Students at times are forced to settle for distance learning due to unavoidable circumstances that can’t allow them to physically take their lessons. For instance, their work schedule doesn’t allow them to physically attend the classes, or the classes may be offered in other states or countries they can’t afford to relocate to.
Then, what are the pros and cons of distance learning? To help you make the best decision, you need to take a look at all that you need to know as I have highlighted in this article.
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Distance Learning?
The Pros and Cons of Distance Learning
Many students of late are forced to choose distance learning since traveling has been affected immensely by the COVID-19 Virus, and colleges have also been shut down to curb the spread. Thus, what are the pros and the cons of distance learning? The following pros and cons will help you make that ultimate decision whether you should go for the same.
The Pros
After considering all aspects of most students, distance learning has to be the winner always over any issues and challenges that it may face. Therefore, some pros of distance learning include;
- Students Have A Flexible Study Schedule
As a student who chooses to go for distance learning, you have the opportunity to learn at any time of your choosing. That is, students who study remotely can set their class schedules as per their commitments. You get to decide when and at what time you should have the lessons during the semester.
You just study your schedule yourself without pressure. Also, some colleges give their students the chance to defer their studies and get back to them once they are ready without paying extra fees.
- You Study At Your Ideal Speed
Distance learning provides the golden opportunity for students to study at their own pace without having to worry that they have been left behind by their classmates. There is the freedom to go back to study the difficult parts, watch lecture videos as much as you want, and even skip what you already know.
The lecturers are also available to respond to your questions on what you find somehow hard to comprehend on your own. This helps in passing those intermediate and final exams without much struggle.
- Allows Students To Study From Any Location
You don’t have to leave your office or home to physically attend classes as distance learning provides accessibility of learning materials virtually. All you need is a computer and a stable internet connection.
It has advantages to people living with disabilities, in other states or countries, or mothers with young babies presented to them at their comfort zones. Because they can study from any place they wish.
- It Provides On-The-Job Training
This system of learning offers the opportunity to study remotely and still take several courses at the same time for the next higher education certification. Hence, it is possible to continue working without taking study leave, and you get to apply what you learn in your job.
Your firm will cut the expenses allocated for staff training or professional development courses and still the period you serve at the firm won’t be interrupted at all.
- Improves Memorization And Understanding
According to past studies by American scientists, distance learning isn’t inferior or superior to traditional physical learning. However, this mode of learning has been proved to help in memorization and understanding of materials learned by distance learning students.
Also, it has been known that the students are better placed to apply what they have learned in the class at their work and further consolidation. More importantly, the use of technology in learning facilitates better learning because the whole idea is more fun.
- Offers Flexibility
Students and the lectures have the perfect modes of communicating, that is, both online and offline. The mobility in communication offers different communication platforms such as via email that are more effective and faster compared to physical face-face that take a long to schedule.
- Access To All Literature Materials
Once you are registered as a student in a certain institution, you are bound to have access to all the learning materials at your disposal. The materials can be found on the school’s website, or they can be sent to the students via mail.
Thus, distance learning students have all the necessary literature materials they need to facilitate their studies.
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- It Isn’t Expensive
Compared to physical learning, distance learning is always the cheaper option since some expenses are cut back. For instance, the students in this mode won’t have to pay for travel, accommodation; foreign students avoid expenses on visas or foreign student’s passports.
- More Convenient For The Lecturers
Because they can handle and pay attention to more students and work from anywhere they are comfortable. And it facilitates an individual approach such as adjusting the work speed of each student and answering their questions on the spot.
An essay writing expert at CustomWritings.com, Lauren Bradshaw is famous for saying, “the beautiful thing about human beings learning is that we can do it anywhere in the world”. Hence, students don’t need to be in the classroom always to learn that they can do it via distance learning too.
The Cons
- Requires much motivation; students have to be motivated, and it takes much effort to achieve this since most of them learn the content on their own. Thus, it may need to use additional control mechanisms to ensure that each student develops: willpower, responsibility, self-control, and maintain the right pace of learning.
- Hinders the development of communication skills; among the students because it eliminates personal contact between them and their lecturers. Hence, it isn’t ideal for facilitating students’ communication skills, confidence, or teamwork skills.
- Prevents practical learning; since some specialists that need to have practical lessons can’t be taught online and simulators cannot accomplish the same.
- Hard to identify all the users; video surveillance has been left to curb exam cheating and determine whether a student has honestly passed their exams. This is not always possible, and students may need to take their exams physically at the college’s designated locations.
Thus, from the points highlighted above, it is clear that besides the pros of distance learning since its inception, the system also has its cons. The program is over-dependent on technology and needs to be made more efficient and available to all by minimizing the cons.
You can now go ahead and make that ultimate decision on whether you need to enroll in the program.
