Learning as an art is a personal journey to discovering, knowing, and acting upon that which is learnt.
It requires one to take deliberate and calculated steps to finding out about things that are unknown.
Learning is as old as man and, over the years different mechanisms have been employed to promote effective learning in various strata of human interaction.
Learning is an interesting part of human existence; there are different methods and styles of learning that is suitable for each student.
In other words, different students learn and assimilate new knowledge differently. The method of learning is quite different for students.
It is imperative to know that learning methods affect student’s overall performance.
However, another form of learning called e-learning is the current trend of knowledge acquisition that is worth exploring.
What is E-Learning?
E-learning is the type of learning that is conducted digitally with the use of electronic media and it is internet facilitated.
This type of learning affords students the opportunity to learn from different geographical jurisdictions once they can access an electronic device (Laptop, Desktop, Smartphone, Tablets) that is internet-enabled.
It is important to note that this type of learning leverages technology so as to be functional.
The Covid-19 pandemic has, undoubtedly, increased digital learning in the African continent just as it has in other parts of the world.
But, as interesting as E-learning may sound, it is posed with inherent challenges too. In the course of this article, we will examine its challenges in Africa.
Below are listed challenges of E-learning in the African continent:
1. Natives living in slums cannot afford the purchase of electronic devices and so, cannot access e-learning from their locality. Isolation as learning from home can be quite lonely and less engaging.
2. Internet access is one of the biggest challenges E-learning is facing in the African continent. Poor internet connectivity hampers the success of digital learning and Africa is yet to achieve seamless internet connection.
3. Some online tools could pose technical difficulties
4. Resources to facilitate online learning may be time consuming and relatively expensive to run as compared with the traditional classroom learning method.
5. Power outage or failure is one big challenge that will reduce the process of E-learning in Africa. Without consistent power supply, online students cannot access digital courses.
6. Learning from home can be quite lonely and less engaging. This might make some students get uninterested in learning online.
7. Most online learners lack motivation; in e-learning, there are little or no rooms for hands-on-deck experiments, unlike the traditional classroom learning method.
With all these earlier mentioned, can we say that Africa is ready to rise greatly in education through e-learning? Well, it is achievable only if all stakeholders involved can do better.
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