The Effectiveness of Online Learning
The global lockdown (due to the ongoing pandemic) highlighted the benefits of online learning. Virtual learning apps enabled students to continue their education off-campus and showed that there is a different (and perhaps better) way of doing things in the future.
No doubt that online learning will usher in an educational revolution:
- in not only providing continuity in learning
- but also providing millions of people with affordable access to life-changing educational opportunities.
However, there are still some important questions to answer:
- Can online learning compete with learning in a traditional classroom?
- And do employers value online qualifications?
Here are a few factors to look at the quality of online education and at the proposition of one organisation, which has been leading the way in providing internationally recognised online courses:
Factor-1: Educational Institutions (Schools and colleges) adopted to online learning quickly (during lockdown):
Education moved online and didn’t stop during lockdown. Schools and colleges adopted a wide range of virtual learning tools and software, including virtual tutoring platforms and learning management systems.
Features include video conferencing for one-to-one tutoring, virtual classrooms, and shared drives for learning resources or work assignments.
Factor-2: Rising to the challenge of online learning:
Many educational institutions were unprepared for the switch to online learning. Also, many struggled to provide the same quality of teaching, especially during the first few weeks of lockdown.
Moreover, students from disadvantaged backgrounds found it hard to keep up with their virtual classmates. Some did not have regular access to a laptop or tablet, while many others had limited (or non-existent) WiFi connections.
Thankfully, administrators responded effectively to these new challenges.
Factor-3: Online access is now an essential service:
The lockdown showed how unequal access to the internet could exacerbate socio-economic inequalities. Now many people are reassessing the very idea of online access. Some are calling it an essential service, and maybe even a fundamental human right.
Factor-4: More options are still required for bringing more efficacy:
While online learning has been on the rise for some time, the range of study options is still relatively limited.
According to a study, In France, only around 10% of higher education courses were accessible online before the pandemic. The number has risen since, although most courses tend to focus on skills for white-collar jobs. As a result, students interested in more practical professions, such as carpentry or mechanical repair, have fewer options. So, they have to put their career plans on hold for the next period of time.
Also some students compromise by selecting less suitable programmes, fearing that if they postpone their studies, they will be left behind in a highly competitive job market. In other words, there’s still lots of work to be done before online learning becomes genuinely inclusive. Broadening the range of online courses on offer is essential, if online learning is to fulfill its potential.
There are reasons for optimism, though. Advances in robotics, virtual reality, and augmented reality could soon help students learn hands-on skills without stepping foot inside a workshop or laboratory.
A few companies have already developed VR training simulators for medical students and trainee surgeons.
Factor-5: Maintain standards:
Adherence to policies and quality assurances to maintain eLearning standards across the globe as well as possible areas of improvement in the future, is a must. Key challenges include integrating parts of the curriculum that don’t match the online model, including laboratory work and other practical training.
Whilst there is a big vote of confidence in distance learning and is very encouraging for those who are still unsure about enrolling in an online programme, there is no reason to distrust the quality of online education.
The extra benefits enjoyed by online students include flexibility and affordability.
Online learning is about flexibility, which means that students don’t have to wait until the start of the academic year to enroll.
Affordability is another major benefit. Online courses are generally less expensive than campus-based programmes, but to make sure everybody has a chance to pursue their ambitions.
The time has come to truly embrace eLearning:
Leaders in education are calling on students to embrace online learning.
Online learning can offer affordable quality education to thousands of learners, even in the midst of the current pandemic as “Online teaching is the way to go because thousands of learners can be accommodated in one lesson or programme”.
As long as a student has a computer, or tablet with an Internet connection and access to our system, they can access all the information they need.”
eLearning also provides 24/7 access to study materials and an extensive e-library. It also connects students with tutors and fellow students across the world.
So if you’re looking for a flexible and affordable way to boost your future career opportunities, please get in touch with our experts at mPowerO.
At mPowerO, we help our clients maximize on eLearning capabilities to effectively reach their educational and business goals with fully-managed support.
If you would like to understand how we can help you get started with digital learning mail us at info@mpowero.com
Visit us at https://www.mpowero.com/ for more information.
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