School & university internship

THE EFFECT OF ONLINE STUDYING

WHAT HAPPENED?

As of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, schools in many countries around the world had to switch from the usual face-to-face classes to online teaching. Although social distancing in schools had already been tested, the authorities are still concerned about the unsatisfactory results. It has been almost a year now since the pandemic started, however, the discussion around education is still controversial in most countries. As we are about to examine, efficiency and accessibility to online education in developed and developing countries are at completely different levels.

What we are going to do is look at what are the benefits and drawbacks of this switch around the world.

 

BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS

Also before the pandemic, online teaching was considered as an alternative option to the classroom-based teaching system. Many universities have been offering online courses, seminars, and workshops to people from all over the world. As a result of globalization, people are eager to create value across countries and continents by providing teaching, studying, working, and any other activities. In fact, online teaching seems to be helpful in many ways. For instance, people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), find it easier to focus on their school work if they study online. The variety of support material, such as videos, podcasts, or live classes, is somewhat beneficial for people with ADHD. Besides, since the internet connection is all you need, shifting to online teaching might make education more accessible for people with disabilities or social anxiety, which, as stated in the previous articles, has increased due to the fear of being infected. Since social distancing is the number one safety rule during this pandemic, studying online helps people reduce their anxiety.

On the other hand, not all the outcomes of this change can be welcomed. It is true that all we need to survive is food, water, and a safe space to live in, however, we can’t deny that humans are social beings. As a matter of fact, school is where people usually find their life-long friendships, if not a second home. The lack of social interaction with friends is affecting many people psychologically. Although online learning is beneficial in some ways, most of the students are in need of that social environment they used to share with friends and teachers. What is more, this is not the most detrimental effect of shifting to online teaching. In many areas of the world, people don’t have enough food to live.

How is it that we think everyone will have equal access to online classes?

Many children growing up in developing countries won’t be able to access their online classes. In fact, in many cases, these children have to walk long distances just to hope to find an internet connection. Despite living in the 21st century, we still have to deal with the fact that there are parts of the world where people are not economically and socially equal to one another.

 

WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM US?

All hope is not lost. Organisations such as Volunteer In The World are working to make the world a better place. We ask everyone to help, to make the path towards justice a little bit easier to walk. We are creating volunteering projects to support everyone in need. We are writing blog articles such as this one to inform people. We are recording Youtube videos to entertain and educate those children who can’t access material such as books. And we are not alone in this. Some universities are providing free internet connection, sometimes laptops, to their students in developed countries, where the value of education is well understood. There are teachers, who used to work in small villages, that are travelling across them trying to give lessons to children with no internet access. Not even winter, nor the bad weather conditions, stop them.

This should make us realise that there are many ways to help.

Tonight, let’s stop and think of it for a minute before we go to bed.