The only difference between third-world and developed societies is knowledge, not wealth, as some people think. This is due to the fact that successful people are the ones who make money, not others.
All monotheistic religions have encouraged learning, and many verses have stressed its importance, as it is the means to solve problems, face challenges, and pave the way for difficulties. The reason behind this is that cultured societies are capable of solving their various problems and are able to achieve self-sufficiency as well, preventing any third party from controlling them.
In the beginning, education was limited to traditional education only, in which the physical presence of the teacher and student was required in the same place and time in the classroom, which is the most popular education method around the world. It is also characterized by social communication between the students, teachers, and peers and helps to refine the student's social skills as well as discipline and commitment. This makes the educational process effective and useful for the student.
But now, due to many factors and influences that have occurred in the whole world, another type of learning has spread, which is distance learning, which is a suitable learning method for many people. However, despite its many advantages, there are also difficulties, challenges, and problems facing students and teachers as well. Therefore, before you decide to learn remotely, you should know all the difficulties that you may face in the future in order to try to avoid them as much as possible.
The concept of distance learning
It is to obtain information and lessons using modern communication technology. The learner studies his curriculum without going to educational centers, schools, or universities, as was previously known. Distance learning has many benefits for students. Here are some of them:
1. Choosing the learning time that suits you
This is suitable for someone who has many daily obligations. For example, a student can study and work at the same time.
2. Providing an educational opportunity to a large number of people
Especially for those who cannot register at a particular university, perhaps for financial, age-related, or geographical reasons. Through distance learning, it is possible to study at universities abroad without traveling there. This gave people with special needs an opportunity to obtain academic degrees and keep up-to-date with everything new without having to leave the house.
3. Reducing the problem of carrying capacity
that many educational facilities suffer from, as distance learning provides an opportunity for the largest number of students to study at a particular university without the university having to create classrooms for students.
4. Reducing financial costs
Students save their transportation and rent money since they are learning while at home.
Distance learning difficulties
Although there are advantages to distance learning that we talked about earlier, it is associated with many difficulties that must be faced, including the following:
1. Connection and networking problems
One of the worst things a remote learner can face is a slow connection or a sudden disconnection of the internet during a lesson. The problem is worse when it happens during exams and tests.
2. Electronic device costs
And other technologies needed for distance learning. Instead of buying pens and papers to attend school or university, they will need a laptop, tablet, router, and other technologies that must be possessed.
3. The absence of firm ways to prevent cheating in distance learning
For example, students can exchange information among themselves at home while taking the exam remotely. In addition, the student can use reliable sources such as websites or books to help answer questions or do homework as well. Of course, the educational facility will not be able to discover this from a distance. Rather, he will get the same grades as a smart, hardworking student who is learning the traditional method.
4. Lack of adequate harmony and proportionality between curricula and distance learning
For example, many physical or chemical experiments are difficult to understand if the student does not perform them himself. However, this is too difficult to achieve in distance learning. Even if you watched a video of how to apply the experiment, you may not be able to understand it. The implementation of experiments at home is very difficult because it's hard to provide the necessary materials and tools to apply them correctly.
Distance learning problems
A lot of distance learning problems emerged when the need for them increased. Of course, the most affected is the student. We will mention some of the problems that students face in distance learning:
1. Decreased sense of seriousness
As a result of the student going to the educational facility to receive education and attending lessons in the traditional way, as missing out on going there is somewhat unacceptable, he develops a sense of commitment and seriousness. On the contrary, a remote learner won't feel this way unless he is self-disciplined.
2. Lack of communication between teacher and students
Unlike traditional education, as we know, communication is very important in motivating and encouraging the student to continue learning.
3. The difficulty of providing a good and suitable learning environment
In some cases, the students need to study and work at the same time, which makes them read the lectures while working, or the time of the lecture coincides with their working hours.
4. Ease of distraction
The presence of the student in the classroom or in an educational environment in which there are no distractions differs from his presence at home, as he may simply be distracted by the presence of his little brother next to him, or he may use his mobile phone to browse Facebook, for example, while these behaviors are prohibited in traditional education.
