At a recently held ICT in education forum, there were calls for a return to in-person classes. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online learning, and whether the position taken is valid.

 

On 26 and 27 January, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) held ICT in Education – A Caribbean Forum, a virtual event at which there were discussions about digital learning tools and platforms, along with ways in which internet connectivity can be extended to currently underserved communities and households. There were also presentations on some of the difficulties that are being experience not necessarily in the online learning space, but more so because children have been spending several hours engaged primarily with digital devices.

In a press release issued earlier this week entitled, Call for ICT sector to support safe return to in-person classes, the CTU highlighted some of the concerns expressed about the mental health challenges that have ensued with digital learning, as well as the increase in online risks to which children are exposed. At the event, there was thus a call for a return to in-person classes.

In this article, we outline some of the pros and cons of online learning, and thereafter discuss whether returning to in-person will eliminate the challenges that are being attributed to online learning

 

The benefits of online learning

First, and if there is anything that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted, it is the importance of digital learning in circumstances when schools and offices are closed and movement is restricted. Online learning offered schools a way of continuing their classes in safe manner, whilst also allowing students to continue with the pace of their studies, and so not fall (too far) behind.

Second, over the past several years, many studies have been advocating a more interactive and engaged approach to teaching and learning in the classroom, which is more closely aligned with how children actually learn. Online learning platforms and tools have developed to the point where students can have a more interactive learning experience, instead of the ‘chalk and talk’ that had been prevalent in physical classrooms across the Caribbean region.

Third, traditionally, textbooks were the main resource in the classroom, which on the odd occasion would be supplemented by audio-visual recordings. Coupled with the previous point, e-learning platforms offer an efficient way for teachers to incorporate a wider variety of tools, such as videos, images, games, documents and podcasts, into their lesson plans, and so become more effective educators.

Finally, and similar to ‘work anywhere’, students can connect to their online classes from any location, as long as they have internet access. In other words, students no longer need to physically take up space in a classroom, in order to attend a lesson, which in turn, and in some instances, puts a limit the number of students that can enrol for a class or course. In embracing e-learning, academic institutions may no longer be as constrained in student enrolment numbers, which can open up more revenue generating opportunities.

 

Drawbacks of online learning

Although online learning has several advantages, there are also some downsides, a few of which will be outlined below.

First, and critical to being able to access online classes is the need for internet connectivity. Ideally, and in order to have an optimal online learning experience, the internet service ought to be reliable and of sufficient bandwidth to accommodate the media-rich content that increasingly is preferred. Across the Caribbean region, there are a large proportion of households that have not been able to afford internet access consistently, which when coupled with the service reliability challenges that are regularly experienced, means that a large proportion of students have intermittent, and even no, access to online learning whenever school closures have been effected.

Second, and in order to produce effective and engaging e-learning sessions, teachers have to be knowledgeable and experienced in develop their lesson plans and classes for that modality – which is considerably different from what might be acceptable in a face-to-face setting. However, most teachers would have had a basic understanding of technology, and have not been resourced to conduct classes online. In the Caribbean region, many ministries of education had been offering teachers e-learning training, but the intent was to supplement classroom activities. As a result, and during the pandemic, it became evident that teachers were woefully underprepared and under-resourced to develop and deliver classes online.

Third, and for young children in particular, school is an environment in which a number of soft skills, such as collaborating, teamwork, sharing, communication and social skills, are fostered in addition to academic learning. However, and in an online class, there is little or no physical interaction between students and teachers, which can result in a sense of isolation among students, which may be exacerbated by their inability to focus in their online classes. As was noted in the CTU press release, Clinical Psychologist, Alicia Hoyte, had highlighted that students have been experiencing a number of mental health challenges due to online learning, but she also noted that teachers and parents also have their own stresses due to digital learning.

Finally, and once again among young children in particular who are engaging in online learning, they need to be supervised. If they are at home, a parent, caregiver or tutor may need to be on hand to ensure that they are not distracted and are participating in their classes. However, in many households, a parent may need to provide that oversight, which means that they might not be able to be as engaged in their own work when class is in session, which is likely to contribute to whatever stress and anxiety they might already be experiencing.

 

Returning to in-person classes

Caribbean students returning to in-person classes more consistently is likely to happen sooner rather than later. The disadvantages of online learning outlined above, along with others not discussed, are key reasons why in-person classes are still preferred in the region. It is also emphasised that the Caribbean education system is still based on traditional teaching and learning modalities. It has not been revised to reflect and better integrate and support digital education, although stop-gap measures have been employed over the past two years.

Having said this, and even in the return to the classroom, there is likely to be a greater reliance on online learning platforms and tools – so that the gains made over the past two years are not lost completely, and also to facilitate more engaged learning. It therefore means that resources towards more effective online learning, such as quality internet access and teacher training, will become even more crucial, and will require investment by ministries of education.

Additionally, it ought to be appreciated that current and future cohort of students will be spending even more time online and on their digital devices than previous generations. So, the sense of isolation, diminished social skills, and along with the mental health challenges that have been emerging, are likely to continue, and even increase, regardless of whether children are learning remotely or not. Further, this increase in screen time, potentially increases children’s exposure to online dangers, such as inappropriate and harmful content, cyber bullying, online addiction and compulsive behaviour, to name just a few.

 

In summary, it is prudent to appreciate that the increasing emphasis on remote and digital learning is a subset of the increased integration of digital in our everyday lives, and in that of today’s children. Returning to in-person classes will not eliminate all of the challenges children have been experiencing due to increased online exposure. With that in mind, parents, teachers, healthcare providers, policymakers may need to be more intentional in managing the children under their care, and more proactive when interventions might be needed.

 

 

Image credit: Carl Jorgensen (Unsplash)