The Advantages Of E-Learning: The Benefits Of Online Learning

Online Learning Technological development has brought more opportunities in education, in particular through online. Online learning (e-Learning) can be defined as “learning utilizing electronic technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a traditional classroom” (“What Is ELearning?”). Jeff Seaman, the Co-Director of the Babson Survey Research Group, said, “The rate of growth in online enrollments remains extremely robust, even as overall higher education enrollments have shown a decline” (“Babson Research Study”); this reveals that there are more people choosing online learning. Online learning has more benefits than its drawbacks because it has low cost, enables students to become global citizens, help develop initiative and …show more content…
Additionally, most colleges and universities have started to accept credits from free massive open online courses (MOOCs), which help students to satisfy their general education requirements at extremely low cost (“10 Advantages”). By using the Return on Investment (ROI) calculator, it shows that online learning is much more cost-saving than our current methods of education (“Calculating ROI”). Secondly, online learning allows more interaction and increases participation. Online learning is constantly reaching out globally; thus, students all over the world can take part in discussion of these courses. Moreover, it is a great opportunity for people in developing countries to participate. Shy students can engage in discussions or chats more easily than face-to-face class sessions. Some students commented that online courses are easier to concentrate because they are not distracted by other students or other activities in class (Serlin 8-9). Thirdly, students can develop initiative and technical skills through internet courses. For most internet …show more content…
Firstly, academic dishonesty can be an issue in online courses. Typical internet courses do not have proctored exams; thus, there might be students who may cheat on these exams. Procrastination is another concern. Computer problems or slow and unreliable internet connection can cause students to miss assignment deadline (Serlin 8-9). Secondly, online courses lack face-to-face interaction. When someone is teaching, they may use hand gestures and facial expressions that are occasionally important; however, because there are no face-to-face meetings, it might be difficult for people to understand. Also, there are students who underestimate the impact of never meeting a teacher and other classmates. “The Trouble with Online Education”, a New York Times article, written by Mark Edmundson, an English professor at the University of Virginia, states:
Online education is a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It tends to be a monologue and not a real dialogue. The Internet teacher, even one who responds to students via e-mail, can never have the immediacy of contact that the teacher on the scene can, with his sensitivity to unspoken moods and enthusiasms. This is particularly true of online courses for which the lectures are already filmed and in the can. It doesn’t matter who is sitting out there on the Internet watching;