Copyright The Philadelphia Inquirer
Accelerated by the pandemic, the rise of online education is regarded as a success of convenience and accessibility. For university and college students, asynchronous virtual education offers unprecedented flexibility, allowing them to balance coursework with jobs, family obligations, and personal schedules. In such a format, instructors post the teaching material online, and students access it when convenient. Unfortunately, in the rush to embrace online education, we are ignoring a troubling trend: the erosion of social connection and community that is a key component of college education. This shift significantly contributes to a growing generation of isolated learners and, perhaps, contributes to the increasing trend of societal violence. Social media and online gaming play a key role in the evolution of an isolated learner. The role of higher education is not to contribute to that isolation, but to help the student overcome it. College is more than a list of courses; it’s a critical period for social development and a nexus where young adults learn to navigate complex social dynamics. In a traditional campus setting, students are immersed in a living laboratory of diverse viewpoints and backgrounds. They engage in spontaneous discussions and debates with faculty and peers, form study groups, and interact and collaborate on diverse projects in shared spaces. These daily interactions are essential for developing empathy, tolerance, and the ability to peacefully resolve conflict. By replacing the bustling campus with a lone screen, we increasingly strip away these opportunities, leaving students less prepared to handle the frictions of a diverse society. A recent survey found that more than half of online college students report feeling lonely, and those who do are over four times more likely to experience severe psychological distress. The temptation to cheat Moreover, the lack of in-person oversight in online classes makes it easier for students to engage in academic dishonesty. The temptation to cheat on a quiz or plagiarize an essay becomes a frequent, low-risk moral test. While this may seem like a minor issue, it has a significant cumulative effect. When the boundaries of what is acceptable and unacceptable are blurred in an online setting, it can translate to a broader erosion of personal integrity and ethics. During the pandemic, colleges and universities across the world reported an over 100% increase in cases of cheating in online classes. Unfortunately, with the availability of AI tools, the numbers have only increased over the last year. Education is about building character and acquiring knowledge, not just learning technical skills. An environment that facilitates cheating undermines this crucial aspect of development, leading to people who are more willing to bend the rules and take shortcuts. The online education model also lacks the robust support systems of an in-person campus. University campuses are equipped with mental health services, student support centers, and a network of faculty and staff trained to spot and assist students in distress. Alienation goes unnoticed In an online setting, these vital connections are completely absent. A student struggling with anxiety, depression, or a sense of alienation may go unnoticed. When a student’s distress is left to fester in isolation, it can lead to dangerous and aggressive behaviors. Research has shown that in-person interactions on university campuses lead to lower aggressive behaviors among students. Ultimately, online education, for all its convenience, is a trade-off. Colleges must acknowledge that the digital classroom cannot fully replace the human-centered learning environment of a physical campus. We gain flexibility but lose the essential human infrastructure of a community. A university’s purpose is not just to issue a degree; it is to forge responsible citizens who can engage with the world thoughtfully and peacefully. Colleges must acknowledge that the digital classroom, while a powerful tool, cannot fully replace the human-centered learning environment of a physical campus. We suggest colleges and universities balance online education with the shared experience of learning, and reconnect with the foundational principles of community and empathy that have defined education for centuries.
