In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and massive social isolation, changes have occurred in various areas of life, including education. Schoolchildren in many countries have been transferred to studying at home, and communication with classmates and teachers takes place online. Many people support such a regime, but when comparing online education with traditional one, one can highlight the main advantage of remote studying – its flexibility. As Erstad notes, due to free access to the Internet, students who study online can use a wide range of resources and adjust their learning schedule individually. However, this factor seems insignificant compared to the benefits that schooling offers.
One of the critical factors in favor of schooling is discipline. This is particularly true for younger students who, being among their peers, adapt to a learning regime and routine and adopt one another’s habits. In the absence of proper supervision, a child can rarely learn to be disciplined and responsible on one’s own, which is a disadvantage of online learning. Another benefit of schooling to take into account is motivation for students. When children observe one another’s academic success, it becomes an incentive for them to realize their potential and achieve higher educational outcomes. Finally, active social interaction is another virtue of studying at school. Despite the fact that modern online platforms and services allow video broadcasts, live communication is more valuable in terms of social adaptation and the ability to interact. Children acquire valuable skills in conflict resolution, negotiation, and other important attainments that are needed in adulthood. Therefore, the choice in favor of schooling is preferable, although online learning is more convenient from the standpoint of its flexibility.
Work Cited
Erstad, Will. “Online vs. Traditional Education: What You Need to Know.” Rasmussen College, 2017, Web.