Four Challenges of Online Education and How to Meet Them Head On
Although online education gives flexibility to students and also a chance for working men and women to pursue higher education, it presents numerous challenges as well.
The first challenge is to keep students motivated and disciplined they way real schools and colleges do. In the comfort of home, without having to face teachers or the embarrassment of not finishing tasks on time or doing well in exams, online education students are likely to become lazy and relax taking the education for granted. This discipline can be enforced by providing an online mentor, who makes it his or her job to keep the distance education student motivated and disciplined enough.
The second challenge is that of communication skills which might not be sufficiently improved through online education. Making the students interact with teachers, conducting workshops and doubt sessions at least once a quarter will help the situation.
The third challenge is the access to laboratories where students can try out what they have learnt and conduct research. Allowing students to use laboratories of the colleges they have subscribed to, once in a month would be helpful. If the distance education school doesn’t have a lab, tying up with established colleges would help too.
The fourth challenge is that of technical glitches. Students taking online education must have a good system with cd and dvd player at home. High speed broadband connection is required too. Helping online students through scholarships etc. might solve this problem to some extent.