The Positive Sides Of Online Learning

Published on: 18 February 2022 Last Updated on: 21 February 2023

Since the start of the pandemic, a lot of changes have been made to the lives of people all around the world in general, but one specific change that has been made that has greatly impacted the lives of the young people in the world today is the changes made to education.

When the first wave of the pandemic hit and lockdown policies were placed on the cities of the world, schools were forced to close their doors and move to an online space. There is a lot to say about virtual learning in general, as this isn’t a new idea that was created during the pandemic, however, we will be sticking to the basic pros and cons of online learning during the pandemic mainly from the students’ perspective.

1. Safety

Safety

The main reason why schools moved online during the height of the pandemic is that COVID-19 was spreading at a dangerously rapid pace. Lockdown policies, curfews, and travel bans were all put in place for this very reason. The dangers of this coronavirus were so serious that truly, the safest place to be was locked down in your home.

Schools had to make this change to move online for the safety of the students, the teachers, and their families. The move to an online platform helped slow the spread of the virus and ultimately, while there were plenty of pitfalls and a learning curve, was the safest thing to do for the wellbeing of everyone within the education system.

2. Comfort

It is no secret that when the change was made to move online, many students were initially happy as they were able to go to school directly from their bedrooms. It is a lot easier to get to class on time when all you have to do is log in. During this time, students didn’t have to wake up hours before their first class to get ready and commute to school, they could wake up three minutes before class and log in if they wanted to.

In addition, you could go to school in your pajamas or anything really if you chose to. There was no need to spend loads of time choosing an outfit, doing your hair, putting on makeup, and so on every single morning. You could very literally roll out of bed (or stay in bed) and turn on your laptop to go to school.

Adding to the comforts of online school, you could grab a snack, drink, or go to the bathroom whenever you wanted without having to ask for your teacher’s permission. Ironically, there were a lot of freedoms that students experienced when it came to school during the lockdown.

3. Affordability

Most students probably didn’t directly experience this, however, it is important to mention as it greatly affected their parents/guardians. By staying at home, the parents no longer had to pay the transportation fees of their commuting children (whether it was gas for the car or bus passes).

In addition to the transportation fees that come along with sending your children to school, moving their education online allows parents to save on other costs such as lunch money, going out with friends after school, snacks or extra pocket money, etc. The children would just eat at home and stay at home so there wouldn’t be any outstanding expenditures necessary.

4. Open-Book Exams

Probably the biggest perk that all students can agree to when it came to online learning is the opportunity to do all of your assignments with the help of your notes and the internet. Most exams, even on a university level, were open-book during online learning as educators knew that most students would look to their notes or the internet for help.

This way, passing classes and getting good grades was a lot easier than having to memorize the materials and write them down in a classroom with a given time limit. The trouble is that now that most schools are readjusted to face-to-face learning, many students have trouble with going back to really studying the materials.

5. Creativity

One major takeaway about the lockdown experience throughout the pandemic is the creativity that came out of it. Being locked down for months at a time without being able to leave the house will get to you. Human beings are social creatures needing to connect with others.

During the first lockdown, people were forced to stay isolated for months on end and the only way we could connect was through social media. People came up with a lot of creative projects and trends to participate in as well as showing off their unique skills and talents to connect with others. This burst of creativity extended to the classroom as well.

Due to all teaching being done online, teachers needed to get creative with the materials as well as the work itself in order to keep the focus of the students. There were a lot more online projects, whether it was using tools such as YouTube and other social media platforms, or creating video projects.

These new mediums of learning aren’t normally teacher-related jobs, making most teachers go through their own learning curve in how to deal with this pandemic. In the end, students were able to interact with an entirely new style of learning rather than just reading, writing, and memorization.

6. Open Communication

The pandemic, and especially lockdown, was a very lonely time for a lot of people. There were a lot of spikes in depression rates and brought a lot of attention to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. The world of psychology changed by moving online as well and there was a lot more open conversation on mental health and the importance of peer relations.

Specifically, schools were also bringing these issues to the forefront and began a focus on self-assessment. Many schools had emails go out and seminars you could take where you could connect with those who are going through feelings of loneliness. School communities became more tight-knit as you would only interact with your class and the same teachers virtually every day, and that would be the only human interaction most people got during the lockdown.

Open communication into how people are doing, feeling, and going through was welcomed and thriving during online learning, creating a healthier environment for both students and teachers.

