Pros: On-line learning places the advantage with the learner rather than the institution. It creates a more effective educational market as opposed to a controlled allocation of scarce teaching resources through the traditional regional location of educational institutions.
In many ways, e-learning is the globalization of education. A student can have classmates and instructors from all over the world. This in it self is a wonderful educational opportunity.
Cons: Electronic learning may isolate students physically, which can have negative effects on team building and sociability. Students with an aptitude for verbal expression may suffer in the virtual classroom.
Not every student possesses the discipline needed to complete a distance course without instructor prodding them along. Unfortunately, classes with little instructor interaction have high dropout rates, sometimes as high as sixty percent. Students who get frustrated with the technology may lose faith. Employees having to learn on their own time can add to the workload of an already overstressed person.
Distance education is demanding, because it requires independent discipline from both the faculty and the student. As a result of the effort, learning becomes more meaningful with deeper comprehension. Students and their instructors share responsibility for developing individual goals and objectives. Students must actively interact with class members, which promotes reflection on the subject matter and elevates the students' self-esteem.
