E-Learning is a form of new learning mechanism being increasingly followed in educational institutions across the world. The E in E-learning stands for electronic
Basically, e-learning constitutes of education that involves and revolves around technology. This form of learning is being adopted rapidly schools and colleges in the country because of the various advantages it has over traditional form of learning. We, through this article, want to highlight the reason why e-learning is defeating the traditional learning mechanisms.
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What is E-learning and how it’s Important to our Education System?
E-Learning is so ubiquitous and vast that it’s difficult to articulate a concise outline that truly does the word justice.
What exactly is the spur in created by e-learning and its various aspects?
Let us briefly witness each facet of the trend.
What is E-Learning?
E-Learning is an educational tool and mechanism which is conducted through online platforms and electronic devices with the help of technologically advanced software, services and products.
In most cases, it refers to a course, program or degree delivered completely online. It is not a course delivered via a DVD or CD-ROM, videotape or over a television channel.
This type of learning has drifted the concept of education through 180 degrees in comparison with the traditional form of learning through classroom dynamics. The traditional classroom dynamics of learning is still relevant and will always be relevant in days to come. Because a teacher to student learning and the values it holds cannot be replaced by technology, but it in no way means that technology cannot enter classrooms.
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What is the importance of E-Learning?
The importance of e-learning is plenty. The very fact that top education institutes like Harvard University or Stanford University, or in India IITs or IIMs are increasingly upgrading their technological infrastructure to adopt e-learning in their curriculum and pedagogy
The following are the importance of e-learning:
Personalisation
Not every student likes every subject that is being thought in the class. Some might like mathematics, some physics and some none. And we can no more blame students for this type of behavioural patterns. Its time the educational system takes the blame.
Also, the grasping power and learning curve vary from students to students. Every student has different interest and hence the pace of learning depends on their interest in the subject.
And this is where e-learning comes in place to fill the gap. Technology can be used to curate courses and its structure according to the needs and aptitude of the particular student. The pace of learning and subjects of interest can all be curated to an individual level so that every student, irrespective of his or her aptitude, get to learn thoroughly the subjects that have been thought.Quick and efficient
One of the biggest reasons why technology has taken over lives, not just in education, is because it reduces human work and helps save time and energy, which can otherwise be utilized elsewhere.
And the same holds good for education as well. From taking tedious notes, to searching content through hundreds of pages in a library book, to writing exams on paper, the traditional paradigm of education is becoming increasingly redundant. Use of technology here can save time, both for student and teachers, and use that saved time for adaptable learning.
Taking pictures of the notes and converting to texts, online examinations, searching information on the internet at the tip of your hand and much more not only helps save a considerable amount of time and resources but also increases accuracy and efficiency of work.
Easy access
E-learning enables the learners to access a vast information pool anytime and anywhere. Since updated information is available for different topics, learners seldom face doubts. In addition to that, learners get deep insights on the subjects at hand that they would have not gained otherwise by studying in traditional classrooms.
It’s flexible.
Online education enables the teacher and the student to set their own learning pace, and there’s the added flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone’s agenda. As a result, using an online educational platform allows for a better balance of work and studies, so there’s no need to give anything up. Studying online teaches you vital the required time management skills, which makes finding a good work-study balance easier. Having a common agenda between the student and teacher can also prompt both parties to accept new responsibilities and have more autonomy.
Virtual learning environment
Important mediums such as computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, web-based learning, and mobile-based learning form part of the educational institute’s core infrastructure for learning. It enables both the teacher and student to teach and learn in a digital learning environment. Such tools help in making an information-rich society because people get to learn, share and make use of the information they read. You can say that e-content is a type of virtual teacher that lets the learners learn in the best possible way.
Access
Students get access to an immense amount of information across the globe irrespective of which corner of the planet you are accessing it from.
Reliability
Over-dependence of teacher and professors will reduce because of e-learning. This type of learning makes students self-reliable and independent.
Free time
Since the time frame is reduced drastically in e-learning as compared to the traditional form of learning, students get enough time to pursue their hobbies and interest as well as spend some quality time with friend and family.
Stress
One of the biggest challenges students face is anxiety and fatigue during exam preparation. E-Learning helps to cut down the pressure and stress of an exam, helping the students to mentally prepare for their exams.
Initiatives
Encourages students to initiate learning. Group studies or one on one with the professor, everything can be done on the trip of your fingers. Students themselves can take initiatives to start learning new concepts beyond their curriculum. This broadens their mental horizon and helps them make informed career choices in the later stages of their career.
Engaging
Simplifies the entire learning process and makes it more effective and engaging. One way monologue as seen in traditional learning will become a thing of a past and student engagement and interaction with teachers will be more relevant in classrooms.
What are the different forms of e-learning?
There is plenty of technological infrastructure, services and products in the market in the e-learning field for educational institutions to adopt in their curriculum.
Fundamentally, there are two types of e-learning
Let us discuss each of them, in brief
Synchronous eLearning is real-time learning. In synchronous learning, the learners and the teacher are online and interact at the same time from different locations. They deliver and receive the learning resources via mobile, video conference, Internet or chat. In this type of learning the participants can share their ideas during the session and interact with each other and they get detailed queries and solutions. Synchronous eLearning is gaining popularity because of improved technology and Internet bandwidth capabilities.
Learning from the sources of:
- Virtual Classroom
- Audio and Video Conferencing
- Chat
- Webinars
- Application Sharing
- Messaging instantly
Asynchronous eLearning is pause-and-resume kind of learning. In this type of eLearning, the learner and the teacher cannot be online at the same time. Asynchronous eLearning may use technologies such as email, blogs, discussion forums, eBook’s CDs, DVDs, etc. Learners may learn at any time, download documents, and chat with teachers & also with co-learners. Many learners prefer asynchronous instead of synchronous learning because learners can take online courses to learn at their preferable time by not effecting their daily commitments.
Learning from the sources of:
- Self-paced online course
- Discussion forums & groups
- Message board
What are some of the tools in e-learning?
- Augmented and virtual realities
Simulating real-life scenarios right in the confines of the four walls of the classroom is something that traditional methods of teaching can never offer to its students. - Virtual classrooms
A virtual classroom is an online learning environment that allows for live interaction between the tutor and the learners as they are participating in learning activities. In other words, the virtual classroom is a shared online space where the learners and the tutor work together simultaneously. - Artificial intelligence
The wide variety of available apps which using artificial intelligence and machine learning offers the opportunity for students to engage in their own learning process. Educational apps using AI provide the opportunity to personalize learning to each student. - Flipped classroom
while not a technology per se, this teaching model is using technology to change the way instructors teach. Rather than spending the class time lecturing the students, the lectures are delivered to the student’s in video format for them to watch at home (or in study hall).
The trends in the educational sector in many parts of the world are increasingly technology-driven and e-earning centred. Given its importance, awareness and usage, it would only be apt to say that e-learning will undoubtedly be the future of education. The student-teacher relationship, as well as the parent-teacher relationship, will take a new form under this type of learning. Students are bound to learn efficiently and beyond just their classroom curriculum. All thanks to e-learning, the world will see the next Alber Einstein or Abraham Lincoln in more numbers, in the years to come.