Online Education: Advantages and Disadvantages During COVID-19 Era

This report delves into the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on universities. It begins by defining online learning and outlining various methods such as asynchronous, synchronous, hybrid/blended, and competency-based ...Read More

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Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
SECTION 1: REPORT....................................................................................................................3
COVID-19 has impacted most of the universities and in result their classes are now delivered
online. With the help of some examples and reasons, discuss some advantage and
disadvantage of online learning...................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The main aim of this report is to gain information and knowledge about listening skills,
organisational skills, time management, appropriate source of literature, plagiarism and academic
integration. Study skills refers to an array of multiple skills which handle the procedure of
garbing and organizing in new information and knowledge, dealing with assessment and
retaining information (Bdair, 2021). These skills are discrete tools that can be learned in a short
period of time and can be used in most or all fields of study. It aids an individual in increasing
their competence, confidence and self-esteem. It also decreases the anxiety level of people about
deadlines and tests. Due to COVID 19, offline studies and classes have shifted online. Online
learning refers to the education which is provided to the large number of people over the internet.
With the help of online learning large number of people from all over the world can easily gain
knowledge and information about the most of the topics by using electronic device and internet.
SECTION 1: REPORT
COVID-19 has impacted most of the universities and in result their classes are now delivered
online. With the help of some examples and reasons, discuss some advantage and
disadvantage of online learning
Online learning and its methods
online learning or E-learning is related to the acquisition of information and knowledge
which with takes place with the help of electronic media and technology. It also can be described
as a learning that is provided electronically to the huge number of people worldwide (Castro and
Tumibay, 2021). This learning aids most of the students in managing their time properly and
better. It helps them in improving their skills of time management and gaining knowledge from
the coursework. The main purpose of online learning is to make an individual or student to
become more independent learners. There are some methods which are used by most of the
universities in order to provide online learning to their students which are described below:
 Asynchronous online courses: It is related to the self-paced programs which are also
time independent. It can also be described as the information and materials related to the
courses are accessed and available on the portal for 24/7 in order to give classes to the
universities students. These classes on the portal consist of pre-recorded downloaded
slide presentations and lectures along with voice over commentary so that students can

easily understand the topic. To coordinate different interconnected activities or
coordinating group projects, collaborative tool like Google Drive is used by the
universities.
 Synchronous online courses: This type of method provide portal or link to all the
students of the particular date along with time in order take the class of specific topic or
course. This type of courses takes place in real time and in many ways like live webinar,
virtual classrooms, audio/video conferencing, live webcast, instant messaging and many
more. In this type of classes, the attendance is taken in the end of the lecture so that each
and every student attend the class till the end (Kaufmann and Vallade, 2020). In
universities, teachers take lectures of different topics with the help of online platform and
students can the classes from anywhere. Along with live lecture by the professors,
learning material and post lecture notes are also provided to the students for better
learning and gaining knowledge.
 Hybrid or Blended online courses: This method or type is a combination of particular
aspects of the asynchronous and synchronous learning system. The teachers of the
universities several times schedule the lectures during the semester and along with that
also provides pre-recorded presentations or classes for additional course material. In this,
most of the students have to study online most of the topics by their own and then later
discuss them with their professors in the class in order to clear their doubts. This type of
structure helps students as well as teachers in utilizing their soft skills training. Competency Based online courses: This type of method is used by the most of the
universities in order to provide lectures, knowledge and information related to the courses
and topics. It is a personalized approach in order to learning and gaining knowledge,
where particular skills are mastered to support students specific goal (Laili and Nashir,
2021). It does not include the pre-recorded lectures and other learning materials for the
students as they make it by their own with the help of books, online classes and many
more. It aids some students who are already working in their field to attain credit for their
already existing skills or can develop quickly.
Present scenario of universities of providing online learning
Due to the COVID-19, most of the universities and colleges starts providing online
learning to their students as it changes the whole system of studying. It aids the students to take

lectures from their home or remote areas in just one access of a link. There are so many colleges
and universities which are still providing the online lectures along with pre-recorded classes,
presentations and learning materials (Maqableh and Alia, 2021). It helps large number of people
in taking knowledge and information about courses and topics which they are weak in by
studying the topics again and again with the help of recorded lectures. For example, BYJU'S is
offering free access of their portal to the most of the students of colleges as it provides online
learning. The students who live in the remote areas can also easily access to the portal in order to
take lectures and gain knowledge. There are some platforms which is provides by most of the
universities and colleges to their students which includes Skillshare, BlackbordLearn, Coursera,
LinkedIn learning and many more. There are some colleges and universities which are presently
providing online learning to the most of the people all over the world. They are providing
distance learning to the most of the people which includes the live as well as recorded lectures,
presentations and other studying materials to their students. The assignments and exams are also
conducted online so that the students who are studying from the remote areas can also easily take
lectures and gives exams.
Advantages of online learning
Online learning nowadays is very popular because of COVID-19 as social distancing is
must at that time. But online learning is spread all over the world as it provides knowledge and
information about so many courses to the most of the people all over the world (Moawad, 2020).
There are so many advantage of online learning to the students of the university which are
mentioned below:
 Added self-paced learning and flexibility: there are so many people who are working
along with studying and doing courses. It is difficult for them to do full time graduate
program, so they are pursuing their degree and course from the universities which
provides distance learning to the students. It helps them in gaining knowledge,
information about their field and course. With the help of online learning they can take
the classes and lectures from anywhere and anytime whenever they got free from their
jobs. This type of learning provides them the live lectures which is scheduled mostly on
weekends so that everyone can access it easily. It gives them flexibility to take the
lectures according to them as it also includes the recorded lectures, presentations and
other studying materials on the student portal. The assignments and exams are also

