1. Lack of digital literacy and technical issues
Although the new generation is computer-literate, it does not necessarily mean digital literacy. Learning through an online system perfectly requires understanding how multiple software works, which presents a huge learning curve. Students also need to understand the etiquette of online communication and know the rights and responsibilities of students in an online learning environment.
The bigger issue is with the constant technical issues that both teachers and students face on these platforms. These issues often require technical support to correct, causing frequent disruptions to the learning flow.
A segment of students that has been completely ignored in the development of online education are students with special needs. Students with special needs need a more personalized and hands-on teaching method. Although technology has improved drastically, it still relies heavily on the need for a full-time expert or teacher to guide the student through assignments. These issues have caused students with special needs to fall behind others in their academic pursuits.
2. Infrastructure problems, distraction and lack of discipline
Although online learning does not require large buildings, large classrooms, chairs, tables, blackboards, chalk, it does not mean that there are no infrastructure requirements. The need for a computer, adequate software, steady electricity and broadband internet is quite a demand. In most developed countries, this infrastructure is available to the public through public libraries if they cannot afford it personally. But for developing countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and many others, this quality of infrastructure is only available to a select few percent of the population.
With recurring technical issues, bandwidth issues and monotonous lectures, online traffic has seen a drastic drop. Most students find online learning boring and often complain that they are not motivated to get through the class. Even teachers often complain about the lack of tools to make lessons engaging, leading to a loss of interest on both sides. With the lack of any accountability in the online learning method, the quality of education is often compromised. Coupled with the free use of laptops and cell phones during class, distractions have become countless, often at the cost of concentration during class.
3. Lack of personal interaction and motivation.
Humans are social animals. The growth of the Internet has depended on the principle that people will always be curious to interact and know more about themselves. This means that on a psychological level, virtual interaction cannot mimic physical interaction. Physical presence in the classroom with the teacher and peers often leads to an atmosphere that cannot be replicated by virtual means. The physical model also ensures discipline because students can't turn off their webcams and take a nap. Physical education classrooms also allow teachers to give more personal attention to the needs of each student. However, interactive e-learning modules can help improve student engagement.
Online learning was presented as a new interactive and immersive method for teaching a new generation of students. However, the results say otherwise. Endless oceans of texts, quizzes, frequent learning tasks and MCQs have resulted in students losing motivation to continue visiting the learning portal. Students complain of a lack of motivation due to the lack of interpersonal contact between students and the teacher in online classes. The need for physical interaction between students is also a necessity to maintain engagement, which online learning methodology does not yet have answers for. Institutions should focus on providing interactive sessions and can be the answer to this challenge.
4. Outdated curriculum, course structure and quality
The shift to online learning and other modern teaching tools was supposed to bring modernization of the curriculum and structure of the courses. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Institutions retained their outdated curriculum and structure even after going online. As companies like Google and Tesla decide to forgo college as a prerequisite for employment, students are rethinking college. Online resources like YouTube, Goggle, Skill share, Udemy and others offer better content on these topics for less or even free. These platforms also allow them to choose their subjects, making the learning structure highly flexible. This should prompt educational institutions to rethink their approach to teaching.
5. Lack of accredited degrees from top universities.
Education has more to do with branding than learning. Where you studied is more important than what you studied. In such a market where branding is a big factor, the online education sphere has yet to convince prestigious higher education institutions to offer their courses through online/distance learning. Online diploma courses are often not accredited and mostly not recognized by the labor market or other institutions. Although schools have adopted the online education system, higher education institutions and governments have yet to recognize them as legitimate ways to earn a professional degree.
Conclusion
For every problem there is a solution. The current system of educational technology in the online education section has many weaknesses, which are not limited to the above list. This means that this section is relatively underdeveloped, and even then it suddenly improved. The system is rapidly changing and advancing and will soon become the standard in the field of education. Online education has countless advantages and will make education cheaper and more accessible. Stationary curricula and inflexible subject ranges are gone in the post-Covid-19 era as a new generation of students demand greater freedom in education. The biggest hurdle for EdTech to overcome is replicating the magic of in-person learning and creating an immersive experience, as technical difficulties are often resolved over time.
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