When you think of online lessons, what comes to mind?
Being imprisoned in your own home, forced to sit in front of a screen all day whilst having little real-life interaction and enduring the constant repetition of "can you see my screen?", "it's glitching, I can't hear you"... am I close?
Undeniably, the Coronavirus pandemic has changed us as a society, and it has changed the way we perceive online learning. For various reasons, we were all eager for that time to end, and whilst some will tell you that the experience had a positive impact on their lives, for others, it was a thoroughly traumatic ordeal. But what if you'd been asked the same question 5 years ago? And what is the key defining factor here?
Choice.
Historically, it has always been general opinion that people of all ages thrive best in a face-to-face setting; - somewhere they have the social interaction of their peers and all the extra resources needed to maximise productivity. But not always. The number of children who are homeschooled has nearly doubled since 2021 and an increasing numbers of companies are offering remote or hybrid roles to employees. The crucial element to consider here is our ability to choose what's right for us. There's a huge disparity between being forced into endless hours, days and weeks of zoom meetings, and having the autonomy to make our own schedule, on our own terms. Employers and parents are realising, now more than ever, that one size certainly doesn't fit all.
So, with that, what are the benefits of online lessons?
Convenience and flexibility
Online learning takes away all the stress of travel, and if you already spend a lot of time playing taxi to your family or work commitments, this can be a welcome relief. It also saves a lot of money! Whether in a car or using public transport, travel is often that pesky cost we forget to consider; even a short journey adds up when it's taken weekly. Then there's the flexibility. When learning is remote, the flexibility is a game-changer. I have a pupil who, on her family vacation, had tired of the kids club and requested a lesson. She logged in from her hotel room in Mauritius! The possibilities are endless and suddenly, there seem to be many more hours in the day when learning is available, anywhere, any time.
2. Comfort
Sometimes, nothing beats the comfort of your own home, and for many of us, this comfort makes us more productive. Especially for singing lessons, anything that allows a student to feel more relaxed and safe is likely to be more enjoyable and produce better results.
3. Supervision
This one is specifically related to children or vulnerable adults, but if you're a parent or carer, it can bring lots of peace of mind. Although we take great care in vetting schools and tutors before we allow our children to enter into new environments, there's an added reassurance of being able to listen or check in on your loved ones whenever you like whilst they're learning in the next room.
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4. Time efficient
Aside from the time and cost we save from travel, online lessons are time efficient in themselves. In the past when I've worked in schools, it's a common grievance amongst peripatetic staff that pupils may not turn up to their lessons punctually, or they aren't where they're supposed to be when you go to collect them, and it can mean that they don't get their full lesson time. This then has a domino effect on the pupils we have booked in afterwards. In contrast, when a lesson is booked online, due to ease of accessibility, both teacher and pupil are saving so much time when it comes to physically attending that it means there is less likelihood or tardiness or lost minutes.
5. Resource-rich
People are sometimes are put off by the idea of online lessons because they think the resources for learning are limited, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Of course, it does depend on what we're talking about; - if you're a beginner trying to learn cello, in-person lessons would be preferable so that your teacher can physically help you with holding and using the instrument correctly, but in many cases, everything you would have available to you in a face-to-face environment is right there in your online lesson, too. Whether it's sheet music, audio tracks and accompaniment, or the ability to assess all the aspects of a student's progress, technology is developing all the time to support these needs. Screen-sharing offers real-time synchronisation between parties and Zoom even has an optimised setting especially for music lessons which enhances clarity so that teachers can hear elements like pitch, tone, diction and dynamics to a quality level.
6. Neurodivergent friendly
As a neurodivergent person myself, I understand the nuances some students feel when it comes to their learning environment. Children in general are easily distracted, but this can be magnified for people with special educational needs, so it's important to consider each individual and tailor the circumstances accordingly. Whether it's the background noise of a loud group of people right next door or a ticking clock in the corner, being able to identify and eliminate these aspects is a significant factor, and online lessons can offer the best set-up for someone who needs autonomy over their surroundings. Putting neurodiversity aside, it's reported that over 60% of young people now have a medically diagnosed anxiety condition. Whilst shocking, it's on us as a society to listen to the needs of our young people and nurture them respectively. Even the idea of being overheard in a lesson can be traumatic enough to put someone off doing an activity they love, all because the environment wasn't quite right.
7. Environmentally friendly
Aside from eliminating our carbon footprint where travel is concerned, online learning significantly reduces paper waste. Not only is the concept of paper-based learning a nightmare for people who struggle with their organisational skills, it's also concerning how easily it builds up. By utilising digital learning materials, the need for photocopying and paper handouts is removed and this reduction in paper usage contributes to the conservation of trees.
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8. Improves technology skills
Technology is advancing all the time and is now an essential part of modern education. Whilst an online singing or drama lesson isn't going to teach someone about algorithms, debugging or coding, it is another practice of digital literacy which is a necessary skill for growing generations.
Thanks for reading!
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