Side Effects of Online Education

In view of the fact that the Covid19 pandemic happened and affected almost
everyone in this world, it can’t also be denied that its enormous effect also affected our
education system greatly to the point that a lot of changes have been made in order to still give
the students the quality education that is needed. In the article “Side effects of online
education” published on October 9, 2021 in the website eLearning Industry together with other
related articles. Emmy Michelle cited the different factors and effects that we are facing
through this new online education. The article aims to tell the general public how online
education affects both the students and the teachers. While the article cited both the positive
and negative sides of online education, it still missed to give much importance to the effects of
online education that negatively affects the students and the teachers during this difficult time.

Published on the internet where it’s accessible to everyone especially considering

that the topic is also connected to modernity, the author of the article categorized the factors
that we are facing through this new online learning system. The implications of transition to
online learning states that the change affects not only the teachers but also the parents and
especially the students. The transition also affects the students’ health and even sleeping
habits. The online learning advantages is that it has become more convenient for students to
study and attend their classes at any place and any time. Because of this, there is a lesser
chance for a student to miss their class. Students' needs are met and gives better access into
higher education through online classes than they have ever been able to achieve in personal
classrooms. Online courses also promise to provide constant access to students' lives, changing
educational options. Students can learn from teachers in any time zone around the world and
at any time of day via online education. Through online learning, students can also be accessed
regardless of how far they are from one another. This also helps to limit the exposure of both
the students and teachers from one another which can help to prevent being infected by the
covid19. For the impact of online learning on children, it is a great alternative educational
medium for mature self-disciplined children. Online learning teaches the children to be
organized, self-motivated and have a high level of time management however this might be a
struggle for other types of kids. Teachers must ensure that their online classes are clear,
interesting, and interactive for students to focus on the material. Students' time commitment is
frequently misconstrued to suggest that online courses demand less time and effort than
traditional courses.. Despite the positive effects, online learning also has its negative effects like
loss of motivation, self-discipline, and the need to study are some of the biggest problems
children face. A non-effective online learning can also lead to students not developing
necessary communications skills. It should also be noted that online learning needs a stable and
fast internet connection, however, it’s not a secret that not everyone is privileged enough to
have one. Online learning also causes social isolation which can greatly affect the students.
There are also factors that determine how well a student’s education performs in online
learning include individual learning styles, learning environments, and the level of parental
involvement. Since there is a minimal physical interaction between teacher and students For
example, a joint study by the National Education Association (NEA) and the National Parent
Teacher Association (NPTA) on the impact of online education revealed that most students
thought they had received a decent education but also felt driven to learn owing to emotional,
economic, and health stress. Distance educators point to a 2001 study of online courses that
indicated that feeling alone was a major stressor that contributed to students dropping out.
Online classes let students maintain a feeling of normalcy in uncertain times by allowing them
to use their time to continue their education, which can be a relief for parents concerned about
their children's future.

Emmy Mitchelle was able to objectively present the factors that we are facing right
now through this new online education system. She was able to present both positive and
negative effects and as well as how these can help the students. However, she missed some
important points in her narrative. While she did mention some negative effects, she still missed
to emphasize some important points of the negative effects that cause much bigger problems
than we think. She did mention loss of motivation, self-discipline, and the need to study as
some of the major problems that students are facing, however, there are bigger problems than
these. Online classes are taking a toll on the mental health of the students and even some
teachers. In an article “U.S. Parents Say COVID-19 Harming Child's Mental Health” by Valerie J.
Calderon, it was stated that “Nearly three in 10 (29%) say their child is "already experiencing
harm" to their emotional or mental health because of social distancing and closures. Another
14% indicate their children are approaching their limits, saying they could continue social
distancing for a few more weeks until their mental health suffers.” This was according to Gallup
Panel polling of parents with school-aged children conducted via the web in May. Mental health
problems especially during the start of the “new normal” in the education system continue to
rise and have become more serious than they already are. According to a demographics
presentation by Degree Sought about how the mental health of the students were impacted,
20% of college students and 12% of high school students said that their mental health
worsened significantly. In an article by Philstar Global published in October last year, it was
mentioned that the “SPARK said that as of Oct. 25, it has monitored 20 cases of “deaths directly
connected to distance learning. Of the total, 19 were students from grade six to third year
college. Of the 19, 17 are suicides, one death due to electrocution and another due to vehicular
accident,” the group added.”

Through reading the whole article, I have attained the purpose of the article is to give
additional knowledge, information and as well as assurance about online education. Though
there were some lapses with regards to some important information, the overall aim of the
article was still achieved. The author provided factual information and even data that supports
her article. Since the article was published on the internet wherein a lot of people have access
to, its aim to give information to the public was also well achieved.

The purpose of the article was still achieved despite the lack of further information
that could’ve helped to support the article better. Despite the positive effects of online
education, we should still consider its negative effects as this has a huge factor on everyone
that is involved in the topic. After all, the article is entitled “Side effects of online education”
thus the author should’ve included all “side effects'' regardless if it's positive or negative. It
would also be better if the article includes ways to solve the said problems and other problems
that was not mentioned in order for the article to be more beneficial and to serve its purpose
well in gaining information and knowledge.

Reference list
Michelle, E. (2021, October 9). Side Effects Of Online Education. eLearning Industry.
https://elearningindustry.com/side-effects-of-online-education

Cervantes, D. (2020, October 28). Group assails DepEd, cites 17 student suicide cases. PhilStar
Global
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/28/2052834/group-assails-deped-cites-17-student-
suicide-cases

The Impact of Covid19 in Student’s Mental Health. (2020, April). Active Minds
https://www.activeminds.org/studentsurvey/

Calderon, V. (2020, June 16). U.S. Parents Say COVID-19 Harming Child's Mental Health. Gallup.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/312605/parents-say-covid-harming-child-mental-health.aspx