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Disadvantages of online courses

Disadvantages of online courses

by Jean Theoneste NZABIRINDA -
Number of replies: 3
Φ- 1. Online courses require more time than on-campus classes. Believe it or not, you will spend more time studying and completing assignments in the online environment than you will in an on-campus course. How can that be? The online environment is text-based. To communicate with your instructor and other students, you must type messages, post responses and otherwise communicate using your fingers (i.e. through typing). As you can probably guess, typing is slower than speaking. Φ- 2. Online courses make it easier to procrastinat: There is no one to tell you to get to class on time. There is no one reminding you that assignments are due or that exams are coming. There is no one to preach to you, beg with you, plead with you to stay on top of your coursework. (Sounds pretty good, huh?) It's easy to put off reading and assignments in the online environment. Before you know it, weeks have gone by, you haven't done any homework and it's exam time. Φ- 3. Online courses require good time-management skills. An Internet-based course demands that you develop personal time-management skills. As with most things, if you don't manage your time properly, you will find yourself buried beneath a seeming insurmountable mountain of coursework. Φ- 4. Online courses may create a sense of isolation. In an online course, no one can hear you scream. And that causes discomfort for some online students. Studying alone with only the computer as your companion can be terrifying. There's no whispering in the back of the room, no wise remarks from the peanut gallery, no commanding presence at the front of the classroom pleading for everyone to listen. Φ- 5. Online courses allow you to be more independent. In my opinion, it's a much better situation for the student. By the time a student enters a community college, they want to be independent. They don't want someone telling them what to do all the time. Φ- 6. Online courses require you to be an active learner. It's a sink or swim proposition and you can't have it both ways. If you desire to become a responsible, self-sufficient, independently minded citizen of this planet, then now's the time to start. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Get busy with it. Φ- 7. Online courses don't have an instructor hounding you to stay on task. I also think it's an advantage for the instructor. I don't have to become the all-powerful Oz and threaten you with dire consequences if you don't do your work. I don't have to control you, manipulate you, scold you, act like a parent or babysitter to you. I can treat you like an adult with the respect that you deserve. Φ- 8. Online courses give you more freedom, perhaps, more than you can handle! This freedom can be dangerous if you don't learn how to handle it. Φ- 9. Online courses require that you find your own path to learning. Personally, I think it is far better to let students find their own way. Instructors can be beacons, lighthouses of knowledge, so to speak, but we can't steer the ship. Hopefully, everyone makes it safely to harbor. Occasionally, someone shipwrecks. But in all cases, everyone learns, and I think that is important. Φ- 10. Online courses require you to be responsible for your own learning. Only you are responsible for your learning. I can't force it on you. I can't make you study. I can share a little knowledge and experience, show you a few tools and hope you get it. The spark and desire to pursue your dreams must be yours.
In reply to Jean Theoneste NZABIRINDA

Re: Disadvantages of online courses

by INNOCENT ZIRAKWIYE -
Other disadvantages of online courses are: 1. Obsence of electricity while you're doing test/exam, you will lose it 2. Cheating in some cases 3. Zero tolerant 4. Unfairness 5. Less collaboration 6. Less team wor,etc
In reply to INNOCENT ZIRAKWIYE

Re: Disadvantages of online courses

by Francois Hitiyaremye -

Thank you my colleague to discuss about disadvantage of online courses. 

According to me, electricity can not interrupt activities of exam or test, you know that when you have exam or test , you can take more time to prepare yourself.  The reason why , you can charge your laptop or other instrument that you can used in exam or test . 

In reply to Jean Theoneste NZABIRINDA

Re: Disadvantages of online courses

by Francois Hitiyaremye -
Here , I have another suggestions about disadvantage of online courses very clear , is this:

  • Lack of Structure

Self-disciplined students can benefit from the flexibility and convenience of online classes, but the lack of formal structure can be a pitfall for undisciplined or unmotivated students. You don't have a standard meeting time and you don't have regular, direct interaction with teachers and peers who can remind you of assignments and push you to work harder. Online students who lack self-discipline can fall behind on assignments, fail to study adequately by test deadlines and ultimately suffer because of a lack of initiative in engaging instructors via e-mail or phone.