We’ve talked about eLearning in education as the final frontier, including the larger role of mobile learning in the future of education. But, as we continue to see the rise of this trend in education, it’s vital to take the time to understand both sides of the coin.
In this article, we will take a closer look at online learning programs: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of online learning and what ryco.io is doing to mitigate some of these pitfalls.
What You Need to Know About Online Learning Programs
In a post-pandemic world, one common term that has arisen is the new normal. In terms of education, the new normal refers to the heightened application of online learning programs.
Not surprisingly, the pandemic brought with it changes across the globe. Included in these shifts were changes to how educational institutions delivered content to students. Essentially, the pandemic was the catalyst in the movement toward seeking out online learning platforms for education students.
The New Normal of Education
With online learning programs at the core of the transformation, the new normal for students has become a transformational concept blending online learning programs with education. For students and educational institutions worldwide, digital learning has become necessary today.
In addition to academia, online learning programs can also apply to extracurricular activities for students, expanding the reach of educational institutions globally. As you can imagine, this has come with a learning curve as many institutions were entirely new to this form of education they were forced to adopt. But, the demand for online learning is rising significantly and is anticipated to continue doing so into the future.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
All things in life come with their own positives and negatives, and teaching methods, specifically online learning, are no different. While it might seem counterintuitive to address both sides of the topic, it’s crucial in helping to develop more effective online learning programs.
Through the decoding and understanding of both the pros and cons of online learning, educational institutions can be empowered in providing students with an uninterrupted learning journey overall.
The Advantages of Online Learning Programs
1. Adaptable to Various Learning Styles
Personalized learning and gamification are primary advantages of online learning because each student has a unique learning style and journey. While educators do their best in a classroom setting, often, it can be challenging to adapt and personalize education with a larger group.
2. Increases Attendance
Because of the convenience of accessing online learning programs from computers and even mobile devices, students are more likely to attend classes regularly.
3. Reduces Financial Burden
Physical learning is costly, including real estate, student meals, and transportation. Online learning programs help reduce some of the financial burdens of education, providing a peerless learning environment.
4. Maximizes Accessibility
Accessibility in eLearning is another significant advantage because it allows students the freedom to attend classes from wherever they choose and, in some instances, at a time best suited for their natural schedules.
5. Optimizes Efficiency
Educators can optimize efficiency by providing materials beyond the traditional textbook of an in-person classroom. Other resources may include podcasts, PDFs, and video tools that can all be made readily available to students in online learning programs.
The Disadvantages of Online Learning Programs
1. Increases Screen Time
Some parents are worried about what the increased screen time will do to their children, especially at young and developing ages. To help mitigate some of these concerns, you can set up your online learning program to have frequent breaks.
2. Requires Training of Educators
In addition to a learning curve for students, there is also a learning curve present in the educators. The best option is to look into the latest technologies offered for online learning programs, which often come with extensive training for educators.
3. Heightened Feelings of Isolation
Online learning programs can often increase feelings of isolation in students who lack peer-to-peer interactions. To combat this, programs can include options such as video conferencing, chat rooms, and online messaging to help provide more face-to-face interactions.
4. Technological Burdens
The reliance on internet connectivity is yet another disadvantage of online learning programs. While the internet has gotten significantly better over the last few years, remember that this can pose a challenge to rural areas worldwide.
5. More Distractions
Lastly, having more distractions, including the ability to hop onto social media, is another disadvantage of online learning. For course creators, it’s imperative to create genuinely engaging content to prevent students from straying away during learning times.
How ryco.io Mitigates the Disadvantages of Online Learning Programs
At ryco.io, we are an online learning industry leader, focusing on our clients. Accepting and understanding the online student struggle and figuring out tips for helping online students succeed is one of the ways we mitigate the disadvantages of online learning programs.
To help drive online learners towards a more successful eLearning experience, ryco.io targets multiple efforts.
Learning Theories
For over two centuries, people have been studying behavior surrounding learning. From the transformation in the way students are learning comes the emergence of new learning theories. To develop our online course content, we stay on top of all of the latest learning theories at ryco.io.
By integrating learning theories into online learning programs, ryco.io can mitigate some disadvantages online learning presents. Some of the learning theories we utilize here at ryco.io include:
ARCS Motivational Design
Mayer’s Multimedia Principles
Instructional Design Strategies
An instructional design strategy is a high-level approach to how a particular subject will be taught. To instruct learnings, instructional design strategies encompass all of the following:
Techniques
Methods
Devices
Using proven learning design strategies, best practices, and decades of collective experience at ryco.io, we take the burden of developing learning materials off your shoulders.
Target Audience Analysis
ryco.io can examine your target audience under a microscope through target audience analysis. Utilizing Front End Analysis (FEA), ryco.io can address:
Social and economic characteristics
Cognitive characteristics
Affective characteristics
Physiological characteristics
Final Thoughts
While it’s no secret that online learning comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, it’s always important to address both when it comes to course development. Educators can combat the struggles and create even more captivating materials by managing and understanding the pitfalls of online learning programs.
Here at ryco.io, we are constantly focused on mitigating the disadvantages that come along with online learning programs to stay one step ahead of the game.
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