Band 7+: Nowadays, more and more people are choosing to study courses online than attending face-to face courses. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disavantage?

Many universities are offering more and more courses online, but I believe that the disadvantages are greater than the advantages.

First of all, with the development of Artificial Intelligence, it is easy for many students to cheat even during classes. For example, on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, there are videos where a student was using ChatGPT during a conference to get answers. This shows that online learning can harm their critical thinking. Furthermore, students may spend more time on their phones or other apps instead of paying attention to lessons, which reduces their ability to analyse and solve problems independently. Despite some advantages, I am convinced that online courses reduce students’ ability to think critically and make decisions on their own.

One of the considerable reasons is social interaction. It plays a key role in society. For example, a person who stays confined indoors, like a bird in a cage, will not improve their social skills. If we compare two people, one who communicates with society has more opportunities and experiences than a person who studies alone and interacts less. Publicity is not a comfort zone; for this purpose, universities prepare students for adult life. When students become adults, they feel responsibility for their speech, opinion, and actions. That is why institutions play a key role in public life.

However, there are many other factors that support online learning. One of them is accessibility. For foreigners who do not have access to offline learning, it is the best option because they are not punished by any rules. Education has adapted to their schedules and needs. Although it does not protect them from laziness or lack of discipline, this argument is invalid in this case.

To conclude, despite some advantages, I am convinced that universities should not suggest online education more and more, since it reduces students’ critical thinking and communicative skills. We must ensure that focusing on online learning does not come at the cost of developing crucial skills.