7. Resilience

The last thing to mention is the incredible resilience both students and teachers went through during this time. Moving the entire school system online basically overnight was not an easy thing to do and go through. A lot of people (shoutout to all seniors who graduated during lockdown) missed out on a lot of fun events that normally come with being in school (graduation, prom, sports, plays, etc.).

There was a lot of hardship; the world was taken over by a violently spreading deadly virus and our entire lives were confined to our homes. This was a moment in time that will make the history books one day and those that went through this only came out stronger on the other side of it.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Tips for Getting Research Published

There are different reasons you might want to have your research published in a scientific or medical journal, but it’s not necessarily easy. When your research is published, you’re framing yourself as a highly credible, authoritative source. You’re also putting yourself directly in front of your desired audience, and positioning yourself as a thought leader. As a researcher, you want to convey the idea that you are contributing to the knowledge base within your industry or niche. So how can you get your research published, and what should you know? Tips for Getting Research Published: When You’re Writing When you’re writing for publication of research, you want to present everything in a logical progression. You want your writing to move through a story, as you present the facts. You should try to avoid writing and editing your research at the same time, and make your argument very apparent. Don’t make readers dig for it. You also want to be able to make sure that you could quickly sum up your paper in an easy-to-understand way, and that’s conveyed in the writing itself. Your argument should more than likely be presented in the first line of your paper and you're abstract. You want to make sure that you’re not trying to fit too many ideas or concepts into one paper either. You want to be pretty specific with what your hook or main idea is. Have a Colleague Go Over Your Work If you’re writing a research paper, it can be a good idea to have someone who is in your industry and who understands it goes over it. Then, you might also want to have someone who isn’t in your line of work go over it so that you can get that outside perspective, and once you do those things, you can start thinking about professional editing services. Submitting Your Work When you’re looking for journals where you can submit your work, you want to make sure your work is a good fit for the journal you submit to. If you submit to a journal that’s not a good fit for your research, you’re just wasting your time. You also need to pay attention to all the guidelines for submissions because, again, you’re wasting your time if you don’t. When you’re writing a cover letter to go with your submission, don’t repeat the abstract. The cover letter is a chance for you to draw the reader in, rather than sending something repetitive of what else you’ve written. In your cover letter, you want to include an outline of the bigger picture of what you want to convey. What many people don’t realize is that one of the main reasons people get rejected when they submit to a journal is that they don’t follow the journal’s guidelines. Pretty much every journal is going to have its own set of guidelines for submission. These guidelines can dictate quite a bit of the detail as far as even your content—for example, there are the varying minimum and maximum article lengths you have to think about and formatting is a big issue too. If you spend too much time submitting to too many journals, you either don’t meet these standards, or you’re caught up in trying to tailor your paper for each one. Feedback When you submit a paper, you’ll be provided with feedback and revision requests, if you’re accepted. Once you resubmit, you’ll want to provide a document about the changes you’ve made and how you’ve incorporated them into your manuscript. Before you respond to any feedback, make sure you give yourself time to look at it objectively and thoughtfully. Choose a Great Editor The idea of working with a professional editor was briefly touched on above, but it’s an important concept. You want to find an editor who understands not just things like grammar and language, but also research papers in particular. They can help make sure that the entire focus of your paper is your research rather than potential errors. An editor can look at clarity, which is critical with technical writing, as well as your word choice and organization. They can also look at style guide consistency based on the requirements of the journal you’re submitting to. Submitting research can be intimidating but also important for your business and your career. Don’t rush into haphazardly but instead be strategic in your submissions, as much as you are with the research itself. Read Also: Dos and Don’ts After a Car Crash 5 Basic Tips How to Write a Really Good Guest Post

