Is online school harder than in-person? Real struggles and surprising wins

When schools shut down in 2020, no one knew if online learning would stick. Now, in 2026, millions of students across Ireland and beyond are still doing it. But the big question hasn’t gone away: Is online school harder than in-person? The answer isn’t simple. It depends on who you are, what you’re studying, and how your home life stacks up against the classroom.

It’s not about the tech-it’s about the environment

A lot of people think online school is harder because of bad Wi-Fi or Zoom glitches. But the real issue isn’t the technology. It’s the environment. In a physical classroom, your desk is in a row of other desks. The teacher walks around. Someone taps you on the shoulder if you zone out. There’s a rhythm to the day: bell rings, you move, you interact. Online, you’re alone. Your bedroom becomes your classroom. Your bed is three feet away. Your dog barks during math. There’s no structure unless you build it yourself.

A 2025 study from University College Dublin tracked 1,200 secondary students over two academic years. Those who switched to full-time online learning saw a 22% drop in daily task completion compared to in-person peers. Why? Not because they were lazy. Because they didn’t have cues. No one was watching. No one was asking. No one was there to say, "Hey, you’re falling behind."

Focus is the silent killer

Most students think they can multitask online. "I’ll watch the lesson while scrolling TikTok." Or, "I’ll do homework while listening to music." That doesn’t work. A 2024 MIT study found students who switched between screens during online lessons retained 40% less information than those who focused on one task. In-person, your phone is in your bag. You can’t easily open YouTube. You’re physically surrounded by learning. Online? You’re surrounded by distractions-and you’re expected to ignore them all on your own.

One 16-year-old from Cork told me: "I used to get through two hours of homework in 30 minutes at school. At home, it took me four hours. I’d start, then check my phone. Start again. Then eat a snack. Then nap. It wasn’t laziness. It was the lack of external pressure."

Who does online school actually help?

It’s not all bad. For some students, online learning is the best thing that’s ever happened. Think about the kid with social anxiety. The one who gets overwhelmed in hallways, hates being called on, freezes during group work. For them, online school means breathing room. No stares. No whispers. Just a quiet screen and a teacher who doesn’t push them to speak unless they’re ready.

Or the student with a chronic illness. Or one who needs to work part-time to help their family. Or the athlete training for national competitions. For these students, online school isn’t a compromise-it’s a lifeline. They can learn at their own pace. Pause videos. Rewind lectures. Take breaks when their body needs it. In-person school often forces a one-size-fits-all schedule. Online lets them design their own.

A 2025 survey by the Irish National Education Union found that 38% of students who switched to online learning reported improved mental health. Not because it was easier-but because it was more flexible. Control over time became more valuable than control over space.

Teachers aren’t the same online

In a physical classroom, a teacher can see the whole room. They notice the kid who’s staring out the window. The one who’s scribbling angrily. The one who’s nodding too hard like they’re pretending to understand. Online? Teachers see a grid of faces. Sometimes muted. Sometimes off-camera. They can’t read body language. They can’t walk over and whisper, "You good?"

That means teachers have to be more intentional. They have to design lessons that pull attention. Use polls. Ask quick questions. Break students into breakout rooms. Assign short reflection tasks. But not all teachers got training for this. Many were thrown into online teaching without support. So while some schools built engaging virtual classrooms, others just livestreamed lectures and called it a day.

The result? Students in well-designed online classes performed just as well-or better-than in-person peers. But students in poorly designed ones fell behind fast.

Parental involvement: game-changer or pressure cooker?

In-person school? Parents drop you off. You’re on your own until 3 p.m. Online? Parents are now your unofficial supervisors. They have to make sure you’re logged in. That you’re not just watching Netflix. That you’ve turned in your work. For some families, that’s a team effort. For others? It’s chaos.

Single parents working two jobs. Families with multiple kids sharing one laptop. Homes without quiet space. In these cases, online school isn’t harder-it’s impossible. A 2025 report from the Irish Youth Trust found that students from low-income households were 2.5 times more likely to miss assignments in online school than their peers. Not because they didn’t care. Because they didn’t have the space, time, or resources to make it work.

Online school doesn’t create inequality. It exposes it.

The hidden advantage: self-reliance

Here’s something no one talks about: online school forces you to grow up faster. You learn to manage your time. You learn to ask for help before you collapse. You learn to organize your files, set reminders, and stick to a routine. These aren’t academic skills. They’re life skills.

One 17-year-old from Galway, who took online classes while working weekends at a pharmacy, told me: "I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was learning how to be an adult. I scheduled my study time like a job. I emailed teachers when I was stuck. I didn’t wait for someone to check on me. That’s something I carry into college now."

That’s the paradox. Online school can be harder in the moment-but it builds resilience that in-person school rarely does.

So, is online school harder?

Yes, for most students. But not because it’s technically harder. It’s harder because it removes the safety nets. It takes away the structure, the nudges, the quiet accountability of being around other people. It demands more from you-your discipline, your self-awareness, your ability to ask for help.

But for some? It’s easier. Because it gives them control. Because it lets them learn without fear. Because it fits their life, not the other way around.

The truth? Online school isn’t better or worse. It’s different. And whether it’s harder depends on your situation, your support system, and your own ability to step up when no one’s watching.

If you’re doing online school right now, and it feels overwhelming-you’re not failing. You’re in a system that wasn’t built for you. But you’re also building skills most people never learn until they’re out in the real world. That’s worth something.