Picture the wonderful experience after devoting all your time in
Year 12 to achieve your desired ATAR. Much like the butterfly
effect, where a tiny flap of wings can create a storm across the
world, one small change in how we learn can determine the
entire course of our future. You get into your preferred course
at your dream university, how amazing, right? Your life is finally
beginning because you're about to do what you love. But now?
It feels like that dream has been ripped away. Not because we
didn’t try, but because those in power are neglecting our post-
secondary education by choosing to provide only virtual
classes. Online learning has replaced in-person classes, and
let’s be honest, it’s just not the same. I fully support, as I’m
sure many of you sitting in this room do too, that in-person
learning must be made the default. I stand before you today
striving to achieve the abolishment of online learning for
university students.
Traditional learning methods have been practiced since the
beginning of formal education, dating back to 2061–2010 BC.
Student engagement and commitment were demonstrated
through the interactive nature of in-person teaching. Not only
were they able to ask questions and discuss topics with their
peers, but they also had the opportunity to develop meaningful
connections with their educators, connections that fostered
powerful learning experiences. What seems like a small change,
replacing classrooms with screens, has triggered a wave of
consequences. Just like a butterfly flapping its wings, the shift
to online learning has set off a storm of disengagement and
poor academic performances. It is becoming increasingly
prevalent in many institutions. In a study conducted by Elnour,
about half of the respondents strongly agreed that online
learning negatively impacted their grades compared to when
they attended face-to-face classes. Engagement saw the same
drop. Ten studies have shown that online learning impedes
students’ interactions with their teachers and peers. Think back
to the lockdown—did you really pay attention in your classes?
Or were you playing games, watching movies, or doodling in
the background?
That said, everything happens for a reason. For those with busy
lives and inflexible schedules, online learning can be the
perfect way to pursue professional development. It would be
extremely difficult for a full-time mum to care for her baby and
attend university classes at the same time. According to the
University of Melbourne, students who engage in virtual
learning have access to “distinguished academics with real-
world experience” as well as a wide range of other learning
resources. These tools can prepare students just as well as in-
person classes—at least in theory.
However, let’s be reasonable: these classes should only be
implemented for postgraduate degrees. Excluding a small
minority, there’s no valid reason for undergraduate students to
rely solely on digital education. Still, the number of undergrads
taking one or more online courses continue to rise even after
the pandemic. Whether it’s because of growing popularity or
the government’s lukewarm attempts at cutting costs, one
thing is clear: universities are making it easier for students to
slack off.
So, who holds responsibility for strong academic performance—
the students or the university? The answer is both. While I’ve
emphasized the negative effects of online learning on
engagement, motivation, and communication, it’s not entirely
bad. To guarantee the best possible teaching, we need both
physical classes and lecture recordings. But to prevent students
from abusing the system, mandatory attendance policies
should be enforced. Some institutions, like Regent’s University
London, require at least 75% attendance to pass a course—fall
short, and you will fail.
In the end, your future is in your hands. Relying solely on online
learning will lead you straight towards failure. But if you take
control now, you can transform your life. Nurture your potential,
and let it grow into the butterfly that changes the wind. One
small act, raising your voice, showing up in class, choosing to
fight for traditional learning, can change everything. The
butterfly effect isn’t just a theory. It’s our reality. And today, the
wings are yours.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- to, C. (2005, June 17). aspect of history. [Link]; Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc. [Link]
- Akpen, C. N., Asaolu, S., Atobatele, S., Okagbue, H., & Sampson, S. (2024). Impact
of online learning on student’s performance and engagement: a systematic
review. Discover Education, 3(1). [Link]
- Afzal, F., & Crawford, L. (2022). Student’s perception of engagement in online
project management education and its impact on performance: The mediating role of
self-motivation. Project Leadership and Society, 3, 100057–100057.
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- Fahim, A., Rana, S., Haider, I., Jalil, V., Atif, S., Shakeel, S., & Sethi, A. (2022).
From text to e-text: perceptions of medical, dental and allied students about e-
learning. Heliyon, 8(12), e12157. [Link]
- Online Learning Statistics: The Ultimate List in 2025 | Devlin Peck. (2025).
[Link]. [Link]
statistics#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20undergraduate%20students,increased
%20by%2097%25%20in%202020&text=The%20number%20of%20students
%20who,97%25%20between%202019%20and%202020.
- 5 reasons to study online at the University of Melbourne. (2023, November 15).
Study. [Link]
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