Topic 3 – Transform your Career with Online Certification Courses

You can never breeze through an IT career, believing you know everything! Your degrees did teach you something. Your work experience has educated you too. Nonetheless, you must continue to garner meaningful information all the time. Note that technology is advancing at a rapid rate. Therefore, your technical and professional skills need regular updating too. Towards this end, apply for relevant certification courses online. Yes, you have to pay for them, but they are well worth your time, money, and effort. After all, you are heading towards a lucrative career! Six Sigma Green Belt Have you been working full-time over the last 3-4 years? If so, you may apply for this certification. If you possess an analytical and logical mindset, it is a bonus. There must be a passion for persevering. Leadership qualities are a plus point too. How will you benefit by completing this course? As a leader, you have a team under you. You tutor them in becoming great team players. With the conglomeration of individual skills, you can manage projects beautifully as the quality of every business process improves. After all, you know how to define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. These qualities come under one umbrella – DMAIC. Earn this credential, and you never have to look back! CSM The acronym expands as Certified Scrum Management. The certification is highly popular across the globe. Do go for it if you belong to a scrum team. You could be the owner of a product or various products. You may be working as a developer. You could be a Scrum Master. Alternatively, you could be managing a scrum team all by yourself. In case your team is moving into this particular arena, and every member has to train. This certification can offer a lucrative career to someone desiring to pursue a career in scrum management. After you apply for the course, the institution requests you to participate in a two-day training program. It is akin to a workshop. Later on, you have to sit for an exam. If you get through the small number of questions successfully, you acquire your certification. Any organization welcomes you. There you are a manager who manages the typical project! You bring the team together. Your vigilance ensures that no external or internal distractions interfere with your team’s performance. PMP You need to be a Project Management Professional if you are in charge of diverse projects. Complete this certification and see what happens! The amount of recognition and respect that comes your way can astound you! After all, you can manage yourself, your team, and the concerned project wonderfully well! Now, you cannot just walk into a certification course without fulfilling specific criteria. For instance, you do not have a degree related to the IT field. You must display around 7,500 hours of work experience. This experience must relate to project management alone if you do have the requisite degree, around 4,500 hours of work experience to do. Then again, you must have 35 hours of project management training under your belt. Once you get through the course successfully, you must sit for an exam that lasts four hours. If you pass the exam, you will receive your certification. However, you have to renew it every three years. The renewal process demands that to display 60 professional development units or PDUs. You have three years before each renewal. As a PMP, you help your organization to achieve its goals faster. Your team completes projects in alignment with set deadlines. You are also able to adhere to an affordable budget. All sectors of industry are open to you. You can opt for any geographical location you want too. CISSP Are you keen to demonstrate your skills in maintaining cybersecurity? If yes, go in for Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification. However, you have to demonstrate a working experience of five years first. Additionally, you must be in a full-time job. Your experience must relate to the requisite field only. Do not curse these restrictions! Remember that you must be kind enough to beat hackers, fraudsters at their games! Correct, you must study hard, for the final examination is not easy to pass. However, if you obtain the certificate, you have to seek another job again! You can use the organizational resources at your disposal to create a secure security system. You know how to bring different tools to play at the right times. To sum up, the establishment can trust you to keep every bit of data safe and secure. CISSP certification requires renewal every three years. Towards this end, you must earn 120 Continuing Professional Education credits before that. CEH This means that you are a Certified Ethical Hacker. Unlike criminal hackers, you gain legal permission to intrude into private spaces. You have trained and written exam to acquire this permission. Therefore, nobody can object! You are a boon to any organization. Novel viruses, spyware, ransomware, and malware are unwelcome visitors. Technological advancements cannot seem to handle them. Therefore, the management has to put up with them until someone like you comes along to remove them! Do ensure that you remain on your toes all the time. This is possible if you keep updating your knowledge, experience, and expertise regularly. Those mentioned above are just a few examples of certification courses. There are several others, which come in equally handy. For instance, you may opt to become an Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect – Associate. You develop familiarity with the architecture of large-scale distributed systems. Similarly, you may decide to become an Amazon Web Services Certified Developer – Associate. Other certifications include CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), CGEIT (Certified in the Governance of Enterprise Information Technology). Do not be confused. Assess your area of interest and choose wisely. Read Also: Online Schools The Only Source For Personalized Education 7 Reasons Why Online Education Is Very Popular The Many Benefits Of Online Education

