Can Online Learning Replace the School Classrooms?

 

March 2020, when almost the entire world was in a state of lockdown, one of the biggest challenges was to ensure the continuity of education for the young ones. The nationwide lockdown meant schools; tuition centres and learning programmes couldn’t continue to function the same way they used to - and hence, the switch to digital mode. Today, we are almost a year into the ‘new normal’ and the biggest question which stands before us is - will online learning replace the traditional education system? The answer is a resounding NO. 

Online education platforms have definitely changed the educational system. We know that if another pandemic hits, the education of our children will be the last thing to suffer. But, no matter how well online learning for kids gets, it can never be good enough to replace the traditional education system.

Here’s why!

●        Online learning is out of reach for many kids coming from a financially deprived section

A majority of students from across the world belong to an economically weaker section. In most cases, these children are not the only child in their families. This means, ensuring online learning for all school-goers would be difficult unless the family owns two smartphones or more, which seems rather imaginary given the financial constraints.

Unless and until the local governments intervene and come up with an initiative or programme to make online learning a feasible solution, online learning can't be adopted for the masses.

●        Increased screen time can be harmful for kids

Looking at a mobile, laptop or tablet screen for longer periods can be harmful for the kids. Although, before you say it, we know children have been addicted to screens even before the COVID-19 pandemic began. They have been using the screen for eight to nine hours daily. But any addition to that is only going to deteriorate the condition. And since schools and after school learning programmes have shifted to online learning, it automatically implies longer screen time. That, as per many experts, is not a healthy way of learning.

●        Health impacts on the child

Online learning, in contrast with traditional approaches to education, can be very isolating and lonely for the child. Online learning would mean kids won't have their peers around them, even teachers' roles get limited and they won't get the kind of supervision that they would in a classroom. These factors impact learning.

Having said that, online classes for kids will find their use now when after school programmes and academic enrichment programmes such as by Kumon become online. This will help a lot of students save time that was earlier used in travelling to the education centre. Furthermore, the availability of online learning apps will allow students from remote corners of the world to enrol and access after school learning programmes.

If you feel that too, visit Kumon website or the nearest Kumon learning centre.