By Dr AK Srivastava
“When I wanted to learn something outside of school as a kid, cracking open my World Book Encyclopaedia was the best I could do. Today, all you have to do is go online.” – Bill Gates
Like all other areas, the teaching and learning process has also witnessed tremendous changes since the inception of human civilisation. It is the sturdy urge to see the new generation more and more equipped with knowledge and wisdom
that has always inspired scholars of all generations to experiment with the latest available resources in education so that human life should be advanced and content and progressive. Right from the time when students used to stay in Gurukul with their teachers to the modern days, when online teaching has become so popular, the
education system has witnessed numerous revolutions; the journey has been
wonderful and mesmerising.
In the late seventies, the concept of postal or distance education became quite
popular, and many colleges and universities introduced courses tailored for
housewives, employed young men, and senior citizens. It was a real success, as
numerous ambitious people could enhance their educational qualifications.
With the coming of computers in the late seventies, the scenario started changing once
again very rapidly. Initially, computer education, then projectors, the internet, and
smart classes were introduced into our education system. Now, online education is the latest and most widely used system, and it has set new trends and a strange revolution, which was unimaginable just two decades ago. It has opened a new window that will take all of us to new dimensions and horizons in the teaching and
learning process.
There are several pros and cons to online teaching. Some of us are optimistic and
others are sceptical about its growing popularity. It is really convenient and comfortable to attend online lessons from home or at the workplace. This can be done from any part of the world. There are no geographical restraints. It has
actually materialised the concept of global students and classrooms.
We can be in the comfort of home and manage other things along with attending our lessons. It
is less expensive and less time-consuming. No expenditure on transport and no
consumption of travel time. One can complete one’s courses at one’s own speed or pace. It depends on how much time one has to complete one’s desired education. One may be a working person or a housewife with many other commitments.
In schools and colleges, there are several other factors that bother many students. Peer pressure, ragging, the compulsory wearing of uniforms, and adhering to a strict timetable. In virtual lessons, one can ask questions and clear one’s doubts without any hesitation and peer pressure. In actual classrooms, sometimes we avoid asking questions due to natural hesitation. Similarly, there is no discrimination on the basis of caste,
creed or religion.
One of the major hassles is getting admission to the right course of your choice. This problem is automatically solved by online education. These days, a lot of students appearing in competitive exams live in hostels and boarding houses in big
cities and attend coaching classes. This causes anxiety and natural worry for parents, because students are at a tender age and living alone in distant places can invite several problems. Hence, online coaching classes are a sort of boon for
them. Their charges are also reasonable, and parents can easily afford them.
But there are many limitations to online classes. Almost everyone will agree that real education is not the transfer of knowledge; it is the transfer of personalities and qualities of teachers, along with bookish knowledge. Students observe many
virtues of teachers and professors over the years, and slowly but surely make all these qualities part and parcel of their personalities. The real classroom situations give them plenty of opportunities to interact with classmates. This
extinguishes the fire of inquisitiveness and the spirit of competition. Such points
are missing in online teaching. Face-to-face interaction in classrooms cannot be
replaced by virtual classes. Activities like group discussions, dialogue sessions, and
debates are not possible in online classes. Similarly, when it comes to the
assessment of students’ assignments, actual classroom situations are more effective.
and accurate. Such accuracy and customised evaluation are not possible in online
or virtual lessons.
In online classes, the success of students and teachers depends on their confidence
in computing skills. It has been observed that many times such proficiency in computing skills is missing and limited. This is a big hindrance and poses challenges for educators and learners. India is a country of villages. We have computers and other online learning resources available in only cities or urban areas.
When students go to regular schools and colleges, they develop social etiquette, ways of the world and a natural bond with classmates. This becomes part of their personality and stays with them throughout their lives. Such friendship or bonding
may help them at any stage in their lives in numerous ways.
In regular institutions, students also get opportunities for physical exercise and sports. All these give proper and complete shape to their personalities. But in online classes, such activities are missing.
Hence, we can conclude that there are many minuses and pluses to online education. But it will go a long way towards making fortunes for students. It will continue to become more and more popular and will be a source of knowledge and wisdom for generations in the future.
“Students do not learn much just sitting in classes and listening to teachers, memorising prepackaged assignments and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write reflectively about it, and relate it to past experiences, and apply it to their daily lives. They must incorporate what they learn
of themselves.” – Arthur W Chickering and Stephen C Ehrmann
