A decade ago, this topic might have sounded entirely unnecessary. Thanks to COVID and the developments that followed, “Learning from home versus Learning in School” has gained huge traction.
The modern-era students have seen a considerable amount of both – home-based learning (HBL) as well as classroom learning. HBL is something that a few students have welcomed well while others dread it to the core. Not only children, but even parents also take sides when it comes to the discussion on which is better – classroom learning or HBL.
So, which method of education is actually more effective? The school holidays might be a good time to consider both options (especially for tuition services), as parents prepare for the year ahead.
In a recent Instagram survey, to learn more about students’ opinions, it was discovered that 54% of respondents preferred HBL to in-person teaching.
Has COVID-19 been a blessing in disguise and introduced children to a more effective and efficient style of learning?
Let’s start by going through some of the explanations given by students for why they favour HBL over face-to-face classes:
Introverts’ paradise
HBL is favoured by many shy students as the perfect learning atmosphere. By simply “unmuting” themselves during the online lesson or even putting out their questions or responses into the chatbox, they can participate in sessions without being surrounded by many other students. For shy students, this takes the pressure off of speaking up.
The comfort of home
HBL means that many students can turn on their ACs and sit at their most convenient spot to attend their classes. Instead of having to wake up early and get ready for school to pack lunch, students can get ready for online classes more leisurely. Also, students tend to concentrate better when they study in a relaxing setting.
No transport costs
Some children have to travel a long distance to reach their school. This isn’t just a waste of time, it also costs the children’s families. Even though Singaporean students have access to discounted transportation fares, they can save even more money via HBL.
Extra time
Since they don’t have to commute to school for HBL, students can use the extra time to get more sleep and work done. They have the benefit of waking up right before the class without having to miss out on sleep to get dressed and get to class on time. Via HBL, children will have more energy to study during the day since it allows them to get more rest time.
Access to recorded sessions
In order to make sure students don’t miss out on any pointers mentioned during classroom sessions,, students had to take notes. But with HBL, teachers can either pre-record lessons or record them live during the virtual lesson, allowing students to always go back and view them again in case they missed any session. Moreover, students can effectively utilise these recorded sessions for revision during exam times.
Flexible schedule
Due to the fact that they are not confined to the classroom all day, even in between their free periods, HBL allows students to have a more flexible schedule. With no lessons in between, they are able to fit more tasks into their calendar.
As you can see, HBL has many advantages for students, but it also has some drawbacks.
Now, let us look at some of the reasons why students choose to return to school rather than taking HBL:
Distractions at home
Students find it challenging to remain motivated and engaged when they are alone in front of a laptop screen. Because there is little interaction during online lectures, students tend to drift off, pick up their phones, sleep off, etc. It is a general tendency for children to feel like they aren’t being productive or learning much during HBL sessions.
Back-to-back online classes can also be incredibly exhausting because it can strain their eyes and they would have to put up with technical lags and glitches which can be quite annoying.
No practical experience
We all understand the value of practical instruction, particularly for science practicals that are assessed in our national exams. Several certificates and degree programs also place a strong emphasis on hands-on training.
While HBL allows students to watch videos on how to complete their practical work, it cannot possibly replace the trial-and-error and real-world visualisation that can come through hands-on learning.
Poor social life
It should go without saying that HBL seriously jeopardises students’ social lives. This could be an issue because attending school will present them with numerous opportunities to widen their social circle and meet new people during class time and CCA. This is particularly true for students who are transitioning to a new environment. They will miss the opportunity to get to know their peers well and form genuine bonds with them.
Difficulty in focusing
When the resources are all there and there is no teacher present to physically oversee the kids, HBL calls for a lot of self-discipline. Students must take responsibility for their own education and make the effort to thoroughly study the recorded lectures for their own advantage because no one will compel them to do so.
No work boundaries
Without a designated study space, children may get overworked as their homes act as a “second school.” They could experience persistent pressure to do additional homework at home, attend meetings in their spare time, etc. When they have HBL, students feel as though they have a larger task to complete. This can be due to the difficulty of online coursework or teachers making up for the lack of in-person interactions.
Hard time reaching out
When a teacher is physically present in front of a student, they can quickly show the teacher their worksheet or other work, but this is not possible when the teacher is instructing online.
Online meetings have given rise to “raise hand” features, however, occasionally the teacher may not see it, in which case the student must talk over them to catch their attention. These typically deter students from speaking up during their online sessions and raising questions.
Students in Singapore have had positive experiences with both in-person and online learning. Even though students will always have mixed feelings about the announcement of HBL or returning to school, students must learn to adjust and get the most out of their learning environment despite the benefits and drawbacks. At the same time, schools need to schedule a perfect blend of classroom learning and HBL sessions to help students grasp the positives of both streams of education. Wishing you all the best in both HBL and classroom learning! 🙂
Exam Smart Tips
Exam Smart Tip #1 – How to Encourage Our Kids to Speak Better?
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Exam Smart Tip #3 – Establishing Routines!
Exam Smart Tip #4 – Let’s Read Carefully!
Exam Smart Tip #5 – Beating the Exam Fever!
Exam Smart Tip #6 – How to Eat Right for the Exams?
Exam Smart Tip #7 – How to Avoid a Meltdown?
Exam Smart Tip #8 – Taking Stress out of Tests
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