Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Classes: Peter, VIT

These are first-hand student accounts on how our young population is managing to keep their exam prep or college course work going from the confines of their homes. In case you want to share your lockdown study experience, write to us at publish@shiksha.com.

Advantages:

1. Timing can be flexible: Unlike school or college, the situation changes, one can decide when it is the best time to study. There is greater flexibility in when one chooses to spend studying.
2. Lower cost and convenience: Students can just stay in their shorts or pyjamas while doing their assignments and projects for the day. Studying in a familiar environment can make it easier to concentrate on and complete assignments and work. Some students find it uncomfortable studying a subject with another person or a group. so studying on their own lessens the stress and they can do better. Online courses save everyone a great amount of money because it requires fewer instructors and books.
3. Interaction: I believe e-learning can increase interaction for certain personalities. I feel online courses offer introverts the opportunity to participate in chats and various discussions more than the classroom environment. 
4. Course selection of your choice: Traditional classes sometimes involve travelling long distances to attend classes and sometimes we have to spend huge money on transportation services and or maybe move to another town but when it comes to online picking the desired course of your choice becomes easier. The faculty members of your course can also teach you and explain your doubts virtually, like a one-on-one interaction and something where students can learn at their own pace. If someone is faster than the other participants, he or she doesn't need to wait for them. On the other hand, if someone is slower, he or she can take more time!

Disadvantages:

1. Some people absolutely need a teacher or an instructor in order to learn a new subject. Having an instructor in-person to answer your questions and solve your problems is only possible in a classroom with physical presence and attention.
2. Computer Screen: Spending too much time on the screen will damage your eyes, it is something parents tell their kids all the time. It causes a lot of health issues. So it is advisable to avoid continual screen time. 
3. Some subjects which have labs etc. require hands-on experience where only if you carry out the experiment you’ll understand it completely and it cannot be taught simply by online classes or lectures.
4. Requires a lot of discipline: If a student doesn’t have self-discipline, it is very unlikely that they will be motivated to complete their courses on time. There will be no one around to tell them to sit and get started with their studies.

About the Author:

Yohannes Peter if from Rajahmundry, AP and is pursuing B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai. He is also the Campus Ambassador of his college at Shikha.