As the COVID-19 took over the whole world, the dynamics of the world began to change. During the emergence and advent of this pandemic, people were unable to do the tasks and activities they easily and regularly did before the pandemic. The world went through a massive lockdown, and at that time, people and institutions looked for substitutes to complete their works, objectives, tasks, and to fulfill their needs. If we particularly look at the educational sector and students, we find out that after COVID-19, the influence toward online learning and distance learning that is also known as distance education has increased so much. Now everyone prefers this option because of its advantages.
Different types of distance learning:
Distance learning or distance education is of different types. Call the learning process in which connected via technology and learn from home can be included in the category of distance learning.
Online education:
One of the most known types of distance education is online education. There are numerous courses that are done online. And there are numerous online courses that also give certificates too along with that, and there are so many online courses that are available on the internet free of cost. Anybody can easily access them and learn numerous things. Online classes are a major part of learning. During the lockdown, most of the schools went online. Along with that, there are so many well-known institutions that provide the option of online classes for the students who are at long distances so that they can also easily pursue their degrees.
Hybrid courses:
Another type of distance learning is hybrid courses. In this type, of course, students mainly learn from home through technology and online meeting. But they also take some traditional classes. Basically, hybrid courses are a combination of online classes and traditional classes. The teacher or instructor guides students in the in-person classes so that students can easily continue the process of learning while sitting at home.
Conference classes:
Conference classes are similar to online classes in which students and teachers are connected and interact through gadgets like smartphones or laptops and with the internet. Good internet connection is necessary for all types of distance education. In conference classes, teachers and students take classes in real-time through live sessions. Students and teachers can interact and see each other in these live sessions easily. The process of education continues in exactly the same way as traditional classes.
Correspondence courses:
Correspondence courses are the courses in which students are provided learning material, documents, and essays through email or any other source while sitting at home. Students are given deadlines to complete these Essays. Students complete these Essays and submit them in the same way they receive. This type of distance learning includes self-learning. Although they get learning material, they have to work so much on their own. In this situation, they take help from the Nursing Essay Help and other educational websites that guide the students.
Below we will discuss how distance learning benefits everyone, especially students, during this time pandemic.
The safest way during a pandemic:
The precautionary measures that experts suggested were to maintain a safe distance from people and wear a mask in public to catch the coronavirus from the people. So it was not safe to go out. And at that time to continue the learning process, the safest and best option was to stay home and educate yourself through distance learning. Because distance learning makes it possible for you to learn and continue the process of education and save students from the biggest loss. Students continue the process of education and learning while sitting at home safely only because of distance education.
Greater flexibility:
Distance learning provides greater flexibility to both teachers and students because no matter where you are, you can continue the process of learning easily while sitting at home. Even if you want to learn from foreign trainers, you can easily learn from them while sitting far away from them. Distance learning is a blessing for the students who work along with their studies. They can take lectures and study at any time of the day whenever they get time. You can learn in the early morning, late night, or on weekends. This time and place flexibility turns into a blessing for teachers and students during the time of the pandemic.
Cost-effective:
Distance learning is cost-effective. When you learn and study while home your numerous expenses minimize or even finished because when you do not go outside your travel expense and food expense is saved. Not only that, you did not need to buy books and other things because you learn from the material available online or from the PDFs and material provided by the teachers. Your considerable expenses are eliminated because of distance learning. Distance learning is cost-effective as compared to going to traditional education.
Refined critical thinking skills:
In distance learning, students have to put more effort while learning as compare to the traditional classroom. Students have to self-learn and search and find things on their own. This practice develops critical thinking skills in the students. They learn how to analyze things. They observe things and search about them before going to any conclusion. When they start analyzing things and asking questions about everything, they become a critical thinker. This helps them to learn more.
Improve technical skills:
Distance learning increases the interaction of the students and teachers with the technology. They spend more and more time on technology with the aim of learning and educating their selves. This improves their technological skills, which are so important for everyone living in the technological world. Because now technology is present everywhere. Where ever you go or wherever you are done, technology is involved in your every task. Now it is so important to become computer literate. Not only that, distance learning teaches students how they can use technology productively and for their development. They get a chance to explore the technology which can enhance their learning and education. So students spend more time with technology to learn instead of play video games.
