UWTSD: Evaluating the Effects of E-Learning on Student Outcomes

This report examines the impact of e-learning on students, addressing both its positive and negative aspects. It highlights the benefits such as flexible learning hours, cost reduction, and innovative learning methods, while also acknowledging drawbacks like social isolation and potential health concerns. The report further provides recommendations for enhancing the e-learning environment to meet the increasing demands caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including scheduling lessons at convenient times, promoting technological development, and creating short, entertaining lessons. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of carefully analyzing both the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning when implementing online programs and suggests that e-learning plays a crucial role in education during pandemic times.

The effect of E-
learning on students

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Negative impacts of E-Learning on students..............................................................................3
Positive impacts of E-Learning on students ...............................................................................4
Recommendations on how E-Learning Environment can best be provided for students to meet
the increasing demand due to the current COVID-19 pandemic................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
E-learning also referred to as electronic learning or online learning is gathering of
knowledge through use of electronic devices and related technologies. Such type of learning
techniques provides with online e-learning materials and generally takes place in form of online
courses, degrees or programs. The present report is dedicated to UWTSD centre manager for
highlighting the effect of E-learning which consist of both positive and negative. Further, in the
report recommendations are drawn presenting importance of E-learning through various
platforms contrasting to current pandemic times (Keebler and Huffman, 2020).
Main Body
Negative impacts of E-Learning on students
According to Nelson Mandela, 2020, there are several negative impact which creates
loophole towards respective educational innovation. By evaluating prospective of both a teacher
and a student negative impacts of E-learning could equally be diverse. E-learning claims its
advantage for providing a self-paced learning, however this high freedom and independent
learning could lead to increase individual's comfort level and several other corns. Various
students participating in online learning platforms reported the difficulties which were created in
regards with technical issues due to lack of stable internet connection, power cuts and many
more. With exploration to this aspect which created difficulties in learning over a provided
subject matter, lack of technological development in several regions is also being blamed as an
aspect which contributes towards negative impact of E-learning. The following the key negative
impact of E-learning on various individual students (10 Biggest Disadvantages of E-Learning,
2020);
Social isolation: It is believed that E-learning or online learning have contributed to social
isolation of individual. Already individuals residing in developed regions seems to be trapped
under this technological world. Unlike tradition way of learning in which an individual gets a
good social exposure through which its personal and professional skills could get updated.
Further, an individual practising online learning undergo remoteness, contemplation and lack of
social interactions. This could limit an individual ability to perform towards a specified career
path goals and in its worst form can make an individual introvert. In addition to this, less
communication or isolation can also lead to serious mental issues such as anxiety, heightened
and building negative approach towards an individual's life. This social isolation limits the ability
of an individual and also avoids an individual to work in out of comfort aspects.

Health concerns: Another negative impact which results from E-learning is related to
health concerns of various individuals. This can be related in context when an individual learner
have to concentrate for long hours during online sessions. It impacts on weakening eye sight, as
most of them are not habitual to face the mobile or PC screen for a long hour. Another aspect
which could be related to this regards could be of distraction which is caused due to use of
social media platforms. The stated negative impact causes an individual to attend the lesson in
its best form with decent presence of mind. As experiencing health concerns which originates
from long session hours an individual student is unable to show its best presence and at its
worst also creates its impact for achieving respective career path goals (Stotz and et. al.,
2021).
The respective points states about negative impact which is caused by use of E-learning
medium. It can be said that use of E-learning in regards to innovative is undoubtedly helpful for
its operations in future times. However, in respect with current scenario the technology have not
developed through its core for adopting the greatest advantage of the approach. Therefore,
various difficulties is using E-learning techniques contributes towards various negative impact
which at its worst also impacts on mental health condition of an individual learner due to
concentrating on screen for long period of time (Kent and et. al., 2018). The negative aspect of
the given concept can't be ignored or avoided as it could lead to add up complexities and
pressure in minds of individual learner.
Positive impacts of E-Learning on students
According to Sunil Gupta, 2017, till the date E-learning is the best education innovation
of its times. An individual engaged in online learning is able to get self-paced learning and get
rid of traditional chalk-board method of group teaching. There are various benefits which is
evaluated from E-learning platforms, such benefits ranges from time saving, cost reduction,
environment friendly and many more. This innovative way of learning ha enabled respective
learner to provide flexibilities in learning process which includes flexibility regarding studying
hours as an individual can play the recorded video as per their preferred time. Following are
various positive impacts of E-learning on students (9 Benefits Of e Learning For Students,
2017);
Innovative way of learning: E-learning provides innovative way of learning which is an
inclusion of providing flexible learning hours and also promotes self-paced learnings. The
provided way of learning enables an individual students to get their best comfort zones and
seek to provided learning materials and initiate better concentration at their desired time period.
An individual student can participate in digital communication channel through which various

