While having an opportunity to study from home is amazing, it affects children differently than regular in-person classes.
Surprisingly, it's not about the quality of information or teaching - it's more about stress and environment of students.
Let's find out more.
Researchers learning more about online studying
Researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum explored the physiological differences between online teaching and in-person classes.
They studied 82 students attending an anatomy course in both digital and classroom formats.
The online group displayed significantly lower physiological stress levels compared to the in-person group, as indicated by lower cortisol concentrations, decreased sympathetic activity, and increased parasympathetic activity.
Stress isn't always bad
Stress is known to impact learning processes, with moderate stress being beneficial for learning.
However, the study suggests that online teaching might result in a more relaxed physiological state, which can have both positive and negative effects on learning.
Previous assessments of in-person vs. online teaching mainly relied on subjective questionnaires, but this study highlights the importance of considering physiological factors when evaluating the learning experience.
