Yes, practical studies are often compromised in the online mode of education, but the extent of the compromise varies dramatically depending on the field, the technology used, and the creativity of the institution.
Here’s a breakdown:
1. Fields Where Practical Studies Are Severely Compromised
These disciplines rely heavily on physical presence, specialized equipment, and hands-on manipulation.
- Medicine & Surgery: You cannot perform a dissection, suture a wound, or practice intubation on a virtual patient. The tactile feedback (haptics) and development of fine motor skills are irreplaceable online.
- Engineering & Mechanics: Working with lathes, welding equipment, CNC machines, or even complex circuit boards requires a physical lab. While simulations exist, they cannot replicate the real-world challenges and safety protocols.
- Laboratory Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics): Pipetting, mixing chemicals, observing reactions, using microscopes, and handling biological samples are core to the learning experience. Virtual labs can demonstrate concepts but cannot teach the manual dexterity and problem-solving of a real experiment gone wrong.
- Performing Arts (Theater, Dance, Music Ensemble): The energy of a live performance, the nuance of reacting to a scene partner in person, and the precise synchronization of an orchestra are incredibly difficult to replicate over video lag.
- Skilled Trades (Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry): Learning to solder a pipe, wire a house, or frame a wall requires physical materials and on-the-spot mentorship.
Compromise: In these fields, online education can only effectively teach the theoretical foundation. The practical component is deferred, diluted, or replaced with inferior simulations, creating a significant gap in competency.
2. Fields Where Practical Studies Are Adapted with Mixed Results
These areas have found ways to simulate the practical experience, but with clear trade-offs.
- Computer Science & IT: This is one of the fields best suited for online learning. Coding, software development, and network configuration can be done effectively on a personal computer with cloud-based tools. The compromise is often the lack of spontaneous “over-the-shoulder” help and in-person collaborative debugging sessions.
- Art & Design: While artists can work digitally and receive critiques via video, the inability to work with physical materials (oils, clay, charcoal) or to see a peer’s work in its true scale and texture is a limitation.
- Business & Management: Case studies, simulations, and virtual team projects can be very effective. However, the nuances of in-person negotiation, networking, and reading a room are hard to learn online.
Compromise: The core practical skill can often be learned, but the ancillary skills (collaboration, networking, physical material handling) and the overall experience are diminished.
Conclusion:
- Yes, practical studies do get compromised in fully online mode, especially for skill-based courses.
- However, with virtual labs, AR/VR, simulations, and hybrid models, the gap can be reduced, though not eliminated entirely.