doubts for the given or related topics can be cleared in a group meeting. With a believe this way
of learning is treated as futuristic learning as students desiring for a particular university or
college which is far at a distance from their residence can approach desired institutions through
online medium. In contribution to positive impact created by E-learning enables individual to
perform learning activities through deciding on their preferred learning hours which increases
the flexibility in regards to effective learning over a given topic (Kwok, 2019).
Cost reduction: Another positive impact which is created through online learning is in
respect with contribution towards cost reduction techniques. This impact refers to all the
inclusions of cost which varies from travelling or comparative cost indulged in obtaining learning
materials as of traditional learning and online learning. Therefore, by saving to this cost an
individual student can invest those saved resources in several other areas of development. In
addition to this, time as a resource can also be saved by following the process of E-learning. For
the same saved time of students could be utilised over other important or productive areas of
life through which they can explore opportunities polish their respective skills and abilities for
attainment of a desired life goal (Suraci and Arnesano, 2019).
Exploring this positive aspect of E-learning with its impact on students, it can be said that
an individual learner can avail to such benefits and can make more productive choices for
shaping career path goals in right direction. Further, it can be said that an individual student can
undergo preferred learning approach which is best suited. Use of E-learning provides with
various benefits which could be seen in regards for being a student a good user of technology
which is highly demanded by corporates in current times. An individual with good skills
regarding use of technology easily gets placemen in desired organisation along with technical
knowledge in respective field of working (Mystakidis and et. al., 2018).
Recommendations on how E-Learning Environment can best be provided for students to meet
the increasing demand due to the current COVID-19 pandemic
Evaluating impact of COVID-19 in various regions in the world their influence over
respective individuals differs. This threat have affected individual's career path goals in several
ways. In context to E-learning which has contributed its best of its efficiency towards promoting
education and minimising the impact over COVID-19 in this respective educational sector. Even
before COVID-19 pandemic use of E-learning was being promoted over traditional way of
learning. Further, this was boosted through respective pandemic and promoted decent
standards of learning in which an individual can gain uninterrupted knowledge. Various
recommendations which could be drawn with respect to providing E-learning education to
students in best of its form. These are as follows;

Following proper schedule: E-learning is more likely as the traditional way of learning in
regards to its scheduling a lessons at the most preferable time. The respective technique of
learning is excellent in providing flexibility of learning as in the process an individual learner
could get access to recorded videos and play them multiple times for gaining better
understandings of the subject matter. However, it is recommended to various institutes that are
providing E-learning for scheduling meeting at convenient time zone. As in this, better relations
could be established amongst student and teachers. In addition to this, by active participation of
students in the online learning can create a better learning environment and will prove to be an
effective technique to initiate better learning over a topic provided. In context with COVID-19
pandemic, this recommendations focuses on developing an effective way of learning by picking
a suitable time of arranging the online meeting when there is no absolute disturbance at home.
Technological development: Another recommendation for the given context is based on
technological development of the region. This aspect stresses on development of technical
facilities like stable internet connection and update in technologies of a given region could
promote better standards for E-learning which is provided to an individual student. This will
enable effective learning for a student and will also counter with respective barriers to digital
technologies and ultimately prevent causing loophole in the E-learning educational system. In
relation to COVID-19 context, this recommendation not limits its approach for the countering
with changes in pandemic times but adopts futuristic approach which is highly objected towards
development of society in promoting E-learning techniques.
Short entertaining lessons: From student prospective online learning could become
complex and hard to understand and possible reasons for the cause could be due to lack of
inter-personnel relations. Therefore, it is recommended to E-learning institutes to develop short
and entertaining learnings through use of attractive display of subject matter which could be
through displaying pictures and conducting online activities. This would have its mere
contribution towards motivating students to participate in live online classes further, this
technique of learning can boost up moral of an individual student who is little introvert or of shy
nature and lack ability to speak in audience. In regard to pandemic times, this technique while
exploring to its brighter side can prove to be effective as student can explore their positive side
while being in a lock down situation.
Conclusion
From critically evaluation of above report document it can be concluded that, E-learning
have its both positive as well as negative impact on students. It can be said that both the aspect

should be deeply analysed while implementing online learning programs at various educational
institutes. Further, the presentation of recommendations in the report concludes contribution of
innovative learning i.e. E-learning plays a crucial role in respective pandemic times i.e. of
COVID-19. Such recommendations aids towards initiating better online learning experience
which enhances better quality of learning standards for the students. Overall the report
highlighted positive and negative impact of E-learning on students with provided
recommendation

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Keebler, D.W. and Huffman, J., 2020. Effective eLearning and transformative pedagogical
strategies: STEM programs. International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course
Design (IJOPCD), 10(2), pp.61-70.
Kent, M., Ellis, K. and Giles, M., 2018. Students with disabilities and eLearning in Australia:
Experiences of accessibility and disclosure at Curtin university. TechTrends, 62(6),
pp.654-663.
Kwok, V., 2019, October. Exploring Pedagogy Enhancement with eLearning for 21st Century
Language Education. In Proceedings of the 2019 11th International Conference on
Education Technology and Computers (pp. 47-51).
Mystakidis, S., Berki, E., Valtanen, J. and Amanatides, E., 2018, November. Towards a blended
strategy for quality distance education life-long learning courses: the patras model.
In ECEL 2018 17th European Conference on e-Learning (p. 408). Academic
Conferences and publishing limited.
Stotz, S., Brega, A.G., Lockhart, S., Hebert, L.E., Henderson, J.N., Roubideaux, Y. and Moore,
K., 2021. An online diabetes nutrition education programme for American Indian and
Alaska Native adults with type 2 diabetes: perspectives from key stakeholders. Public
Health Nutrition, 24(6), pp.1449-1459.
Suraci, V. and Arnesano, M., 2019, September. eLearning Course Design in Higher Education
to Maximize Students’ Performance. In Higher Education Learning Methodologies and
Technologies Online: First International Workshop, HELMeTO 2019, Novedrate, CO,
Italy, June 6-7, 2019, Revised Selected Papers (Vol. 1091, p. 139). Springer Nature.
Online
10 Biggest Disadvantages of E-Learning, 2020. [Online]. Available through: <https://e-
student.org/disadvantages-of-e-learning/>
9 Benefits Of eLearning For Students, 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://elearningindustry.com/9-benefits-of-elearning-for-students>