The Remote Learning Revolution: Challenges and Innovations in Education

Remote learning is not a new concept. It dates back to the early 18th century, although it was not as widely known or considered a mainstream option. Parcel posts, radio, and television – these mediums were quite popular early on. However, with the introduction of the internet, remote learning finally took off in the early 1990s.

This method of learning is the #1 choice for its convenient nature. Just think about it! Could you have hired an expert from a service like MyAssignmentHelp within seconds of encountering a problem with your assignment and essay if the internet didn’t let you connect to experts worldwide? So, there’s no doubt that remote learning has revolutionized the entire education sphere.

That being said, it is not without challenges. When you compare this method to traditional learning, there are some glaring issues that convenience cannot hide, such as the following –

Inability to Keep Students Engaged

In the traditional method of learning, students might be confined within the four walls of their classroom. However, they aren't alone. The educator is right in front of them; their peers are right beside them. Thus, the traditional method of learning offers engagement opportunities that are severely lacking in remote learning options.

If there's something you don't understand, you can ask the educator to provide more clarity on the topic immediately if you were in the same space as them. In the case of online learning, this option is only available if you're attending live classes. However, for pre-recorded sessions, you have to share your concerns and wait for the educator to address them later on.

Body language matters as well. According to a study focusing on the role of teacher’s kinetics on student learning, it was found that students feel more engaged and develop a sense of accountability to improve when educators maintain eye contact.

Now, think from the perspective of the teacher. It is easier for them to figure out whether the students understand what’s being taught in class by checking their body language. Common things to look out for include the following –

● Sporadic eye contact

● Checking the time

● Constant fidgeting

It’s impossible to detect these when the student isn’t even present in front of the teacher. If they were present, then the educator could have adjusted their teaching method to capture students’ attention. However, the lack of face-to-face interaction means the students will continue to remain distracted.

Inability to Regulate Student Dishonesty

Yes, there are tools like Respondus Monitor and ProctorU that effectively restrict students’ access to the internet during any online test. Ideally, if the test-takers cannot access any other window other than the test, they can’t cheat, right?

Well, don't underestimate students. They can come up with multiple methods to cheat AI monitoring tools. As a result, it becomes quite challenging to assess a student's true understanding of a subject.

Besides, as more and more cases of students turning to dishonest methods come to light, people are casting doubts on the legitimacy of the results.

“How can we accept these online scores if we can’t even make sure that the students aren’t cheating?” asks Alison Heather, a member of the admission committee at the University of California.

Thus, students who maintain complete honesty while taking online exams also get questioned regarding the legitimacy of their scores.

Inability to Address Access Disparities

It is ironic that remote learning is praised for its accessibility when, in reality, access disparities still remain. This method of learning requires the following –

● A device that supports online classes (READ: mobile phones, laptops, etc.)

● Stable internet connection

Now, the percentage of students who have access to these facilities in first-world countries like the UK, USA, Japan, etc. is significantly higher than that in third-world countries. So, the fact that remote learning is considered more accessible is a myth.

These are not simple challenges that can be resolved overnight. However, educators and online academic services offering remote learning options can apply certain innovative measures to address some areas of concern.

Innovative Measures to Address Remote Learning Shortcomings

The shortcomings highlighted in remote learning can be resolved only when governments put their minds together and come up with long-term solutions. Meanwhile, here are some innovative measures to make do in the current scenario –

● Adopt microlearning techniques where students are provided content in bite-sized units so that they don’t get distracted easily.

● Incorporate gamification elements like a top-achievers board, badges, and rewards to increase student engagement.

● Create local communities where students who lack access to the internet or appropriate devices can gather to learn.

Online academic services like Allessaywriter.com offering essay help support can also set up a 24/7 emergency service that students can approach whenever they need a query resolved ASAP.

These measures might not completely remove the problem. However, at least they can reduce the drabness and alienation that students feel when opting for remote learning.

Disclaimer: No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in the creation of this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.