paper three

 Keaton Bowens 

Professor Bleyle 

English 1101

01 May 2023 

Remote learning

Remote learning isn't a new concept it has been around for years. Within the last few years, it has become more prevalent than ever. Why is this? The simple answer is covid-19. This virus pretty much stopped the world in its tracks. It closed schools of all kinds. Businesses were closed and some were even forced to shut down for good. Many lost their jobs and all other sources of income, myself included. Most Americans were banished to their homes and could only leave for the necessities such as food. Families were not united for years on end, due to the fear of infecting those who were more susceptible. It is still infecting people today, but most feel it is more important to live their lives rather than cower in fear. 

Some of the most popular forms of remote learning include Zoom, google meets, Microsoft Teams, and google classroom. These are apps/ websites designed to connect students to their instructors. Some prefer this method of teaching because it can provide more comfort to those who can't focus when others are in the room, those who are bullied at school, and those who need more personalized one-on-one time with their mentor. Others prefer to attend school in person. They feel that meeting with their instructor in person feels more genuine and prevents them from having distractions at home such as family members making noise, pets, and the desire to just leave the computer and do something else. Both opinions present valid points and express the desire to learn in the best environment. 

Image from google

While learning virtually is an excellent experience for some, it is not for all. When covid became a prominent aspect of the average person's day it did not come gradually. Within a couple of weeks of hearing about covid schools and businesses were completely shut down. Many schools did not have time to gather resources for their students. These resources include but are not limited to computers and wifi for the students to work from home, but also just the basic learning necessities such as books, pencils, paper, and other things of that nature. Some schools were never able to gather these resources and distribute them due to a lack of funding. Aside from the learning aspect of covid people were trapped in their homes and for some that made life even worse. Some students only received meals from their school and without attending in person they were not provided food and went hungry for days on end. Mentally this was a trying time for many, they were left with nothing to do but sit and think which isn't healthy for anyone long term. 

For the schools who were able to distribute the materials needed to continue with the curriculum, there was somewhat of a learning curve, but once most of the issues were ironed out they were able to have a relatively pleasant time using the apps. Some preferred learning virtually because it allowed them to get adequate sleep and in return helped them focus more during class. It also wasted less time on things like travel, which made more time for them to study and in return get better grades. For those who woke up every day dreading the thought of going to school, this was a quick fix. During this time there was somewhat of a drought in bullying irl, but that doesn't mean that cyberbullying lessened in any way. 

There are many advantages to learning remotely, some of which include more flexible schedules, constant access to materials, more diversity in lessons, and personalized lessons. Learning remotely provides students with more time which, as stated above, allows people to have less time commuting and allows them to work more at their own pace. Giving students access to materials without a time limit allows students to better understand the material and take their time digesting it “In today’s digital world, students have access to a plethora of digital learning solutions available 24/7. This allows students to study when they choose to, as well as access to a global learning community with the potential to share knowledge with people from different countries and cultures.”(India) When utilizing remote learning teachers are given the opportunity to diversify their lessons. This means that they can assign projects utilizing common house items. They are also presented with the opportunity to incorporate web games and other things of that nature more often. The most beneficial attribute of remote learning is giving the teacher the ability to offer more personalized lessons. “The use of digital learning solutions can help teachers to personalize lessons and tailor them to the needs of students. The freedom of online learning tools to allow students to work at their own pace and on their schedule helps them to gain a better understanding of the most effective teaching methods for them, resulting in more effective learning.”(India)

image from google

While there are a plethora of advantages to virtual learning there are also many disadvantages to learning remotely. Some disadvantages to learning remotely include students being isolated for long periods, any technological issues, a drastic increase in screen usage, and students having self-discipline. Many people don't enjoy large gatherings of people, however, studies have shown that being isolated for extended periods is not healthy for anyone mentally or physically. Connectivity issues real or fake are a huge issue when learning remotely “The classic disadvantages of online learning center around technical problems. Nothing disrupts an online lesson more than audio, video, or connection issues. Many times in the past, students were required to download and/or install cumbersome apps or technology that would deliver inconsistent performances.”(Thompson) Self-discipline is one of the hardest things to accomplish in the world, especially for children who want to do anything other than sit around their house and log in to school. Children have many desires, some want to go play outside, others want to go play video games, and some only yearn for more sleep. Some people during the height of covid would log in to their class and pretend the camera was broken just to go back to sleep without being absent. The biggest form of self-discipline is to stay focused while doing assignments, especially considering most have all of the world's knowledge at their fingertips. “It’s pretty much inevitable in 2022, but darn do we spend a frightening amount of time in front of screens. Online learning sadly contributes to this problem. Excessive screen time can lead to all sorts of physical ailments like poor posture or headaches. But it can also be a personal issue for students who struggle with learning from or focusing on screens. Especially since the internet is geared to distract students with social media and entertainment just a click away from the learning material.”(Thompson) 

Remote learning is sometimes necessary, even though it is not always beneficial in comparison to face-to-face education. It truly depends on how an individual learns best, and what type of self-control one has. It can aid in providing more sleep, but it can also prevent some from eating for days. Remote learning is based completely on opinion and situation.

Work Cited

India, Author: Schoolnet, et al. “The Top 10 Benefits of Digital Learning.” Schoolnet, 16 Aug. 2022, https://www.schoolnetindia.com/blog/the-top-10-benefits-of-digital-learning/. 

Thompson, Sam. “Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Classes for Higher Education [Updated 2023].” Kaltura, 18 Apr. 2023, https://corp.kaltura.com/blog/advantages-disadvantages-online-classes/.