The format is better for some and worse for others.
Studying in class can be invigorating. It can also be nerve-wracking, however. Thinking on the spot and speaking in front of a group of others can place extra stress on your body and mind, for better or for worse.
To date, research has shown people relate to online teaching differently than they do that experienced in the classroom. A new study conducted by researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany looked at how the two affect your body’s stress levels.
During the study, an array of physiological parameters were measured. It was found that those people learning equally intellectually demanding content offline experienced notably lower levels of physical excitation compared with those learning in-class. These students had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva and they were more relaxed. They also had a decreased heart rate. The effects of this are both good and bad, experts say.
“We know that stress strongly affects learning and memory processes, as well as on sustaining attention,” said Morris Gellisch, one of the study’s lead authors. “A moderate physiological state of excitation has a positive effect if it occurs temporally in the context of the learning task,” he added.
It was also found that students who learned in-class had increased activity in their sympathetic nervous system. This led to more enjoyment when learning in-person compared to learning remotely.
Not for everyone…but ideal for some
As with any learning environment, online learning has it benefits and drawbacks. Northeastern University points out that courses taken online can bring added flexibility, self-paced learning, better time management, a global perspective, improved virtual communication and collaboration, and refined critical thinking skills. Furthermore, students who struggle with hyperactivity, high levels of creativity, and feelings of shyness have been found to do better in some online learning environments than they do in-class.
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Online learning can allow some students to get more sleep, and focus more without the distractions of classroom chatter
This being said, Statista.com shows that 47% of parents and guardians in the US felt that children learned less online than in-class during the pandemic. As such, obviously learning remotely isn’t a formula that works for everyone.
Back to class
As we head into the fall, the vast majority of students are back to classes in-person across North America. Schools show no signs of shutting down in relation to the spread of COVID-19. This being said, some areas continue to offer the option of online learning through public school systems as the virus continues to run through communities. For example, in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, approximately 150,000 students will be learning online this coming fall. Officials say the priority remains on supporting the nearly 2 million others, however, who will be attending in-person.
The face of education is changing which can be a good thing going forward. Hopefully the right balance is struck in order to better the educational experience for all types of learners and teachers, alike.
photo credits: Juliya Shangarey/Shutterstock.com
