Disadvantages Of Online Distance Learning

One of the disadvantages of online distance education is the fact that it does not, in many instances, allow for immediate feedback from instructors (Panchabakesan, 2011). Situations may arise, during a course, which require some degree of clarification, opinion or instruction, however, in an online environment where there is no face to face student-teacher dialogue, the information is either delayed or its meaning lost in written format; especially for auditory learners. Wright (2007) opined that the daily or weekly contact with students, as is present in the traditional setting, is absent in the distance learning environment and can lead to issues with self-evaluation, motivation and study pacing. These issues, moreover, can make the learning

The school represents a kind of community. Conrad (2005) defined community as the sense of comfort, connection and belonging that exists in groups where members share purpose, and are committed to achieving a common goal. Palloff and Pratt (2005) posited that educational communities increase student participation and foster learning, thereby, enhancing student satisfaction. Social learning generates a bond among the members of a study or project group as they work collaboratively to complete a common task and achieve maximum results. Collaborative learning processes help students to develop skills in critical thinking, self-reflection and co-construction of knowledge (Brindley, Walti & Blaschke, 2009). Collaboration has roots in social constructivism which involves learning through interaction. Value is placed on the influence of each individual’s past experiences, social interactions and culture (D’Angelo, Touchman & Clarke, 2008). A lack of communication between students in the online learning environment can lead to feelings of isolation and demotivation, which influence drop-out rates. The institution must therefore ensure that measures are put in place to facilitate student-student interaction. Instructors, too, must take students’ prior ideas, experiences and knowledge into account while providing opportunities for students to collaborate and construct new knowledge together;

Online students, too, need these, and other important services, to cope in their environment. Useful support services for online learners include: academic affairs, help desk, library services, contact information for relevant departments and instructors and technical support (Panchabakesan, 2011). It is therefore pertinent that student support systems be put in place in the online distance learning environment as comfortable, satisfied students are more likely to successfully complete their