The digital revolution has changed the dynamics of education. Nowadays, education and learning have become highly feasible, even in far-flung areas. The introduction of distance learning, along with that of online learning, has made the education portfolio utterly different. Both of these platforms have their own pros and cons.
Both of these terms are used interchangeably. While both offer a great deal of flexibility to their learners, there are differences between the two. Both of these new modes of learning have proven helpful in tackling the prevalent problems in the education sector. In this write-up, we shall dissect both modes along with their pros and cons.
What is Distance Learning?
Distance learning or distance education is a term used to refer to courses that are studied without the need to be physically present at the school, college, or university. Distance learning degrees are available at all academic levels; undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate.
Its origins are college correspondence courses, whereby education materials were post-mailed to the student. Most of the course was learned through postal correspondence between the student and the educational institution.
All distance learning courses have an online study component, with access to online learning materials. The key difference is that they also often include face-to-face workshops, summer schools, or residential as part of the degree program. As a result, the most suitable term for these types of courses is Part-time, Blended Learning, or Flexible Learning degrees.
Why Distance Learning Is More Feasible For a Lot of Aspirants?
Now, we shall discover the hidden mystery of why distance education has been gaining ground in the recent past with exemplary results:
More Cost-Effective Than The Traditional Mode of Education
First, distance learning is considered to be more cost-effective and feasible than the traditional mode for many learners. It is a known fact that the traditional mode of education is not feasible due to its high cost and expenses.
The expenses of institutions, books and handouts, travel, and many more to come. On the other side of the picture, distance education is not about regular attendance. You may attend it one or two days a week thus saving many of your costs.
Location Is Not A Problem
Similarly, It is only the feature of distance education that it is in the hands of a student to determine the place and time of his study. The new distance education theory deals with the concept of distance. The theorists elucidated the difference by clarifying that distance learning does not entail attending educational institutions whereas in the latter it is required to attend universities or institutions regularly whether at any place.
A Way of Leaner-To-Leaner Communication
Moreover, it is a learner-to-learner communication that also anticipates two-way communication by open learning as well as correspondence study saving money and time.
More Feasible To The Downtrodden Strata of A Society
In the same way, many citizens particularly women and those in rural communities are unable to study owing to the socioeconomic problems of the region. Various countries have realized the value of distance learning and policies are continually under development for using distance education as a means of enhancing educational access.
Read More: Importance of Female Education in Pakistan
Access To The Newest Digital Research Content
Much of the same applies to this point as well. The students have the opportunity to access the newest digital research content. They have the opportunity to avail of standard books and notes in pdf which is shared with them.
Disadvantages of Distance Learning
Now, we shall look into the disadvantages and inconveniences of distance learning which may hamper its advancement in underdeveloped countries:
Creates A Sense Of Isolation
Distance education may create of sense of isolation in the minds of novice or new learners. They think that will have to learn in isolation.
Distance Education May Demand Self-Discipline
Additionally, distance learning, in the beginning, may demand a sense of self-discipline and motivation from the learners which they have to manage.
Most Of the Institutions Lack The Necessary Infrastructure
Likewise, most of the institutions do not have special programs or the required infrastructure like campus availability or teacher availability.
Technical Issues Are Highly Complex
In the same way, technical ambiguities are like a hard nut to crack in underdeveloped countries. They may not have the network infrastructure or the trained and skilled teachers.
Read More: Importance of Technical Education in Pakistan
What is Online Learning?
While decoding the term, it may be described as a form of distance learning but the term is more commonly used to refer to courses where the teachers and tutors are separate from students. It refers to instruction that is delivered electronically through various multimedia and internet platforms and applications.
It is often interchanged with terms like web-based learning, e-learning,computer-assisted instruction, and internet-based learning.
Features of Online Learning
The following paragraphs try to unearth the features that are associated with e-learning and may be unknown to many of you:
A Cost-Effective Way Of Instruction
Many aspirants may not be able to pay a high-cost fee to the institutions. As a result, they lose the chance of the availability of standard education. However, the e-learning program has resolved this issue once and for all. You may access standard coaching or recorded lectures even at very reasonable prices.
Provision Of High-Quality Material
Moreover, a lot of students belonging to the lower rungs of society get an opportunity to learn standard material and get quality education through LSM which many institutions offer.
High-Quality Student-Tutor Interactions
In the same way, students and teachers get an opportunity for high-quality face-to-face interactions and communication. This is because tutors have various teaching methods at their disposal. Most online learning courses that rely on live streaming have a cap on the number of students who can enroll ensuring that each student gets adequate attention and advice from their tutor.
Retention Rates Are Higher
According to studies, retention rates are higher in online learning. This is likely due to the decrease in stresses and pressures otherwise present in traditional schooling systems.
Loopholes in The Online Education System
Though online learning has been making strides it has a lot of problems.
Plugging Out The Loopholes In The Distance And E-Learning Platform
It is the right time to plug out the loopholes as the issues have capped the climax.
Provision Of State-Of-The-Art Facilities
First, the concerned stakeholders must provide the required and state-of-the-art infrastructure to the institutions.
Modern Training Of The Staff
Then, the qualified staff should be enabled to learn the mode of LSM. Modern training at international levels should be imparted.
Communication Gaps Need To Be Bridged
Likewise, the issue of communication gaps between the students and the teachers or peers should be rooted out through the proper engagement of all the participants and ensuring their active presence.
Technicalities Should Be Prioritized
Last but not least the technical issues which may be hard to debug or filter out should be heeded and resolved through proper cybersecurity mechanisms. A proper system is highly required in the place.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, we may deduce that distance learning and online education have totally changed the dynamics of education. The deep-rooted issues involved in the traditional system have been rooted in the introduction of these platforms. However, the output can be doubled by plugging out the prevailing loopholes.
We may hope that the time is not far when humanity will achieve the dream of 100 percent enrollment and 100 percent literacy rates through e-learning and online learning. We may hope that the fragmented part of society will be able to empower itself with these noble initiatives.