conducted online which includes the weekends dates by keeping in mind the needs and
wants of the students who are working and doing jobs.
 Better management of time: Online learning aids the students of the universities in
managing their time accordingly. In this type of learning, students are free to make their
own schedule of studying. They can make it by keeping in mind their works, jobs and
other things because online learning provides recorded lectures and presentations which
can be taken anytime (Wei and Chou, 2020). For example, the students have to submit
their assignment within some given deadline which helps them in managing their time if
they are working or doing job too along with study. The individual who are performing
multiple task will be able to manage their time accordingly which is going to help them
in their future career. Time management plays an important role in order to complete the
task or work effectively, efficiently and properly. Demonstrated self motivation: Self-motivation plays a vital role in each and every
individuals life in order to attain success in their given task and work effectively and
efficiently. With the help of earning master's degree online successfully, students can
easily manage their time as well as become self-motivated. Which plays an important
role applying for a job as fresher. By earning the online degree student hard work is
highlights as they perform the multiple task at one time, adapt to dynamic work
conditions, set priorities and many more. This skill of self-motivation is going to help
students in becoming independent which is good for their future. In the online learning
the professors expect the students to be independent so that they can complete their task
and work effectively and efficiently. The students can easily handle things in their future
if they are self-motivated.
Disadvantages of online learning
Online learning is the way which provides online education to the large number of people
from all over the world. Along with some advantages it also has some disadvantages which is
explained below:
 Online courses and learning needs more time as compared to the on-campus
lectures: The online lectures or classes consumes more time of the students as compared
to the offline or on-campus classes. The environment of the online learning is text based
which needs more time. In order to communicate with professors or instructor related to

their doubts, students have to write the message and wait for the response and answer.
Typing is considered as slower then speaking so it is time consuming and students have
to waste their time until they got the response from their faculty member. Whereas, if the
student is sitting in the classroom and taking offline lectures, then they can solve their
problems and issues regarding some topics at that time only. It is the human tendency that
they get distracted if no one is monitoring them. In online lectures, students get distracted
and do not concentrate on the classes which is going through at that time because there is
no one to look over them in online classes.
 Online learning requires self-discipline: Self-discipline plays an important role in an
individual’s life but in online classes it is not possible. Each and every student wants
proper guidance, learning and if they are not getting it then they do not have enough self-
discipline to totally pay attention in the lectures by themselves. It is difficult for them to
study and learn the topics and courses if they are not able to understand the basics of the
particular course (Wong, 2020). The online learning does not give a student a greater
sense of accountability. Students take online classes without any discipline as they know
no one is looking or monitoring them at that time. Sometimes the university students skip
the lecture by putting them on and without concentrating on their classes.
 Online lectures are prone to technical problems: The online classes refer to gaining
knowledge through internet and online platforms. Sometimes it is difficult for the
university students to take classes effectively because of the technical issues. Manu
students have to face problems during online lectures as their internet stops working, link
is not accessible at the movement and many more. They have to face problems and due to
that, they miss their live lectures and important topics for some time. There are so many
technical problems which have to be faced by the university students while taking online
lectures which includes connection, audio or video issues.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it is concluded that the online learning is related to the gaining
knowledge and information about the various courses and topics with the help of internet and
online platforms. It aids university students in many ways like added self-paced learning and
flexibility, better management of time, demonstrated self-motivation and many more. Along with
some advantages online learning also have some disadvantages. Some of the drawbacks are that

it needs more time as compared to the on-campus lectures, requires self-discipline, prone to
technical problems and many more. Most of the universities and colleges are using the online
learning in order to provide education, knowledge and learning to the large number of students
all over the world.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Bdair, I. A., 2021. Nursing students' and faculty members' perspectives about online learning
during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Teaching and Learning in
Nursing. 16(3) .pp.220-226.
Castro, M. D. B. and Tumibay, G. M., 2021. A literature review: efficacy of online learning
courses for higher education institution using meta-analysis. Education and Information
Technologies. 26(2) .pp.1367-1385.
Kaufmann, R. and Vallade, J. I., 2020. Exploring connections in the online learning
environment: student perceptions of rapport, climate, and loneliness. Interactive
Learning Environments. pp.1-15.
Laili, R. N. and Nashir, M., 2021. Higher education students’ perception on online learning
during Covid-19 pandemic. Edukatif: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan. 3(3).pp.689-697.
Maqableh, M. and Alia, M., 2021. Evaluation online learning of undergraduate students under
lockdown amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: The online learning experience and students’
satisfaction. Children and Youth Services Review. 128 .p.106160.
Moawad, R. A., 2020. Online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and academic stress in
university students. Revista Românească pentru Educaţie Multidimensională. 12(1
Sup2) .pp.100-107.
Wei, H. C. and Chou, C., 2020. Online learning performance and satisfaction: do perceptions
and readiness matter?. Distance Education. 41(1) .pp.48-69.
Wong, R., 2020. When no one can go to school: does online learning meet students’ basic
learning needs?. Interactive learning environments. pp.1-17.