How are Digital Learning Platforms assisting in the Academic Growth of Students

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Learning only in the Classrooms is an old aspect while the primary source of the knowledge being the instructor (Educator). Most educational institutions, now-a-days, including schools, colleges, universities and vocational institutions have already adopted or are in the process of adopting a digital learning platform to support learning.

Digital technology has unshackled learning, providing learners with ample wealth of opportunities to learn:

what they want to learn,
how they want to learn, and
where they want to learn

at the ease of their comfort – in the form of anytime anywhere any device learning.

With digital adoption in EdTech, the role of the instructor (educator) still remains undiminished. Whereas, Students have access to several resources in digital rich formats, allowing them to take control and self-direct their learning (self-paced learning), for effective learning paths.

A digital learning platform can be:

a learning management system (LMS) or
a learning content management system (LCMS) or
a virtual classroom tool (VCT) or
a virtual learning environment (VLE)

While each platform from the above varies in its functionality and features, all digital learning platforms can support all types of learning, i.e., online learning, classroom learning, and blended learning.

Education too has gone digital (online), with the rise in internet usage and advances in digital technology, thus becoming an integral aspect of our lives and mandating specialised technology solutions to support online learning.

Let’s now look at how digital learning platforms are fostering to the overall academic growth of students:

a) Ease of Access to Information:

A digital learning platform allows access to a complete library of online learning resources. The software of such online learning platforms is structured to organise information in a way that makes it easily accessible to all users/learners.

Learning resources/material can be in the form of courses, multimedia content, archives and evaluations. Learners can access the information anytime and from anywhere with the aid of the Internet and a smart (reading) device of their choice. Digital Learning Platforms also have the option to download material and access for offline use.

b) Access to updated Content:

A digital learning platform allows various educational institutions to cost-effectively and instantly update course content or add additional learning materials and resources matching to their learning pedagogy, which students can access to support their learning.

c) Interactive Learning:

With the aid of digital learning platforms, Educators can create multimedia content to engage the learners, immerse them in learning activities, stimulate interest, bring alive abstract concepts to life and in assisting to make the students understand better, and provide context to learning.

Multimedia content in the form of images, audio, video and rich text makes learning fun and entertaining, allowing students to gain new skills and information.

Further implementation of augmented reality and virtual reality are changing the learning landscape.

d) Self-paced learning:

Digital learning platforms enable self-paced learning.

In a classroom, finding answers yourself is a great feeling by the students, if students are struggling with a question, despite having an option to ask the Teacher.

Self-paced learning is an important aspect of higher education, where students find their own answers without being directed by the teacher as it instils skills that will hold the learners in a good stead in their career path.

With evolving technologies and hence knowledge changes continuously, people have to be constantly on their toes to reskill and upskill. Self-directed study helps learners to identify areas they’re good at, and the areas where they might need to put efforts and work harder.

e) Effective and New Communication Channels:

Digital learning platforms enable conversations to happen out of bounds of the physical classroom. Students can make use of features such as chat, social media channels and online forums to learn, discuss, and debate in a more collaborative, interactive, and personal learning environment via these digital learning platforms.

Students can not only interact with their teachers, peers but also can reach out to external communities via emails and messages. With effective communication tools in place, Students can also communicate with their classmates right away and resolve their issues.

f) Anytime Anywhere Access:

With a digital learning platform, Students don’t have to worry if the school library or lab is closed, as they can access their learning resources online 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, at their convenience. Students can even perform science experiments in simulated environments from the comfort of their own space.

Having access to learning resources at all times to learners (students) helps to foster learning even after regular school hours, at their ease, thus encouraging self-paced learning.

Conclusion:

Digital Learning Platforms provide Students hands-on experience in using technology, a skill that will hold them in good stead when they seek careers in the real world, as technology advances are abrupt, and it becomes crucial for educational institutions to harness it to their advantage. Schools and education institutions (higher, in particular) are increasingly adopting digital learning platforms to support student learning and foster their academic growth, as cloud-enabled digital learning platforms provide 24×7 access to learning resources at their comfort. Students can not only download the course content for offline use but can also make use of a range of communication tools to communicate with instructors and peers.