*Experts opine that by adopting both methods of teaching, students and teachers can make the most of their time in the classroom together while taking advantage of the perks associated with online learning

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

At the outset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, almost everything from work meetings to doctors鈥� visits has shifted online.

For parents, this has also meant adjusting to virtual school for their kids.

Now, researchers from the Dresden University of Technology in a recent study explored what the future of schooling may look like.

The experts explained that though there have been benefits linked to online learning, it is not likely to be the sole form of education moving forward;

According to researchers, instead, education professionals are likely to utilise a combination of both in-person and digital teaching.

Dr. Anne G盲rtner, one of th researchers, said: 鈥淒igital teaching should be seen as a complementary means to further improve the quality of teaching, and the importance of face-to-face teaching should not be forgotten.鈥�

In exploring how students had early troubles with online learning for the study, Dr. G盲rtner pulled on her own experiences as an educator and her students鈥� experiences with both virtual and in-person learning over the last few years.

She learned that there are positives and negatives tied to the virtual learning experience.

From a student standpoint, she related that it was difficult to stay on top of schoolwork while they were tuning into class from home.

Finding the motivation to complete assignments and actively participate while not physically in the classroom were things that students struggled with, especially when distance learning first started.

G盲rtner said she feared she wouldn鈥檛 get the same level of engagement or connection with her students on a virtual platform.

鈥淗owever, it turned out that my online seminars and lectures have been very well attended so far, and interaction and exchange have been possible, albeit in a somewhat different form,鈥� the researcher stated.

Learning from home led to some benefits

Both teachers and students struggled with technology malfunctions during online learning.

It can take some time to get the right equipment at home, and there is always a risk that an Internet connection may not hold out for the duration of the class.

However, there were positives to learning from home. Students and teachers appreciated the freedom it allowed them to complete work and attend class from any location.

Learners also said that they enjoyed being able to do work on their own timelines, and felt less stress because they could return to recordings of lectures as often as they needed to.

G盲rtner further said: 鈥淥n the one hand, the flexibility in terms of time and space in work organisation is one of the greatest advantages of digital teaching, as not only time but also costs can be saved, for example, by eliminating travel.

鈥淟ecturers have greater autonomy and can decide for themselves how to manage their time and organise their seminars and lectures. In addition, recording teaching materials can be reused.鈥�

G盲rtner predicts that the future will include both in-person and virtual learning.

By adopting both methods of teaching, students and teachers can make the most of their time in the classroom together while also taking advantage of the perks associated with online learning.

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