eLearning Disadvantages: What Every Student Should Know

• Myles Farfield
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You ever get kicked out of a video call just as your teacher’s explaining the most important part? Welcome to one of the first big headaches with eLearning platforms. It all sounds smooth and modern—grab your laptop, log in from anywhere, learn at your pace. But reality isn’t always that easy.

Not everyone has fast internet or fancy devices. Imagine trying to tune in on a shaky connection or with a phone that can’t load the slides. A surprising study last year found nearly 20% of students had classes interrupted because of tech issues. It’s frustrating, and honestly, it can tank your motivation before you even get started.

We’ll break down these pain points, but stick around—there are actually some smart ways to work around the worst parts. Knowing the traps ahead of time will save you a lot of wasted afternoons shouting "Can anyone hear me?" into the void.

• Technical Barriers and Access Issues
• Loss of Personal Touch and Social Interaction
• Staying Motivated and Focused Online
• Quality and Credibility Concerns

Technical Barriers and Access Issues

If you think eLearning means grabbing any device and diving right in, it’s usually not that simple—especially if you want a smooth ride. When we talk about serious eLearning drawbacks, tech headaches are right at the top of the list.

First off, you need reliable internet. Not just "sort of works" Wi-Fi. A 2023 survey from EDUCAUSE reported that around 15% of students at US colleges had below-average internet speeds at home. This means laggy video calls, lost connections, and files that take forever to upload. And if you’re sharing that internet with others in your house, things can get ugly fast—especially during peak hours.

The device situation isn’t great either. Unlike in-person classrooms where the school provides the resources, everyone’s expected to have their own computer or tablet. Let’s be real: some people are stuck with old laptops or smartphones that overheat, freeze, or just don’t work with certain apps. Touchscreens don’t help much when you’re trying to write up a research paper or do spreadsheet work.

Then you’ve got to deal with platform compatibility. Not all eLearning platforms play nice with every browser or operating system. Try running advanced classroom tools on a Chromebook, and you’ll quickly discover half the features don’t work. Throw in a few timed quizzes and now you’ve got stress trying to reload pages before the clock runs out.

Now, toss tech support in the mix. Technical helpdesks get slammed during midterms and finals. Wait times can stretch for hours, and if you don’t sort the problem yourself, you might miss deadlines or entire lessons.

If you’re gearing up for eLearning, here are a few tips:

• Test your connection and gear before classes start—don’t wait for game day.
• Keep backups of important work. Cloud drives go a long way if your device crashes.
• Have a plan B for internet—like a nearby library, or a friend’s reliable Wi-Fi—especially during exams.
• Bookmark the help desk info and look up common fixes for your device ahead of time.

All this extra planning can eat into your study time. Still, dealing with tech issues is now just part of being an online learner. Until the access gap closes, eLearning’s convenience comes with a few more hurdles than the ads let on.

Loss of Personal Touch and Social Interaction

Something a lot of people miss with online learning is just being around others—chatting before class, working on projects together, or even just sharing a quick laugh in the hallway. With eLearning drawbacks, feeling disconnected is a real thing. A 2023 survey by Learning House found 43% of students said the lack of face-to-face time made it harder to stay engaged and motivated.

The awkwardness of group chats or forums isn’t quite the same as hanging out in person. Jokes get missed, questions get lost, and sometimes you never even see your classmates’ faces if cameras aren’t on. No side convos, no casual feedback, and honestly, it gets kind of isolating. Teachers can’t pick up on your confusion from a look. It takes away a natural, important part of learning—those little moments when you realize you’re not in it alone.

If you’re feeling the absence of real-life interaction, try some of these tips:

• Join or start virtual study groups, even if it feels awkward at first. Regular check-ins can help you connect outside of class.
• Turn on your camera and encourage others to do the same during group calls—it helps put a face to the names and makes you less likely to zone out.
• Use chat apps or discussion boards to ask questions (and answer them for others). It breaks the ice faster than waiting for the official Q&A.

A lot of folks underestimate how much that personal touch matters until it’s missing. If you’re jumping into digital learning, building your own mini-community—even online—can make a huge difference. Don’t just disappear behind the screen. Reach out, get involved, and push for interaction wherever you can.

Staying Motivated and Focused Online

Let’s be real: sticking with eLearning drawbacks usually starts with hitting that wall of distractions. It’s tough to keep your head in the game when your phone lights up with group chats, the fridge is a few steps away, and there’s nobody in the room to give you that "keep going" look. In fact, according to a recent survey from Pew Research Center, over 40% of online learners say it’s a struggle to stay engaged in a self-paced e-course.

No surprise—online classes can make it feel like you’re teaching yourself. Sure, you don’t have a teacher’s eyes on you, but that also means nobody’s there to snap you out of a daydream. A lot of students end up jumping between screens, tabs, and apps, which isn’t great for deep focus. Multitasking feels productive, but actually, a Stanford study found it cuts your learning efficiency by almost half.

So what actually helps? The trick is to hack your home setup and set a game plan. It doesn’t have to be complicated:

• Pick a regular "class spot"—ideally away from the TV, traffic, or snack cupboard.
• Put your phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ or literally put it in another room during sessions.
• Write a short list of your learning goals for the day. Cross them off as you go.
• Break up sessions with quick walks or stretches. Moving a bit helps your brain reboot.
• Find a virtual study buddy. Quick check-ins over chat or video make you more accountable.

Small wins stack up, and the more you build a routine, the easier it gets to push through online classes—even when your bed looks extra inviting.

Quality and Credibility Concerns

How do you know that what you're learning online is actually legit? This is a problem that comes up a lot with eLearning drawbacks. Not every course out there is made equal, and honestly, some don’t even try. When you hear about people getting a certificate in four hours from a website you’ve never heard of, it makes you stop and wonder.

Plenty of online platforms let anyone upload lessons, so you can end up with classes taught by folks who aren’t real experts. A study from the e-Learning Industry Review in 2023 showed that 35% of students were worried about how trustworthy their course material actually was. Even crazy: one student found pages copied right from Wikipedia, no sources or explanation at all.

Another thing that throws people off is accreditation. A certificate from a big name university is one thing, but there are loads of random programs popping up, promising the world. Employers sometimes roll their eyes at certificates from unknown platforms, so do your homework before forking out cash for that fancy badge.

If you want to avoid wasting time (and money), check these before signing up:

• Google the instructor—are they legit, or just someone with a webcam?
• Look for real reviews, not just the testimonials on the course page.
• Verify whether the course is accredited or recommended by industry pros.

Don’t accept everything at face value. If something smells off, it probably is. Save your time for courses that are actually worth it and respected in your field.