It is true that online courses are becoming a common feature of
education.
there are some drawbacks of Internet-based learning, I would argue that there are far more benefits.
The main drawback of the trend towards online
courses is that there is less direct interaction. Students may not have the opportunity to engage face-to-face with their teachers, and will
have to rely on written forms of communication.
, students who study online do not come into direct contact with each other, and
could have a negative impact on peer support, discussion and exchange of ideas.
, whereas students
traditional courses can attend seminars and even discuss their subjects over coffee after lessons, online learners are restricted to chatting through website forum areas. These learners may
lack the motivation and
of competition that face-to-face group work brings.
Despite the negatives mentioned above, I believe that online
courses are a positive development for various reasons.
, they allow learners to study in a flexible way, meaning that they can work whenever and wherever is convenient, and they can cover the material at their own pace.
, the cost of a
education can be greatly reduced, while revenues for institutions may increase as more students can be taught.
, online learning offers open access to anybody who is willing to study, regardless of age, location, ability and background.
, my uncle, who is 65 years old, has recently enrolled on an online MBA course in a different country, which would have been impossible in the days before Internet-based education.
In conclusion, while I recognise the possible disadvantages of online learning, I consider it to be a positive development overall.
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