LEC052006. AMRUTHA T.A. NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF ONLINE CLASSES.

 

Amrutha T.A.

Dr. Joseph Koyippally

LEC 5104

25 February, 2021.

Negative Consequences of Online Classes.

Online classes have become a necessity in the time of Covid-19 crisis. The current situation emphasizes the significance of online classes. The demand for online learning is increasing day by day and it is hard to ignore the same. But the sudden outbreak of Covid-19 shook the entire world and the situation challenged the educational system to follow the online mode of teaching. Thus, many universities and colleges in the present society widely use online classes in order to instruct and provide online materials to the students. Opting online courses is a fast-growing trend in the present society and it has become a panacea in the time of Covid-19 crisis. Even though online class has gained much importance in the present scenario, it has its own disadvantages and it causes numerous negative consequences to the students.

There are a lot of technologies available for online education. But at times they create a number of complications. These difficulties are associated with modern technology range from login problems, downloading errors, issues with installation, and technical problems with audio and video. Some students may feel online classes as unengaging since there is no direct communication between the students and the instructor. Personal attention is an important factor that everyone who attends the online class should possess. The learning process cannot reach its full potential until the offline classes start. “Students feel the lack of community, technical problems, and difficulties in understanding instructional goals are the major barriers for online learning.” (Dhawan) Some negative outcomes the students face when they depend on online classes are the lack of perception of the ideas discussed in the class.

In online classes there is a limited possibility of face-to-face interaction among students and professors. Most of the communications are managed through e-mail, google classroom, and other discussion groups. There is no personalized attention from the professors with regard to face-to-face interactions and feedbacks. It is easier for participants to ignore instructor. At the same time students face a lack of campus atmosphere to create social interaction. Online classes create a tendency among the students to procrastinate in their studies. Internet connectivity is another key challenge of online classes. A consistent internet connection with enough speed is necessary to attend online classes. But in most of the areas, internet connectivity is low which prevents them from attending the classes. It leads to a lack of continuity in learning for the child.

Inability to focus on screens is another disadvantage of online classes. Many students struggle to focus on the screen continuously for hours. At the same, time they can be easily distracted from by other sites or entertainment apps. Therefore, it is crucial for the teachers to keep their online classes crisp, engaging and interactive to help students stay focused on the screen. More and more evidences prove that long-time usage of computer can create harmful effects. On operating, computer emits electromagnetic wave, which pollutes surrounding environment harmful to health. Although people stipulate strictly the radiation of electronic products, it is impossible to eradicate radiation in computers. “According to survey in Britain, radiation and magnetic field of low frequency emitted by computer will conduce 7 to 19 kinds of disease.” (Nazarlou 13) Thus spending too much time in computers for attending online classes can lead to several health issues including cancer.

Since online learning is a kind of studying based on screen, which presents a series of moving and rolling up and down signals and figures, it can cause harmful effects to eyes. The so-called computer vision syndrome is a kind of forced disease resulted from long-term staring at one place. It causes fatigue of eye and blurred vision. “Some may even experience stress, tingling sensations, headaches, muscle fatigue and decreased performance due to bad posture.” (Mehdi) Spending more time in front of computer for attending classes can cause body pain and musculoskeletal growth. Main hurt positions are neck, waist, shoulder, elbow and wrist. In the survey conducted by American Cornell University, it is proved that 40 percent students of primary school suffer musculoskeletal growth. A sense of isolation engenders among the students by the pressure caused through online classes. This feeling is often based on the physical separation between the student and the instructor.

Several arguments are associated with online learning. Affordability, flexibility, accessibility, learning pedagogy, life-long learning, and policy are some of the arguments related to it. Online mode of learning is easily accessible and can even reach to rural and remote areas. It is considered to be a relatively cheaper mode of education in terms of the lower cost of transportation, accommodation, and the overall cost of institution-based learning. Flexibility is another interesting aspect of online classes. Students can learn anywhere and anytime, thereby developing new skills in the process leading to life long learning. The government also recognizes the increasing importance of online classes in this dynamic world.

In brief, one can assume that online learning has both pros and cons. Today, the world is forced to practice online learning by disregarding its disadvantages. “The key lesson for others may be to embrace e-learning technology before disaster strikes!” (Todorova and Bjorn-Anderson) A high level of preparedness is necessary to overcome the complications of online classes. To make online learning effective in difficult times the world must focus on the use of technology more efficiently. That is the usage of the technology, which has minimum procurement and maintenance costs but can effectively facilitate educational processes must be encouraged. Before bringing in and adopting any e-learning tool or technology, its pros and cons need to be weighed. Proper network connectivity in all areas must be ensured by the government in order to solve the complications of online classes caused by low network.

References

Clark-Ibanez, Marisol, and Linda Scott. “Learning to Teach Online.” Teaching Sociology, vol. 36, no. 1, 2008, pp. 34–41. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20058625. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

Dhawan, Shivangi. “Online Learning: A Panacea in the Time of Covid-19 Crisis.” Journal of Educational Technology Systems, vol 49, issue 1, 2020: 5-22. Accessed 25 Feb 2021.

Joanne M McInnerney, and Tim S Roberts. “Online Learning: Social Interaction and the Creation of a Sense of Community.” Journal of Educational Technology & Society, vol. 7, no. 3, 2004, pp. 73–81. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/jeductechsoci.7.3.73. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

Mehdi, Tamanna. “Online classes may affect physical health: Experts.” The New Indian Express, 24 June, 2020. Accessed 25 Feb 2021.