COVID-19 And Education Transformation

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic required big changes to the way we live our lives. From going to work to send our children to school, our daily lives changed overnight. One of the biggest changes was the disruption of the typical learning experience for children around the world. Instead of attending on-site classes every day, billions of students found themselves instead amid a rapidly changing online learning environment. And while this has been a process with its ups and downs, the impact of this period of transition and change on the future of learning is poised to be a positive one overall. What do you think about online learning? This blog will look at the ways in which responding to the pandemic has improved the e-learning experience and changed the way we think about education. Why Did The Pandemic Change Education? Much attention has been paid to the way that COVID-19 affected the business landscape, with record numbers of employees working from home all around the world. The impact the pandemic has had upon the field of education has been a bit less discussed by many, but the long-term effects are even more pronounced. The beginning of 2020 heralded the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for much of the world. This is perhaps especially true in the western world, with many people experiencing a seemingly sudden shift in their daily lives. It was no longer safe to meet in person, for example, and appropriate safety measures were still uncertain in the early days of the world event. This led to partial or full lockdowns around the world, with people no longer able to attend school in person. Instead, the focus shifted to online education. Online learning was not a new concept prior to the pandemic, but it was not a daily part of most people’s lives. That changed quickly, with children and adults alike relying on technology to keep them connected and maintain their coursework. And, because online learning was still a relatively underutilized tool in the pre-pandemic world, the shift from in-person to online instruction was jarring for many. Today, years after the start of the pandemic, education both online and in-person has settled into a type of ‘new normal’. Let’s look at some of the ways in which this new reality is different from before. Access To Education Online learning is both a boon and a challenge for access to education. On one hand, the rise of technology-based learning makes it easier than ever to find the right class for almost any topic under the sun. More specifically, it is now easier than ever to find classes that fit in with your schedule. Do you prefer to study at night? There is likely a class for you. Perhaps early morning courses better fit with your busy workload? That is probably an option too. Technology-based learning makes it easy to learn on the go as long as you have access to a compatible device. The caveat, of course, is that you must have access to a compatible device to participate in online learning. And while many people have something that will work, be it a smartphone, an old tablet, or a computer, not everyone does. This has led to the way we view education shifting in an unexpected way. Instead of looking at notebooks and pens as back-to-school essentials, many schools are instead looking at ways to make online Versatile Learning Experiences There is no ‘one size fits all’ teaching style that works for everyone. Some people do better with visual learning methods, for example, while others prefer to read from a book and take plenty of notes to study outside of class. Just as with access to education, internet learning can be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to personalized learning, however, it can be more productive when technology is wielded smartly. Instead of sticking to one type of multimedia when conducting an online learning-based lesson, instructors who make it a point to include different types of engagement opportunities in their classes create diverse learning opportunities for their students. Short lectures paired with group discussions, videos, and pop-up quizzes, for example, can appeal to a variety of learners without overwhelming any of them. Online learning can make this kind of blend easier than ever, allowing teachers to really reach students of different learning levels. Enhanced Remote Learning The rise of internet-based learning during the height of the pandemic has also made it easier to create ‘enhancements’ to more traditional in-person learning. Instead of requiring students to take handwritten notes or do their own outside research if they want more information about the topic in question, the increased use of online learning makes it easier to share a wealth of resources with students. From additional text to videos and other media files, students can now easily access more factually accurate resources than ever before with the click of a button. Teachers can use this connectivity to curate a collection of assets designed to reinforce in-person lessons. In fact, online learning can truly revolutionize education for good. Technology can support classroom learning even outside of the classroom, be it digital or physical. As online learning became the norm in 2020, students and teachers alike were forced to redefine what ‘engagement’ means in the pandemic era. This resulted in an explosion of creativity, with students not only finding new ways to express themselves but also excelling at creative exam structures. Technology serves not solely to disrupt ‘normal’ education, in other words, but rather as an addition to a modern learning experience that places more emphasis on students rather than teachers. The Rise Of Hybrid Education As the pandemic raged across the globe, in-person interaction of any kind became hotly debated. This led to the all-online learning approach. There was no choice but to interact solely digitally for many people, in other words, which did not afford students and teachers much flexibility to craft classrooms that work for everyone – both the in-person learners and those who appreciate online options. Today, as the pandemic slowly grows more manageable and vaccines are available which makes in-person interaction safer, the same urgency is not present. Teachers are more able to experiment with their online and in-person classes to create a hybrid approach that combines the benefits of technology-enhanced education with the advantages of fostering direct communication and collaboration among students both online and off. The future is bound to strike a balance between online learning and traditional classroom structure which makes it easy to utilize the internet and technology’s potential without