Gone are those decades when
heavy books, pens, chalk and blackboard defined education.The present day dotes
on PCs, laptops, mobiles and tablets as the face of education.The changes are
quite macroscopic. While the concept of online education has already influenced
the learning institutions in full swing, education restricted to only
traditional classroom learning is now a passé.
India is taking the
required steps towards this new phase of education at a slow pace compared to
other countries and still seems to be deliberating the pros and cons of
changing modes from traditional to modern. Irrespective of this pertinent
dilemma, TechNavio has reported that the online form of education in the
country is deemed to touch CAGR of 17.50 % by 2019.
Online learning-
Reformulating New Age Education
The university classroom
has been a foundation of higher education for a period longer than anyone would
remember, dating back to the time when online education meant Greek and Latin
to most people. With technology taking a greater turn in recognition, people
are welcoming ‘online -learning’ with open arms as it has redefined new age
education by bringing the concept of a classroom beyond the four walls. The
next big thing in this space would be mobile learning.
The internet penetration in
India is significantly high, wherein the country has the third largest Internet
population of 190 million in the world today, after China with 620 million and
the US with 275 million. The advent of the internet has undoubtedly changed our
lives, making it inevitable for education to be absorbed entirely online.
e-learning has only a few challenges and several beneficial opportunities
cinched with it. Education from some of the best institutes of the world,
interactivity, flexible learning as per your own schedule, growth in every
aspect and exclusive job opportunities at the forefront are some of the facets
of e-learning with the potential to let the practitioners avail world-class
knowledge and education. This method has now being adapted at a primary level,
as well as at the secondary level. Almost every third educational institution
gives you the freedom of online learning. This also helps in enrolling for
programmes and acquiring certifications from some of the top institutes online.
But, whether online education has the capacity to replace offline learning is a
question that is yet to be answered.
Technology- A windfall for
education providers and students
The online education system
has been in vogue for the past 5 years now. With the rise of mobiles, Digital
India campaign, and resolute interventions by the Modi-government, the online
market of India is witnessing an unprecedented growth expected to reach 300
million in 2018. An increased number of education providers are adopting
e-learning format and the numbers are increasing year-on-year in India. While
e-learning ensures that data quality remains the top-most priority, setting up
a technology-driven system is a Herculean task. India has made massive strides
in improving its education system, but a lot still needs to be done in terms of
upgradation. While faculty and infrastructure deficits are major hurdles in
increasing the reach of education in India, there is a need to take note of the
changing pedagogy and using technology to fill the gaps in the system. The
introduction of technology has not only aided the students but also the
faculty, and as a result education is now accessible to everyone. Students now
don’t have to depend on the classroom setting that tends to group students
together in large numbers, often making it difficult for the faculty to provide
the necessary close attention. But online education enables highly effective
learning coupled with personal attention owing to an individually-focused
communication through e-mails, chats and live video sessions. Over a period of
3 years we have catered to over 300000 students, the percentage of students
enrolling for e-learning courses is growing at a significant rate of 55.
Interactive tools such as
gamification, collaborative and social learning make it even more interesting
and engaging. Moreover, teaching skills like problem-solving, critical thinking
and higher order learning expertise are best taught outside classrooms. When it’s
time for evaluation, online learning enables measurement of success with
assessment tools that are also a critical part of the pedagogy, which the
traditional format of learning definitely lacks. Interactivity is another major
aspect which scores an all-time high in online learning. Since the students are
directly interacting with the professors and are not surrounded by their peers
more often than not, the level of interactivity in an online environment is 50%
higher than a traditional classroom. Online learning is also not
restrained by time, hence, a session is not limited for a designated 45 minutes
where the students are required to grasp as well as clear their doubts. Tools
such as discussion forums and cloud campus empower a learning ecosystem that is
24/7. Thus in a way, online learning not only surpasses borders but also gives
the students the ability to learn at any juncture of their life.
Online or Conventional:
Which is the More Valuable form of Learning?
There’s a surging demand
for education owing to the growing job market and online learning may seem to
be the most viable and economical option for a majority of students to up their
academic quotient. But all said and done, amidst this new wave of online
learning, there is no way conventional learning is taking the backseat.
Students may find it convenient to learn at their own pace, but certification
for that learning acts as the biggest challenge. Will employers accept your
qualification acquired from an online course rather than a tradition institute?
It’s way too early to say if universities feel threatened by the rise of online
learning, but it is definitely a new age learning mechanism that enables a ‘now
you can’ ecosystem for the learners where they can enhance their
knowledge and skills for overall development at any personal or professional
phase.
Source | http://www.iamwire.com/
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