Jyothis Cyriac, LEC052026 - Positive Effects of Online Education.

 Positive effects of Online Education

    During 2020 in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, when the whole world went shut the education industry completely shifted into online education. Television, you tube, zoom and micro soft applications became the medium of learning. It is certain that online classes cannot replace the offline mode of education, but still, there are certain positive effects of online classes which we fail to notice like cost effective learning, eco friendly teaching methods, encouraging interactions for all types of students, innovative application of practical knowledge etc., The world requires innovative adaptations to meet the unprecedented challenges and as in the case of education, we managed to continue teaching and learning with the help of electronic gadgets and internet. 

  As we know,   Education is a process of acquiring knowledge, skills, morals and beliefs. Traditionally education was confined to four walls of classroom, but today in the age of technology the idea of traditional face-to-face education transformed drastically. The technology gave birth to a new educational method called online education. Online education is an electronically supported learning system that relies on the Internet and computer or phone screen for the teacher-student interaction. Computer or mobile screen with the internet changed the algorithm of education and became an integral part of educational methods. According to Stephanie Norman "It’s no wonder why millions of students from all around the world opt for online degree programs or take at least one college course through an online platform. Online learning has to be the greatest revolution in contemporary education. It made a huge change in the system and opened great opportunities for everyone who wants to learn something."

 In addition to that,   Online education has become the newest and easiest way of education. In this modern way of learning the education happens through mobile apps, video conferencing and a thousand types of freely available websites. This shift in the traditional way of learning resulted in an exponential growth of the education industry. Online education is innovative and flexible, both students and teachers can participate in the process of education within their comfortable premises. The accessibility of lectures in any time and anywhere gives extra comfort to students as well as teachers. As Elliott Masie who is an educational technology expert rightly says " We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning".

     Another major area of concern is the difference in expense of the education. Most people cannot afford the expenses of physical classes but with the online education there is no material expenses for classroom space, study materials and utilities. Every family is having a Television, smart phone or a computer or laptop. So, it is not an issue to find a device for communication. The expenses for travelling to the institution can be avoided especially in a situation where there is hike in the fuel rates on a day to day basis. Nowadays the texts and notes are available in the electronic form and it reduces the expense for books and paper materials.  

    Furthermore, online education helps to manage our time well. People will be able to do work while studying because of the extra time they have. They do not need to be physically present and that will allow people to find options in employment as well as in other artistic activities. During physical classes days get too tangled and become over scheduled. People may find it difficult to complete their tasks. Online education allows people to schedule studies within their convenience which give them more space and time to think and complete their work more conveniently.In a survey of 1,500 students who are seriously considering, currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a fully online program, most (86 percent) considered the value of their degree equal to or greater than the cost they paid to take it. Among those who have attended face-to-face and online courses, the majority (85 percent) said that online learning is as good as or better than attending courses on campus. The survey was conducted by Learning House, a company that manages online programs for colleges and universities, and Aslanian Market Research, a research arm of Education Dynamics.

     Apart from the advantages of time management, online education enhances multi tasking skills of the beneficiary. It is impossible to do two or three courses at the same time physically, but with online education it is possible which will give extra grade to the resume or Curriculum vitae while applying for a job. With the E-learning, classes from expertise and renowned persons will be easier to arrange because of the virtual availability of the audience and the speaker need not to be physically present. Online education allows you to meet people at the other end of the world with the internet and all those available apps. People from various places can study courses of their preference far away from their home town. The global connection will help to strengthen the network and consequently widen the career horizons of people. Online learning enables a person to do a course which is far away from their place without their physical presence which will decrease the economical burden of staying in another country only for educational purposes.

    The pandemic period marked the significance of online education. The easiness of sitting in our own houses and studying in our convenient time made the world realise the potential of online education. Especially in the pandemic time, it was necessary to stay at home. Major universities all over the world are adapting to online education as a viable medium for education. Though the whole system of online education was a matter of technology and has been in use for a long time, the unprecedented epidemic caused the larger understanding and scope of online education. In short, online education has made the industry of education accessible to everyone devoid of physical, social, cultural and economical barriers. 

 

Works Consulted

 

Norman, Stephanie. “5 Advantages Of Online Learning: Education Without Leaving Home.” ELearning Industry, 22 Apr. 2020, elearningindustry.com/5-advantages-of-online-learning-education-without-leaving-home. 

Masie, Elliott. “University of Illinois Illinois Online University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.” 5 Benefits of Studying Online (vs. Face-to-Face Classroom), online.illinois.edu/articles/online-learning/item/2017/06/05/5-benefits-of-studying-online-(vs.-face-to-face-classroom). 

Schaffhauser06/18/18, Dian. “Survey: Most Students Say Online Learning Is as Good or Better Than Face-to-Face.” Campus Technology, campustechnology.com/articles/2018/06/18/most-students-say-online-learning-is-as-good-or-better-than-face-to-face.aspx.