Make the most of online education for your students

The digital era has had a great impact on education. I remember when, as a student, the internet was first introduced. I would have to connect a cable to the computer and wait for the creepy-sounding dial-up to finish before I was able to connect and start my research for school projects. Life is so much easier for students now as they have internet access wherever they are. Here, I’ll demonstrate the value of online education to today’s students and how, as educators, we can make the most of it.

1. Flexibility

One of the major advantages of online learning is the flexibility it offers to students. Students who are enrolled in an online course have the flexibility to access the online learning materials wherever they are, at a suitable time. 

This can be particularly useful for students who are working or have a busy schedule, as they have the chance to learn online without having to physically walk into the classroom and spend time in lectures. 

Educators can also play a role in the flexibility of online education, by making more materials available online for students to access, or placing a greater emphasis on online group work, thus making the essence of online education even better. 

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This factor also plays a role in contributing to the “Quality education for all” Sustainable Development Goal, as students will have the opportunity to access uniform online learning materials at a time that is more suitable for them. They don’t have to worry about their education clashing with working hours, or falling behind as a result. 

2. Time saving

When you consider the time a student may take to travel to campus for a face-to-face class, as well as the time in the class itself, online education can be a huge time saver for them. Spending time wisely is the key to effective time management skills. 

For example, if the student has permission to access the learning materials during working hours or on their lunch break, they’ll have more free time to spend however they choose. This can have a positive impact on the student and their well-being. 

That being said, online education can also play a part in saving time for the educator as well. Just think of all the time that can be saved in face-to-face lectures by assigning online pre-reading materials, ahead of time!

3. Saving travel costs

Another advantage of online education is that it will save the costs of having to travel to the university campus in order to sit in a classroom environment and learn. Whether it is saving the money spent on petrol or public transport, costs can be reduced as the learning materials will be accessed online, wherever they are. Another benefit that comes with this is that the money saved can be spent on the students’ other interests or hobbies.

Having said that, it is wrong to think that all travel costs will be avoided, as some lecturers may decide that group work requires students to travel to the university campus, in order to work with their fellow students and present their work. In contrast, some lecturers may not even ask for group work to be carried out. 

My advice for the lecturer would be to perhaps offer online options for group work, or maybe ask the students to either pre-record or present their work online through platforms such as Google Meet or Zoom. This way, both travel costs can be avoided, and time can be saved.

4. Real learning 

Online education as opposed to face-to-face classroom education can play a role in real learning. Just imagine sitting in a classroom environment facing the lecturer with your back to other students. Online education can be advantageous, in that the students are not sitting with their backs to one another, but rather sitting in front of a screen, facing the lecturer and other students at the same time. As a result, the student can concentrate better and is more able to learn, especially when everyone’s camera is turned on and the lecturer can see the students, just like the students can see each other. 

For this reason, educators must encourage their students to turn on their cameras in order to ensure a personable learning environment. Online tools such as in-lecture polls and online Q&As can also help students to learn better too. As a result, one can conclude that online education is more face-to-face than the education in the classroom.

Who knows what the future may hold, but online learning is particularly valuable for students, especially when technology is evolving for the benefit of all. Having internet access from the place where the student is can have a positive impact, especially when it comes to flexibility and time saving, saving on travel costs and the opportunity for a more “face-to-face” learning environment as opposed to that in the classroom.

Ayten Ordu is a lecturer and researcher in the Faculty of Law at Near East University.

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