Remote education is not a novelty at all. Though it may seem the other way round, it has actually been present since the late 1800s, but only in the late 20th century did distance learning begin to flourish.

With the arrival of the internet, remote learning has largely become synonymous with online learning. Since the early 1990s, it has been enjoying moderate popularity. And then, in 2020, the pandemic struck and the whole world went remote.

To ensure social distancing, students had left schools and campuses with all their amenities and resorted to homeschooling. Eventually, they had to cope with a whole new array of problems in addition to those that had already been present.

So, the problems are not all new

Many of them had already existed before, they just were less conspicuous. For example, writing tasks have always been pretty tough. However, with the availability of teachers during in-person classes, it was easier to deal with writing. Remote learning changed that.

Luckily, online student help services like an essay writing service EssayHub were ever-ready to lend a hand and offer quality essay help at an affordable price. Such services have become real life-savers for exhausted students. But, surely, they can’t solve all the problems that switching to distance learning has brought into light.

Is it even possible to solve them?

Surely, it is, and many students have already done it. They’ve learned how to grapple with the cons of remote education and make the most of its pros. And there are quite a few, by the way.

Pros of Remote Education

Here are just a few, so that you wouldn’t think online learning is all that bad:

• Flexibility;
• Accessibility;
• Lower costs;
• Time saved on commute;
• Wider range of programs;
• Learning at your own pace.

Now bad, isn’t it? Remote learning could have been perfect – were it not for its no less obvious cons.
Fortunately, it’s quite possible to deal with them. Let’s see how.

Cons of Remote Education (and How to Deal With Them)

All students are different – so, something that can be a huge issue for one person can be of no significance to another. However, some problems are more common than others. Here they are, along with suggested solutions.

1. Too Many Distractions

This one is often cited as the most annoying problem of both distance learning and remote work. Admittedly, being at home among the members of your household is not the same as being in a classroom full of your fellow students who are all doing the same thing.
What’s more, there’s always something to do at home: you can watch TV, lie down on a couch, eat yet another sandwich... So, how is it possible to avoid getting distracted from your studies in such circumstances?
Solution: Work Out a Schedule
Think of why it is easier to stay organized at school than at home. Obviously, at school, you have a strict schedule, and you have to stick to it. So, why not adopt the same approach at home?
You probably already have online classes scheduled, so you can build your daily routine around them. Ask everyone not to bother you while you attend a lecture, and don’t forget to take notes. Then, schedule your homework so that you’ll have time slots long enough to get things done.

2. Technical Issues

Online education is heavily dependent on technology, and things can go wrong at any time. Your internet connection may be unstable or your laptop too outdated, or you may not be a proficient user of certain software programs that your teacher uses… and a lot more.
Solution: Take Care of Your Equipment
Sometimes problems would occur on your teacher’s side, not yours. In this case, there’s hardly anything to be done. But you, on your side, can ensure that you have all the necessary software installed on your computer, it’s working properly, and you know how to use it. You can also switch to a provider offering a stable connection that wouldn’t crash all the time. You may even need to work to buy a new computer, but it will eventually pay back.

3. Lack of Social Interaction

Studying on campus provides more than educational opportunities. School is also the place where you meet up with your peers and socialize. Remote education, in turn, can feel daunting because of the lack of social interaction. Students can even become less motivated to study because they don’t feel like they’re a part of a class anymore.
Solution: Find Time to Socialize
However, strict lockdowns are over in most countries, so you can meet up with your friends outside of school. Time can be an issue, but with a proper schedule, you’ll manage to find time for both studying and socializing if you really want to.

4. Lack of Interaction With Teachers

This might be one of the most important issues of distance education, but let’s be honest: the pandemic made teachers struggle no less than their students. However, most of them do try to be as attentive to the students’ problems as they can, replying to emails at night and returning phone calls received after the working day is over.
Solution: Formulate Requests Clearly
You can make things easier for both you and your teacher if you learn to formulate your requests clearly and not demand an immediate reply. For example, “I don’t know how to write an essay” is a vague request, whereas “Could you please help me choose from these three topics” is a clearer one.
However, if you feel you’re really being left behind, you may need a private tutor to help you catch up. Such tutors can also be found online, and sometimes it’s the only possible solution.

Wrapping Up

Remote education can be daunting if you don’t know how to cope with the problems. But it can also be beneficial once you learn to manage it properly. Follow our advice to solve the four most common issues, and chances are you’ll come to enjoy distance learning even more than in-person classes!