forcing everyone to take part in virtual-only lessons, which are less-than-ideal for many people. Perhaps more interestingly, however, is that hybrid education which features AI and data technology presents the opportunity to monitor students' learning trends and outcomes in real-time, making it easier to identify potential problem areas along with learning strengths and weaknesses. This information can then be used, sometimes to create tailored learning experiences, sometimes autonomously using software, so that students have the best chance possible to thrive. While not all the above has been fully realized and implemented, the COVID-19 pandemic took education to a place where online learning and the benefits it presents can be included in an everyday learning environment. This change is a permanent one, and although the extent to which it alters student life moving forward will be determined by individual school systems, education is poised to benefit greatly from the shift to technology-enhanced learning. Tips To Get The Most Out Of Online Learning Online learning is here to stay, but that does not mean that it is an easy process for everyone. In fact, even students who otherwise enjoy learning can find it difficult to focus in online classes. Without effective engagement strategies to maintain interest, it is easy to fall behind. Let’s look at some tips to make online classes a successful experience! 1. Recognize your online course as a ‘real’ class Some students view online learning as a break from ‘real’ learning – their in-person work. This is a mistake, however, as taking such a dim view of the class in question can result in students who are focused more on getting through an inconvenient appointment than sitting down and learning from their instructor. Online classes require having enough self-discipline to schedule time out of every day to sit down and pay attention to the class. Whether the course is focused on real-time learning or features recorded lessons students can work through on their own time, it is critical to view online learning as having the same importance as more traditional classes. One way to take online courses more seriously is to treat the class just like you would an in-person course. Create a schedule for yourself, get up on time, get dressed, and make a big deal out of settling down in front of your computer. When you are dressed for success and create the mental expectation of something out of the ordinary happening (rather than just lounging on your bed, listening to the lesson while flipping through Facebook), you are setting yourself up for success. 2. Create a study space This goes hand-in-hand with the point above. In addition to setting a specific time each day to sit down for your course, create a study space to utilize. This should be an area separate from your bed or couch which you set up as you would a classroom. Collect your school supplies, stock the space with healthy snacks, and consider taking your backpack with you when you head to the space to get started. Whether this is a place on the floor of your living room or a private home office room, create a study space that is consistent. While you can change venues if you find one area too distracting, of course, part of the effectiveness of this tip is the structure it provides. While it might be tempting to wake up late and haphazardly roll over and start your course while still in bed, doing this is setting yourself up to fail. 3. Be active Whether your class has real-time discussions or instead features community forums where you interact with your fellow students, take an active part in the conversation! Interact with other students as well as your instructor, as needed and possible, to associate the class with people rather than a computer screen. This makes it easier for some students to focus during the class itself. What The Pandemic Did Not Change The role of teachers in education is more important than ever. This might seem somewhat counterintuitive – after all, if technology is doing the ‘heavy lifting, are teachers truly that critical to the process? The answer, of course, is a resounding yes. As technology plays an increased role in online learning, instructors who understand not only their area of expertise but also the technology in question are vital to an experience conducive to learning. With that in mind, choosing quality institutions with instructors well-versed with e-learning is critical to success. This is true not only for students in grade school but also for those who are looking into higher education. It is perhaps especially important with higher education, in fact, as the courses can be quite detailed and complex as you progress towards your degree. Note that even courses that have traditionally required primarily in-person education can be accessed online through accredited universities. Picking an online nursing program, for example, is an increasingly easy decision to make. Elmhurst University is a trusted leader in the industry with all the resources necessary to craft a truly incredible online learning experience, especially for those seeking a brand new challenge as their aforementioned nursing course is tailor-made for those yet to study it before. What do you think about online learning? COVID-19 has made the process more common than ever before, and while there are still challenges to work through, the impact this will have on education in the future could prove to be incredibly beneficial. Additionals: How to Get Great Masks during COVID-19Part-Time Job To Consider In Singapore During Covid-195 Ways Marketing Strategies Will Change Post COVID-19Commercial Construction After COVID-19: How Developers Can Adapt

The Positive Sides Of Online Learning

1. Safety

2. Comfort

3. Affordability

4. Open-Book Exams

5. Creativity

6. Open Communication

7. Resilience

If You Are Interested in Studying Histology This Article is for You

15 Historical HBCU Facts You Didn’t Know

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

Follow Us

Recent

Cybersecurity Threats In Asset Tracking And Strategies To Mitigate

How To Invest In Yourself For A Stress-Free Daily Life

How Many Jobs Are Available in Consumer Services in 2024?

Top 9 Signs You Will Get The Job After Interview

Related

Tips for Getting Research Published

Topic 3 – Transform your Career with Online Certification Courses

COVID-19 And Education Transformation

The Positive Sides Of Online Learning

1. Safety

2. Comfort

3. Affordability

4. Open-Book Exams

5. Creativity

6. Open Communication

7. Resilience

Share this Article

If You Are Interested in Studying Histology This Article is for You

15 Historical HBCU Facts You Didn’t Know

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related