E-learning, also known as electronic learning, is a method of education used for web-based distance education, where there is no face-to-face interaction. The growth of the Internet has brought with it disruptions in the traditional educational system that is characterised by classroom teaching-learning model. Today, one can be at home taking educational courses they wouldn’t have been able to in the past. There are so many reasons which have made this educational model appealing to teachers, students and parents alike. And if you are wondering whether e-learning will be a good fit for your needs, here are reasons to sign-up for an e-course.
Convenient and cost-effective
No matter your commitments and schedule, e-learning has made it easier to take classes at your convenience. You don’t have to worry about family or work-place responsibilities. With an Internet connection on your device, you will be able to take classes right in the comfort of your home. There are hundreds of online platforms offering millions of courses, some run by existing educational institutions (the known traditional ones), others managed by private organisations and tutors.
Taking a course online will also eliminate or reduce the cost of commuting thereby saving you a substantial amount you would have spent shuttling to classes. That also reduce the risk involve in frequent travelling if the school is far from your resident or country.
You can learn whatever you want
Yes, this is another reason you may want to opt for online studies. Via online studies, you can directly take any curriculum available in colleges. For instance, if you’re interested in neuroscience and would like to understand how the brain works. All you need do is a Google search for such online courses, and you’ll easily find online programs offered by some of the prestigious universities around the world. The barrier of having a specific academic prerequisite and having to follow specific rudimental curriculum is eliminated. You follow your passion and work hard to achieve it.
You learn at your own pace
A favourite feature of most online courses is the self-paced nature of the programs. Students are at liberty to choose when to complete tasks and can arrange a learning schedule that fits their individual needs. That doesn’t mean there are no deadlines in online education. There are, only that they are much more flexible in taking the learner’s time into cognisance.
Stephanie Norman of elearningindustry.com, talking about e-learning, wrote, a self-paced system enables students to make progress with a rhythm that suits them. This type of system does not require attending live sessions; you can access the materials at any time that works for you. If you have to work or take care of your home and children during the day, you can study at night. That’s an advantage the traditional educational system cannot beat.
Activity and ROI measurements
Reporting and measuring of the progress of students offering online courses are easier compared to traditional learning. This is because most online learning platforms have integrated learning management systems that automatically updates on the progress of students. You can check out Moodle which is one of the most widely used learning management systems across learning institutions. There are hundreds out there.
A collaborative learning system
Online learning platforms offer the opportunity of studying in a diverse group with students coming from all around the world. This foster collaboration – the core principle of modern learning – as people join to discuss and share knowledge. Utilizing online studying, students from various part of the world connect easily and thus aids in exchanging learning experiences, and through that a cultural exchange takes place. This is vital for the student to function more effectively in a society that is getting more connected.
Online learning is quite engaging
Duane Sider, the Director of Learning at Rosetta Stone stated that “technology can replicate actual world experiences with virtual tools like multi-player simulations or role-plays. It enables students to practice real-life scenarios in a secure setting which increases learners’ confidence. Real life learning has been described as one of the major teaching strategies to get a student involved and allow him to experience genuine learning. You may also wish to check out these five steps for effective teaching to help you make better sense of the underlying principles of e-learning.
Reduction of carbon footprint
By utilising online testing and quizzing, the need for printing out paper-based assessments is significantly reduced; in fact, it is practically eliminated. Besides that, it also allows the student to test many times using different forms of questions.
Conclusively, online courses are more convenient and cheaper than their counterparts in traditional education. This, in fact, is one major reason students opt to get their education through web-based portals. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home for studies. As long as you have a passion for learning and understand how to conduct an online search to take you to the right course, you can earn your degree right from the comfort of your home.
References
Fioriello, P. (2014, March 02). 14 Advantages of E-Learning. Retrieved August 08, 2017, from the Web
Brown, R. (2017, March 20). ELearning – helping students achieve more in education. Retrieved August 08, 2017, from the Web
Norman, S. (2017, August 03). 5 Advantages Of Online Learning: Education Without Leaving Home. Retrieved August 08, 2017, from the Web
Ferriman, J. (n.d.). 7 Awesome Advantages of eLearning. Retrieved August 08, 2017, from the Web
Schaden, K. (2013, October 04). What are the educational benefits of e-learning? Retrieved August 08, 2017
