When schools closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, teachers and students had to move to online learning very quickly. This guide sums up the most common problems that came with that shift, for teachers, for students, and for schools, and offers practical ways to deal with each one. It is written for teachers, school leaders, learners, and parents who still use online or blended learning today.
On this page 6 sections
Challenges for teachers
Limited technical skills
Many teachers were never trained to teach online. Some did not yet know how to use digital tools well enough to run a class, share materials, or check learners’ work.
What helps:
- Schools can hold training sessions or workshops on the digital tools teachers actually use.
- Teachers can take short online courses to build their own digital skills at their own pace.
Keeping students engaged
Online classes lack face-to-face contact, so it is harder to tell whether learners are paying attention. Learners at home also deal with distractions such as family members, chores, or pets.
What helps:
- Use interactive methods such as quizzes, polls, and game-based activities (gamification).
- Invite learners to take part in online discussions.
- Give group activities so learners interact and work together.
Challenges for students
No device or reliable internet
A major problem for many learners is not having a phone, tablet, or computer, or not having a stable internet connection. Without these, it is hard to attend online classes or finish and send assignments.
What helps:
- Schools can lend or provide laptops, tablets, or smartphones to learners who need them.
- Wi-Fi hotspots can be set up in areas where the connection is weak.
Managing time
Online learning gives learners a more flexible schedule. That flexibility can also lead to putting things off and falling behind, especially when learners also have responsibilities at home.
What helps:
- Make a study plan with clear goals and deadlines for each assignment.
- Use a simple calendar, planner, or time-tracking app to follow the plan.
- Decide which tasks come first.
- Break big assignments into smaller tasks so they are easier to start and finish.
Parents can support this by helping their child set a regular study time and a quiet place to work.
What schools can do
Schools play a large part in making online learning work. Three areas matter most.
Invest in technology and infrastructure
This means providing devices and reliable internet to learners, setting up a learning management system (an online platform for lessons, tasks, and grades), and preparing online learning materials. When learners have the right tools, they have a fair chance to keep up.
Offer professional development
Regular training sessions, workshops, and conferences help teachers improve both their digital skills and their teaching methods for online classes.
Make learning accessible and inclusive
Online learning should work for every learner, including learners with disabilities and those from low-income families. Examples include:
- Closed captions on videos for learners who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Extra support for learners who have no device or internet at home.
Looking ahead
The pandemic sped up the use of online learning, and it is likely to remain part of education. The same challenges and solutions still apply to blended and distance learning today.
Online learning can make education more flexible: learners can study at their own pace and in their own setting. Still, it should not fully replace face-to-face classes. Each mode has strengths and weaknesses, and a balanced mix of both, matched to what learners need, often works best.
Quick summary
| Who | Main challenge | Practical solution |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers | Limited digital skills | Training, workshops, online courses |
| Teachers | Low student engagement | Quizzes, polls, games, discussions, group work |
| Students | No device or internet | School-provided devices, Wi-Fi hotspots |
| Students | Poor time management | Study plan, deadlines, smaller tasks |
| Schools | Supporting everyone | Technology, teacher training, accessibility |
Frequently asked questions
What were the biggest challenges of online learning during COVID-19?
For teachers, the main challenges were limited technical skills and keeping students engaged. For students, they were lack of devices or reliable internet and difficulty managing time.
How can teachers keep students engaged in online classes?
Teachers can use interactive methods such as quizzes, polls, and game-based activities. Online discussions and group work also encourage learners to interact and collaborate.
How can students manage their time better in online learning?
Students can make a study plan with goals and deadlines, use a planner or time-tracking app, prioritize tasks, and break large assignments into smaller parts.
Should online learning replace face-to-face classes?
No. Both modes have strengths and weaknesses, and a balanced approach that combines online and face-to-face learning can give the best results for learners.
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