5. Continuous exposure to screen rays
This causes many problems with their sight. Computer rays, which are x-rays, electromagnetic, ultraviolet and infrared, result in a deficiency of the hormone melatonin. This affects the body's immunity and causes eye strain, dehydration, or burning.
6. Social isolation
The student may miss the enjoyable interaction that occurs between colleagues in the classroom. It is not possible through distance learning to discuss ideas and information with peers. Also, it is not possible to carry out educational or recreational activities that increase their enthusiasm and motivate them to learn and attend lessons.
7. Difficulty in understanding
Distance learning sometimes takes place by receiving written and pre-prepared lectures from teachers. However, the absence of the teacher makes it difficult to understand the lesson, as they function as important elements in the teaching process.
The difficulties that face the teacher in distance learning
Teachers face many difficulties in distance learning that often make them prefer traditional education, and here are some of these difficulties:
1. Being unable to monitor and control the class effectively
In traditional education, the teacher gets to know their students well, and after a short period of time, they become familiar with some of their psychological characteristics and educational abilities, which help them to deal with the students appropriately. It also helps them to raise them better. However, in distance learning, it is difficult to get to know the students.
2. Inadequate experience using modern means of communication and technological methods
This makes the teacher obliged to develop their technological experience in order not to be embarrassed in front of their students when delivering the lessons. In some cases, they may have to seek professional help.
3. Failure to find an appropriate method to deliver some information
Especially those whose understanding requires practical implementation in front of the students. Teachers are accustomed to delivering the information in the usual old-school curricula. Therefore, they won't be able to provide the students with sufficient experience.
Challenges that face distance learning
Distance learning faces several challenges, including the following:
1. Some educational materials and colleges are not compatible with the distance learning method
For example, it is not possible to learn to draw remotely since you have to learn how to hold the pen and brush or how to move your wrist. The same applies to engineering drawings. All of this is not possible through distance learning. Also, it is not possible to study sports pedagogy without actually attending the lessons.
2. Data breach violation
This is done by some specialists. Hence, there is difficulty in maintaining the privacy of the educational facility.
3. Non-recognition of certificates
Some official bodies consider distance learning certificates to be unofficial documents
4. It is not suitable for elementary school
The child at this stage needs special treatment that makes him move away from confusion, fear, and shyness and get used to abiding by school laws and rules. Also, the child at this stage learns better through playing, activities, and taking walks with peers, as this cannot be achieved through distance learning.
5. Rapid Development of Standards
This makes educational facilities constantly strive to make adjustments, which may sometimes be huge, in order to keep pace with those developments.
6. The necessity of parents' presence
To monitor their kid as much as possible when attending lessons. This makes the parents obliged to organize their time well between work and going home in order to avoid the occurrence of distractions for the student, such as sudden visits.
In conclusion
Distance learning has become a necessity in our time, especially after the spread of diseases due to which home quarantine was imposed, such as coronavirus. In addition to its merit in providing appropriate educational opportunities for those who do not have the ability to travel and join international universities, However, distance learning faces many difficulties, such as slow Internet networks and the problem of cheating, which can occur easily, in addition to the costs of electronic devices needed for distance learning.
As for students, they face problems such as the difficulty of providing an appropriate educational environment far from distraction that motivates them to continue learning, in addition to poor communication with teachers, which negatively affects the student, while the teacher is unable to monitor and control their class effectively remotely. Moreover, the teacher is unable to use old-school methods in distance learning. Rather, they need a different method to deliver the information to the student.
Also, distance learning requires adequate awareness of technology and how to deal with modern technical devices. Distance learning faces challenges such as the need for continuous development, as we are in a time of rapid development.
In addition, there is a need for parents to monitor their children, especially the young ones. Also, distance learning is not suitable for some subjects. Finally, the lack of recognition by some official bodies of distance learning certificates is a challenge facing many students.
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