. The online decrease the practical knowledge only enhances the theoretical knowledge.
• Limitation of the assured disciplines only: The each discipline can't be taught in the online classes. Online classes can be more proper for some fields which can only focused on theoretic information rather than the other field like medical science; it is more about the practical approach. It is not possible to teach each filed via e-leaning.
• Lack of development of the communication skills: Online learning is effective but lacks in some of the field. Leaners attain knowledge about the theories with their convenience; sometimes the communicating skills are ignored. This issue occurs due to the face to face conversation among the teachers and students (Mukhtar et al, 2020). Lack of development in the communication skills can lead learner to have only theoretical knowledge but without knowing about the how to communicate it. Due to the online classes the communication skills can be impacted. For example, attending regular classes' offline student can meet their friends and teachers it can be beneficial to boost communication skills.
• Prolonged screen exposure: Online learning can lead to the prolonged contact to the screen. Prolonged screen exposure is harmful for everyone it is kids or adults. This may put impact on the mental health of kids and as well as adults (Bailey and Lee, 2020). With the excessive use of the devices can lead to the migraines and eyesight weakness.
• Heath issues: By taking continuous online classes can lead to the numerous health issues. It can increase the stress; affect the eyes, back pain and some heath issues as well with the constantly sitting in front of the screen. Further, some students already have glasses, continuous screen timing can increasing power changing and eyesight weakness. Apart from the physical health issues, students may face the mental issues such as anxiety, depression etc. This happens when the learning online tend to be isolated, which increase the negative thoughts that can lead to unable to stay focused on the studies. For example, with the health issues student can have problems with the study as well.
• Limited contact to the resources: In every course it requires the practical and theoretical both learning. For example, a student is adopting the science course; it requires the practical learning besides the theoretical one (Almusharraf and Khahro, 2020). One of the biggest cons of the online leaning is lack of practical sessions about the course. Student can't experiment in the labs and with the special gear etc.
• Less cultural exposure: In the classroom students can engage with the different culture which can help in broaden the viewpoint towards the realm. Throughout the online classes the student can't gain the knowledge about the different cultures. On the contrary hand, with the traditional classrooms student can know about the various cultures and enhance the thinking.

Self- Evaluation

According to Gibbs' reflective model, I have gained vast knowledge about the online learning by analysing approximately the advantages and disadvantages of the online education. I have understood that online learning provides online platform to learn and achieve the goals by making use of unique features on the online platforms, it is about the self-directed learning. The Online learning is all about the course which can be conducted on the internet and student can learn from there. I recognize, it is generally learning management system which can offer the syllabus of course, progress in academics. Accordance to the Gibb's model, The problems I have faced about the finding research about it, Online learning have the both the sides it is difficult to find out about the differences. I have gained deeper insight into the factors about the online learning which can be advantageous for some students. During the research it was difficult to navigate about the studies and some of them are contradictory. Finding the reliable information about the topic and the accurate information is typical task for me. I enjoyed about the different kind of leaning and deeper insight into the numerous factors about the online learning by thinking in the both prospective as a leaner and teacher. The process has given me a chance to understand about the topic and needs of it. As a viewpoint of the instructor it is difficult task to handle students online since they can do anything through the classes (Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, 2023).

In context to the Gibb's model, on the other point as student, the online learning is affordable for the leaners because they can learn from their own environment. I have identified that the students can have both sides benefits and drawback, it is up to them how they utilise the online classes or make it worse. The research has enhanced my information about the online learning and deeper understanding about the numerous factors for the research. It has improved my reading critically from different opinions, understanding about the conflicting information. Throughout writing the assignment it has developed my way of thinking and my knowledge in the different sectors to identify about the key factors about the cause. The assignment educated me about the narrowing the views in the critical note. It is all about the balancing the both sides and objectives of the online learning. Online learning is beneficial to do different degrees on the same time; it can save the time of student and have the degrees as well. I have learned about the challenges about the online learning which can be faced by the tutor and students as well. By exploring about the online learning's advantages and disadvantages I have gained insight into the gap in the education which can affect the student's future. My research has provided me more different approaching about the topic. According to the model of Gibb's, Due to the problems which have occurred throughout the research can be contributed to my development. I have found out that the online learning have the flexibility, cost effectiveness, convenience, knowledge about the wide range of courses. On the other hand it is lack of one to one interaction, difficult in be motivated, limitation in access of support, technical issues.

According to Gibb's model, by exploring about the online learning I have gained knowledge to understand the topic in every aspect and the impact of it. The Online learning has differences on the bases of the choice of the student and instructor. I need to focus on the future assignments to enhance my research and analytical skills. I aim to develop my research skills in understanding about various factors about the research. Moreover, I will focus on the providing more examples of the real world which can improve my analysis skill. I have to improve the critical understanding in the both factors about the topic which can develop the depth knowledge about the topic. In future, I will read extensively about the topic and use the academic knowledge to create a good understating about the topic. I have to work on the efficiency in data to navigate the various backgrounds of the online classes. I will focus on the aligning the real data and make sure about the findings. I will boost my management skills to use some strategies to create an effective approach to improve me research skills. As accordance to Gibb's model, Moreover, I gained knowledge about the updates and development in the teaching field. The main motive is to develop the proactive approach for research, latest trends and understanding about the topic. Additionally, focus on using more real world examples to involve the materials and updates about the key points. I will aim to have a reliable data for the work to be more appropriate writing for the topic. I need to focus on the writing an appropriate assignment with the jotting down the new ideas, getting feedbacks, time management, organizing the apparent can be helpful for me to improve the writing skills.

Conclusion

By concluding the report it has delve into the numerous advantages and disadvantages of the online learning. Online learning has both sides it is beneficial for the students to have their own leaning space. Leaners can gain more knowledge in the traditional classrooms about the culture and boost the skills as well.

References

Books and Journals

• Al Rawashdeh, A.Z., Mohammed, E.Y., Al Arab, A.R., Alara, M. and Al-Rawashdeh, B., 2021. Advantages and disadvantages of using e-learning in university education: Analyzing students' perspectives. Electronic Journal of E-learning, 19(3), pp.107-117.
• Almusharraf, N. and Khahro, S., 2020. Students satisfaction with online learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 15(21), pp.246-267.
• Bailey, D.R. and Lee, A.R., 2020. Learning from experience in the midst of COVID-19: Benefits, challenges, and strategies in online teaching. Computer-Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal, 21(2), pp.178-198.
• Mukhtar, K., Javed, K., Arooj, M. and Sethi, A., 2020. Advantages, Limitations and Recommendations for online learning during COVID-19 pandemic era. Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 36(COVID19-S4), p.S27.
• Paudel, P., 2021. Online education: Benefits, challenges and strategies during and after COVID-19 in higher education. International Journal on Studies in Education (IJonSE), 3(2).
• Purwanto, A., 2020. University students online learning system during Covid-19 pandemic: Advantages, constraints and solutions. Sys Rev Pharm, 11(7), pp.570-576.
• Sera, L. and McPherson, M.L., 2019. Effect of a study skills course on student self-assessment of learning skills and strategies. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 11(7), pp.664-668.

Online

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Education,2023. Online. Available through <https://www.javatpoint.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-online-education>
• Advantages And Disadvantages Of Online Learning, 2023. Online. Available through https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-online-learning
• Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, 2023. Online. Available through <https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-reflective-cycle>