I find that online learning is quite practical, easy, and interesting. It has both good and bad aspects. One of the greatest advantages of learning online is that it saves you time by eliminating the need to travel and it gives you the opportunity to attend classes wherever you are. Online learning also saves on the financial cost of travel and eating out. There is also less stress and we have the opportunity to practise our technical skills, which will be useful for our future professional life. As I said, learning from home has many advantages, but also requires a high level of motivation and self-discipline. One of the biggest challenges in online learning is the struggle to focus on the screen for long periods. It is very easy to get distracted and find yourself on social media or other websites. Other problems are technical issues, the feeling of isolation, and lack of practice. In addition, online learning is quite tiring as we spend around 6 hours in front of the computer. What I enjoy most about learning online is that I can spend more time with my family and friends.
What do you think are the advantages / disadvantages of studying from home?
One of the greatest advantages of online learning for me is that I don't have to travel and can use this time to develop my skills. On the one hand, I can pursue my interests and hobbies and on the other, I can spend more time with my family. During the online classes, I had the opportunity to discover my strengths and work on further development in these directions. For me, the circumstances during the pandemic and online learning were not an obstacle to success. I researched the subject of "racism" and won the “Germany Plus” scholarship from the German Pedagogical Exchange Service. Another important advantage of online learning for me is that I can even participate in distance learning if I am sick and that means I don't miss any learning material. Along with the advantages, online learning also has its disadvantages. When I'm at home, for example, I can't concentrate well and have little motivation to study because there is no suitable learning atmosphere and there is always something to distract me. I also feel isolated during online classes and there is a lack of live interaction with my teachers and classmates.
What kind of teaching or learning would you like for the future?
In the future, I would prefer face-to-face teaching because I think the school environment is very different from the one at home. The calm and pleasant atmosphere in school means I feel ready to learn, but at home, I always get distracted. The presence of a teacher also helps me to concentrate more on my tasks and to get involved in the topic. For these reasons, I believe traditional face-to-face teaching is much more effective and motivating. Online learning is useful in exceptional circumstances but cannot completely replace traditional learning.
Describe what a digital school could look like for you in 10 or 20 years.
In my opinion, in 10 or 20 years, education will be completely online and we will no longer have to go to school. Students will have enormous freedom and opportunities to develop as there will be no time or space restrictions. There will be a wide range of schools around the world because online learning allows you to study from anywhere in the world. Even if I lived in Bulgaria, for example, I would have the opportunity to study at a German school and improve my German without having to travel. I also think there will be no more textbooks in the future because the world is changing at a very fast pace and the information in textbooks becomes out of date very quickly. Students will learn using online learning tools adapted to their skills. Perhaps in the future training will be personalized and students will become more and more involved in designing their own programmes of study.
