With most students taking online classes this semester, many are wondering how different their classes are going to go, or how those classes might affect their education. In my experience, students either love or hate online classes. There are pros and cons, and as students, it is important for us to realize the way our classes are impacting us.
For pros, online learning puts the responsibility in the hands of the student, although many could argue this is also a con. Asynchronous classes allow students to learn the material and complete assignments at their own pace within a window of time. This makes it essential for the student to plan their own routine and execute good time management skills to successfully learn and get assignments done on time, but the power is essentially in the student’s hands. Asynchronous classes also allow more flexibility for students who have jobs or live in different time zones.
The biggest con is that some classes are just unable to successfully translate to online. For example, I am in a class right now that in previous semesters focused on working with local businesses, which would have given me the opportunity to network and create projects for real clients that I could have shown in a portfolio when applying for jobs after graduation.
With the course being moved online, we are unable to work with real clients, so I am losing a lot of valuable experience I could have had. Online classes can also make the transition from high school to college more difficult for some students.
Personally, I don’t feel that I learn as successfully in online classes, but that doesn’t mean everyone feels that way. Some students thrive in a more relaxed environment where they are responsible for their own learning, whereas others, like myself, perform better under a structured environment.
There is not a definitive answer of which class format is better because it is going to be different for every student. However, I do believe the cons of online classes have the potential to outweigh the pros for many students.
