Disadvantages of English Online Learning and Solutions
Disadvantage 1: Lack of accreditation and low quality
Because there are many online courses, you should learn to choose. If you earn a degree from a school with no accreditation, you can find yourself with a worthless degree that will leave you in debt and no better prepared for the workforce.
Solutions:
Before you enroll in any online course, check that the program is accredited and verify this information with the accrediting agency.
Verifying an online program’s accreditation is a small step that can save you time, money and heartache in the long run.
Disadvantage 2: More work
Online courses typically require a greater amount of reading and assignments than traditional classes. Programs in general are improving the quality of their online courses, and this means that students will have to do more to prove that they’ve mastered the material.
Solutions:
Online learning needs a lot of organization to keep all learners up to date and working towards the right targets.
Disadvantage 3: Learners with low motivation and bad study habits can easily fall behind.
Self-disciplined students can benefit from the flexibility and convenience of online classes, but the lack of formal structure can be a pitfall for undisciplined or unmotivated students. You don't have a standard meeting time and you don't have regular, direct interaction with teachers and peers who can remind you of assignments and push you to work harder. Online students who lack self-discipline can fall behind on assignments, fail to study adequately by test deadlines and ultimately suffer because of a lack of initiative in engaging instructors via e-mail or phone.
Solutions:
Online courses usually have deadlines for assignments, tests, commenting on lectures, etc, which requires learners’ self-discipline and self-direction. It’s necessary for learners to manage time to stay on top of their work, allot an appropriate amount of time to complete each task and balance their coursework against other priorities in their life.
Disadvantage 4: Lack of skills at IT technology.
Some English teachers who are not skilled at IT technology lack special training of online education.
Solutions:
Schools should strengthen the training for English teachers to promote Internet and computer skills.
Disadvantage 5: No accessibility in some backward regions.
Slow Internet connections or older computers make accessing course difficult and even no accessibility in some backward regions.
Solutions:
- It requires balanced economic development throughout the whole country
- It requires financial support from the government
Disadvantage 6: Little or no face-to-face interaction.
Little or no face-to-face interaction which makes students feel isolated from classmates and instructors. Mark Edmundson, an English professor at the University of Virginia, arguedin a Time opinion piece, that online education creates a “monologue and not a real dialogue” in the learning environment.
A common disadvantage of online education is limited social interaction. While online students often engage peers in online discussions and interact with teachers via e-mail, this doesn't replicate the face-to-face experiences in a traditional classroom. The informal social interactions with peers before and after classes helps instill a sense of community and belonging. You also have more direct connections with teachers and can ask questions during class to expand insights on a topic. Many classes also use student work groups to develop teamwork skills.
Solutions:
Online learning should be seen as a complement and extension of classical forms of learning. Not even the best online course can fully replace the personal contact with a teacher, or the human relationships that develop in a group. So, traditional classes shouldn’t be replaced with online learning.
Conclusion:
Despite the potential pitfalls, the vast majority of people are satisfied with their online education and happy that they chose it over traditional classroom education.
Given the main advantages of ease and cost, e-learning is now changing the way training and knowledge are being disseminated globally. Hallowed universities and professional institutes are now turning to the new technology to augment or up-date existing courses and training delivery. There are even some teaching aides the new technology can deliver which were not formerly available. One thing is certain the Internet has changed the way modern teaching and training can be delivered. The next question is which students and employers will take advantage of the new opportunities it offers?