Myths About eLearning

When we think of going to school, we think of a traditional classroom environment that includes blackboards, desks, pens, and notebooks. That’s how the classroom has been looked for for so many decades and it’s hard to think anything else when someone thought of education.

With an increase in online education courses, you may be curious about the fact of whether an online degree is worth it? There may be many misconceptions in your way when you thought of an education that is through online mode.

Your concerns might arise from some of the common misconceptions about online education and if any of these myths stand in the way of you and your dream career, it’s time to bring those myths to light.

“As a classroom teacher, I went into [online education] with a whole lot of skepticism, but I walked away from a serious believer in the potential of programs like it,” says Rob Sheppard, founder, and CEO of Ginseng English.

If you are one of those believing in any of these myths then read the complete article to find out if there is any truth in your misconception.

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Below are some of the common misconceptions about eLearning

Myth #1: No Interaction With Classmates/Professor

Nowadays we use technology to talk to a friend face-to-face across the globe, can even collaborate with people as business partners, or can interact with professors and fellow classmates. Sheppard says, “In online interaction, everyone has a chance to gather their thoughts and express themselves on their own time and in a more deliberate manner than with real-time interaction.”

In the real-life classroom, we normally see that only a few students speak up about their queries, others feel shy about asking doubts whereas in a moderated online forum there are more chances of you to speak up and you’ll likely get a better feel. Online discussion can give a lot more insight into people.

Myth #2: You Will Have To Teach Yourself The Material

Just because you are not physically sitting in front of your instructor doesn’t mean that they are not there to help you, they are always there to help you along the way.

Online class instructors are as responsible as real-life classroom teachers for completing the whole syllabus timely and teaching them the matter. According to development coach Wesson, “professors tend to put extra intention into the syllabus, unit organization and assignment instructions so everything is as guided as possible. Just like in-person classes, it is up to the student to ask questions if something is not clear.”

Myth #3: You can’t Build a Network

Friendship is one of the underrated perks of education. Education is all about meeting different people and the connections they can bring into your life. Many people rely completely on college networks to learn about opportunities and to get a job. At first sight, it seems to be tough to build a relationship in an online class but Sheppard says that online platforms have actually made it easier for users to build a strong network.

A good online platform will have attentive advisors and administrators who can offer career advice and connections like LinkedIn.

Myth #4: Professors are Faceless

In traditional learning, professors have fixed teaching time in which students study and ask queries. Depending upon the professor, they might also be approachable after the class. Interactions with professors do a lot to encourage students and engage them in learning but how does that all work in an online class?

Professors are generally connected with their students through various social media platforms like Facebook or Whatsapp. Take full advantage of every opportunity to connect with your teachers via social media.

Myth #5: You Have To Be a Tech Wiz To Attend Online Classes

You can simply buy food online through some simple taps on the screen, can communicate with your friends, and can share photos online on social networks. You know that well-designed technology does not have that steep of a learning curve and platforms for online education like byjus and Merithub are becoming more sophisticated and are designed for better student experiences.

Age or lack of technical skills cannot be an excuse for you to not pursue online learning. One of the professors of a university in the USA shared that her oldest online student she’s ever worked with was 80 years old. If she could do it then anyone can.

Myth #6: Online Learning Is all Lecture

Video lectures are definitely a part of online learning but online learning goes much deeper than that. Online-curriculum involves lots of hands-on work. The hands-on portion will help you the most, you will learn best when you are guided to do something rather than being lectured about that. The lessons you learned will help you in your writing career to become a better writer if you want to.

In many online programs, you’ll be assigned assignments that often mirror what you’ll do in the real world—this gives you a chance to do what you’ve learned and really demonstrate your comprehension.

Myth #7: Employers Don’t Value Online Degrees

In starting when online education was brand new, employers might have felt worried especially in healthcare industries where there is no space for any loopholes in the candidate but for several years the popularity of online education has grown so much that what previously was seemed novel is now common.

As more and more employers and those in hiring authorities are themselves getting online degrees, the stigma against online degrees is diminishing. There are some cases where an employer might even consider an online education more valuable.

Contributed by:
Balpreet Brar
Chester Ammons