E-learning is an interesting and natural development of learning and teaching. Through the variety of options available, from traditional lecturing and assignments over the Internet to online courses with automated, instantaneous homework checks, the use of technology creates more opportunities and approaches to learning. Thus, a student can find a method that suits his or her learning style more easily. By the same token, for educators, this allows them to adapt their lessons and material to the needs and preferences of their students. They can do this for some students without interfering with the process for the others. E-learning can also ignore geography, allowing students across the globe to access the same materials, removing barriers to learning. These availability and flexibility are two of the main advantages of e-learning.
The drawbacks of e-learning stem from the same qualities as its benefits. Although courses and platforms are varied, they can be challenging to standardize; their material’s compliance with national and international standards may be limited. There is also a potential issue with engagement and motivation. As most e-learning opportunities are less direct and personal than traditional learning, students may have difficulty engaging with the material and staying motivated. Furthermore, e-learning relies on students’ access to technology and digital literacy to use it (Rodrigues et al., 2019). Because of this, its availability can suffer due to regional communications issues.
Personally, the ability to receive immediate feedback in assignments is an important factor of e-learning for me. Having more control over the pace of instruction, such as the ability to choose when to listen to a recorded lecture, as well as pause and rewind it as necessary, is another key benefit. Thus, my preferred e-learning method would involve pre-recorded lectures, automated checking for assignments where possible, and a flexible schedule.
References
Rodrigues, H., Almeida, F., Figueiredo, V., & Lopes, S. L. (2019). Tracking e-learning through published papers: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 136, 87-98. Web.