Common Myths About Online Education

Despite its increasing popularity, online education continues to be the subject of certain myths and misconceptions which keep people from accessing e-learning. These myths and misconceptions convince people that they would be better off investing their money and time in traditional education.

It is true that the Covid pandemic and the need for distance learning that it brought made many people more aware of how online education actually works.

However, certain myths continue to persist.

Online Education Is Supplementary To Traditional Education, Not A Substitute For It

This misconception likely arose due to e-learning platforms like Khan Academy, since these platforms only provide supplementary study material to students already studying in the traditional model of learning.

However, e-learning platforms are varied and diverse. While some e-learning platforms provide supplementary study material, others provide short courses and even full degrees.

People who are bound by geographical location or working schedules often resort to online learning to continue their education.Regardless of what you are looking for, it is safe to say you will find it in e-learning.

The thing is e-learning platforms start from Coursera and Udemy sell their courses in dollars, so that may cost too much for students living the underdeveloped countries. And automatically you have the impression that online courses are costly. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.

It is of course more expensive for something similar, although it comes from U.S. universities and Coursera / Udemy will set the price a little higher than pilots from these providers; Also, there are lots of e-learning platform founded on the third world.

These platforms not only give curriculum content as per the local needs, they are a lot less expensive than traditional institutes to get trained. The newly launched e- learning platform “Teach Pakistan” by Ulearn is working for the adequacy of local needs.

Online Education Is Only Suitable For Short Courses, Not Full Degrees

It is becoming more normal for people to invest in new skills via short courses online, but very few believe in the efficacy of full degrees that are done online. Yet again, this is another misconception. I have already mentioned that there are different types of e-learning platforms where you can get a wide variety of courses.

In fact, more and more people are choosing e-learning platforms for college- and university-level education. HEC recognized institution (e.g. Virtual University of Pakistan) can offer degree programs at undergraduate level through online learning.

E-Learning Makes Studying Harder

During the pandemic, many students can be heard complaining that distance learning is difficult, and they are unable to properly understand their instructors. However, the problem with the pandemic was that educational institutes had to shift to distance learning at short notice.

Many institutes, as well as their students, lacked the resources to conduct distance learning properly. Teachers were also not properly trained in handling online education.

However, as long the right resources and faculty support exists for e-learning it can be even more convenient and beneficial than traditional education. This is possible since e-learning combines a variety of technologies and mediums adapted to different learning styles. Study at your own pace (as you like, where and when) Hence when carried out in a proper manner, online education can be incredibly beneficial.