IS ONLINE LEARNING BETTER THAN OFFLINE LEARNING

•  (Relevant for Sociology Syllabus: Paper 1- Social Change in Modern Society & Paper 2- Visions of Social Change in India)
• (Relevant for GS Syllabus: Paper1- Social empowerment)

• Choosing between offline and online education could be a daunting task but with the right guidance, you will be able to make the right decision for you.
• As technology has developed, so too has the way we learn new skills. Thanks to the internet, those interested in boosting their knowledge and skills now have a wide range of options open to them.
• Attending online classes every day has become the ‘new normal’ for students during the lockdown in India. As schools were shut because of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, the online class have taken centre stage in students’ life now.
• Despite the lockdown, many schools have taken timely steps to continue the flow of education by holding online classes for students. Interestingly, online classes have helped students during lockdown more than ever before.
• Although online learning has become the preferred method for the majority of students, it’s important not to dismiss the benefits of offline learning too.
• With online learning, students and teachers benefit from a more casual, flexible approach. Being unrestricted in regard to location and times means every learner can benefit from the courses.
• With offline learning, it’s easier to ensure students are paying attention to the training. Some students also find it easier to retain the knowledge and skills they’ve learnt through offline learning than they do with online learning. As there are benefits to both learning options, it makes sense to offer a combined online and offline learning.
• There are many benefits of online learning like flexibility, plenty of choices, cost benefits, comfortable environment to study, advancing your career even while you are working, gaining skills that are transferrable, avoid commuting and learning at your own house.
• Additionally, it also helps you to develop self-discipline and makes you join study groups from different places to understand perspectives. Online teaching increases the engagement between the student and the teacher, resulting in personalised attention to the student.
• Whereas classroom teaching is important to encourage and motivate collaborative learning. Collaborative learning increases student’s self-awareness about how students learn and enables them to learn more easily and effectively, transforming them into keen learners inside and beyond the classroom.
• Classroom teaching enhances students’ critical thinking skills. Classroom studying provides an opportunity for students to engage in live discussions where they can better utilise their critical thinking skills to voice opinions or involve in an argument.
• Hence, online learning is certainly a more effective option for students, rather than offline. But it’s also better for the environment.