After the global pandemic, learners around the world have gained a new set of skills to navigate learning online, which has carved a new pathway for education. While the world has mostly returned to pre-pandemic days with learners back in school, institutions are becoming increasingly more open in offering hybrid education to learners. This can come in the form of e-learning or attending lessons through a virtual classroom. However, a new environment would also mean that this will inevitably be accompanied by a different set of challenges. With online learning on the rise, one might question if this move improves focus by removing distractions or if it creates new ones.

Benefits of Online Learning

Online learning presents an opportunity for learners to take part in self-paced learning, which allows them to learn at their own speed without pressure. This caters for more flexibility in learning, and more importantly, it is easier to make adjustment for students who may have different learning needs. This flexibility may be able to accommodate their needs without having them miss out on the learning.

Having given the opportunity to learn online also offers learners the option of choosing their own quiet spaces to help them concentrate. A suitable environment may be a factor that impacts their focus. With learners having able to choose their own private spaces may help in minimising disruptions during learning. This could include but is not limited to distractions from peers or high noise levels.

As we are connected through virtual classrooms, it is easier for learners to access digital content during lessons. Online educational tools also play a big role in engaging and sustaining the attention of learners. Learning content can now be presented through videos, quizzes, and digital exercises. It offers more opportunities to reach out to learners with different learning styles. For example, a learner who feels the strain from writing physically may then benefit from being able to type out their answers. This may improve their motivation to perform a written task. In the case of online learning, this layer of barrier may then be broken down and serve as an opportunity to improve the attention and motivation of this learner to complete a task.

Challenges of Online Learning

Online learning is not able to fully replicate an environment that is similar to a classroom setting, which then makes it harder for educators to reinforce class rules in an online climate. The flexibility that online learning gives inevitably creates a potential disruption in learning. This places certain students at a higher risk of losing opportunities in learning. While some may display a higher level of discipline during online learning, certain learners may require more rules in place to remove distractions during learning. Hence, this may create an additional barrier that makes it harder to rein in learners who need more help in sustaining attention.

These days, as most learners are digital natives, the chances of online temptations are well-present in their immediate environment. Social media, text notifications, and gaming are distractions that some learners may find hard to resist. With digital distractions, learners may find themselves succumbing to these temptations more easily as they are now made more accessible. These distractions may in turn create a new set of problems that take time away from learning.

Apart from digital distractions, one other factor includes the fatigue from the prolonged use of devices. If the learners do not regulate their screen time, the discomfort that they may experience from the fatigue may set the learners back in their learning as they will now have to spend more time taking breaks to recover from health-related discomforts from prolonged use of devices.

Strategies to Improve Focus in Online Learning

With hybrid education on the rise, learners will inevitably be required to spend time learning online. With this in mind, it is then important to equip them with appropriate strategies to help them improve their focus during online learning.

Firstly, learners could download apps such as website blockers to block out distractions during learning or toggle the settings to limit social media usage. They may also wish to invest in a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds to block out distractions in their environment. Making some minor tweaks will go a long way in helping to minimise distractions from the environment.

Secondly, learners can be encouraged to plan out a schedule or take structured breaks to allow them to rest and stay focused during lesson time. It may be helpful to consider using an app to remind one to take a break or simply install an app with guided techniques to learn how to improve concentration. A clear routine will also help pave the way and reduce the physical stressors of learning online. This will reduce the risk of experiencing any health-related discomfort due to prolonged use of devices.

Thirdly, to ensure that the learner is well-engaged, it will be helpful for parents, carers, and teachers to support them through check-ins. Teachers can also provide interactive learning materials to help them sustain attention and improve focus. Connecting with peers online through discussions can also keep them engaged and motivated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, online learning presents an alternative mode of attaining knowledge, and this method of learning may help boost the focus of learners who come with certain learning profiles. However, this mode also introduces unique distractions that may take away opportunities from their learning. Therefore, while keeping both the benefits and challenges in mind, it is important to consider if the success of online learning is truly only about the delivery of an online lesson. Another aspect to consider is if the students are trained in managing their focus during online sessions. If the delivery of lessons is tailored and well-aligned to engage the students in the way that they learn best, perhaps the outcomes of online learning could be vastly improved. However, it is still crucial and necessary to impart strategies to equip the learners with ways to manage online learning to facilitate responsible learning.