IMPACT OF DISTANCE LEARNING ON SOCIETY

Impact of distance learning on society

Miras Nussupov

Astana IT University

SE-2007

English for Academic Purposes

Ainur Baizhanova
IMPACT OF DISTANCE LEARNING ON SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION PART:

Distance learning is the future! It is the way of interaction between teacher and

students at a distance. Children communicate with the teacher via video link, complete the

assignment on a special platform or send work by e-mail. Distance learning was rarely used

in schools. But the situation changed in March 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, all

schools had to abruptly go online. But not everything was as smooth as we would like. All of

us - teachers, children, and parents alike - had to adapt to the new education system in a fairly

short time. And this is a great stress for each participant in the process. The teachers did not

have enough experience, the children were unable to adapt, and the parents did not have

enough time to coordinate their studies, work remotely and do household chores. Many

schools were not ready for such a sharp transition to a remote learning format and today I will

tell you about the consequences and ways to solve these problems.

PROBLEM PARTS:

The first and main problem of distance learning is the perception of information and

knowledge in which students studied during the quarantine regime. As a result of the

pandemic, all students were forced to study from home as the article by HWR (2021)

established that "More than half (53%) say that they are not studying or not keeping up with

their classes, as it was before the pandemic. The main obstacles cited by these students are

increased learning difficulties when they are not in the classroom (68%), lack of practical

learning opportunities (60%), unreasonable expectations of what they can do on their own

(48%), problems getting one-on-one help (48%), and high levels of distractions when

learning at home (45%)." Compared to traditional learning, we can say that learning from

home is less effective. And after teaching students online, this may affect their graduation

tests, like UNT, USE, IELTS, TOEFL, SAT through which they will enter universities. In the
IMPACT OF DISTANCE LEARNING ON SOCIETY

format of distance learning, the perception of student’s knowledge has deteriorated, and as a

result, the quality of education will sharply decrease.

The next problem is the lack of devices that help children learn during the pandemic.

Between April 2020 and April 2021, Human Rights Watch surveyed more than 470 students,

parents, and teachers in 60 countries. The survey results stated that "Their teacher called me

and told me to buy a big phone for online learning," said a mother of seven from Lagos,

Nigeria, who lost income when the university she worked at closed due to the pandemic. " I

have tremendous financial difficulties and so I struggle daily to seek out food. How can I

afford a phone and internet connection?"(Anderson, Auxier, 2020). Supported the survey, the

financial situation of the majority does not allow them to buy for various devices, and

children are left without education. This violates their rights, which they have under the law,

and as a result proves that the lack of tools for online learning leads to problems in education

in general.

SOLUTION PARTS:

The first and most common problem can be solved, but difficult. This requires help

from parents and an explanation to students that control is not important, but self-discipline.

Also, with the help of parents, it was meant to allocate a separate room, if it is not possible to

provide a quiet environment for improving students online. Also, a decrease in literacy, or

rather the test results, thanks to which students can enter universities in their country or

abroad. In the issue, I think at such moments the government needs to remove unnecessary

subjects from the schedule and add subjects thanks to which students can prepare for exams

and solve this saturated problem.

The state will not be able to solve the second problem without help. Learning devices

can be distributed to those in need as well as books every year. Also, the state can enter into
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an agreement with little-known companies, and it will be mutually beneficial to remove the

parties. Also, a solution to this problem has already been found in some countries, as our

country has found. Now, they are giving out laptops or installing a computer that was in the

computer science classroom during their traditional studies. But also, not all Denis use these

devices out of need or do not use them at all. Perhaps teachers have a digital literacy lesson

that would be very good for primary school students. In sum, the child will not do without the

intervention of the school and the state of both problems, and it is also possible for parents.
IMPACT OF DISTANCE LEARNING ON SOCIETY

References

Anderson, M., & Auxier, B. (2020, March 16). As schools close due to the coronavirus, some

U.S. students face a digital ‘homework gap.’ Pew Research Center.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/16/as-schools-close-due-to-the-

coronavirus-some-u-s-students-face-a-digital-homework-gap/

Human rights watch. Pandemic’s Dire Global Impact on Education. (2021, May 17).

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/17/pandemics-dire-global-impact-education