Online Classes Advantages and Disadvantages

Introduction

For the past century Covid-19 has been a big disaster globally.  After a long time Global economies are falling down.  Lifestyle of the citizens completely changed.  Industries, Multinational Companies, IT companies and other sectors kept under lockdown.  All the services started working from home.  Educational institutions and Schools are not exempted from this pandemic.  Many counties closed all the educational institutes for the past two years, and some countries closed partially.  Now all the intellectuals are thinking of alternatives for classroom studies. 

Alternatives for the Classroom

Education plays a key role in the development of a country, and literacy is directly proportional to the development of a country.  But due to Covid-19 the global educational system was severely damaged.  Initially most of the Governments across the world decided to close institutions partially, but due to fast spread of the coronavirus the Governments had to close the educational institutes completely.  Though the schools remain closed students are attending to their classes in various initiatives.  Educational institutions mainly adapted information and technology to fulfil the classroom activities of the students without attending the schools and institutions. Online Classes, Radio programmes, Satellite Classes through DTH and Cables in Televisions.  Many of the skilled teachers present their lectures through Youtube.  For this students need Smartphones, Television at home with DTH or other transmission connection and Laptops or Computers with internet connections etc.  with these minimal requirements a student can get quality of education without attending to the physical presence at the classroom.  So we can say Digital classes are really useful in this pandemic situation. 

      Teachers are new to this digital teaching, and the institutions are arranging all necessary requirements for the digital classes.  Many of the educational institutes are getting ready their own Softwares and Android Applications for the effective digital classes.  Some institutions are using other popular platforms like Zoom meetings and others.  Teachers are trained to enhance their skills to make effective digital classes.  Institutions make use of Social media like Whatsapp, Instagram and other platforms to communicate with students, to share worksheets, to conduct examinations and to share home work done by the students.  Students and Parents are slowly adopting the changes in the educational system.

Advantages of Digital Classes 

Online classes are really advantageous in this pandemic situation. 

• Students can get education without attending the classroom. 
• It is possible to provide recorded classroom lectures online.
• 24 hours availability of resources for the students. 
• Students can access learning material at any time.  
• Skilled teachers will be available for the students.
• Self learning skills will develop in the students.
• Students can get clarified their doubts by raising questions during class, along with this vast information is available online for the clarification of doubts.
• A student can elaborate his knowledge.
• Students will get connected with technology which leads to improved curiosity in Science and Technology.
• Students and Parents can track the progress.
• Students can connect with the global famous institutions online.

In this way as we discuss, many more advantages will be there in digital learning. 

Disadvantages of Digital Classes

Though online classes have many advantages, there are few disadvantages we can find in this system.

• Students have to focus for a long time on the screens of Smartphones and Computers, which leads to damage to the sight of the children.
• It is very hard to get smartphones and computers with the internet for the poor students.  Especially in a country like India, many of the people do not yet have a Smartphone.  
• The teaching learning method becomes mechanical.  There will not be minimal interaction between Teacher and Student.
• Students do not get quick solutions for their doubts.  
• Power cuts and Network issues may be the major problem for the online classes.
• Students and Parents from rural areas are not aware of digital classes.
• Few teachers only get the opportunity to teach online, it is not possible to teach with all skilled teachers through online as regular classes.  Many teachers may turn to other fields from education, which impacts the quality of education in future.
• Sometimes unnecessary disturbance may be created due to communication problems.
• Students may turn their mind to gaming and others during online classes, if there is no proper observation of the parents. 
• Examinations and evaluation will not be effective online.
• No proper observation on the students by the teacher.
• Students won't get proper guidance by the teachers. 

Many other disadvantages will be there in digital classes.

Conclusion

In the 21st century education has taken a new turn with science and technology. In this pandemic situation, to continue the teaching learning process, online classes are the only way.  Today there are multiple platforms to ensure the education system through online.  The concept of the traditional education system has been changing for the past couple of years.  Starting it is only dependent on the classroom, eventually elaborating into more platforms. Digital classes is the one platform which is really very useful to the students in this Covid-19 pandemic time.  Governments should concentrate on rural areas along with urbans, and should take necessary actions to provide minimum requirements for the online classes for rural students.

Online classes have both advantages and disadvantages, but in this Pandemic situation online classes only safe for the students-tweet this