Face-to-face classroom learning is something that we are all accustomed to. With the growth of Internet technology, the learning environment is no longer limited to face-to-face classroom learning. Learners from elementary school to university level are increasingly accessing a wealth of learning materials on the Internet, participating in various E-learning activities, and enrolling in various online learning programs to advance their academic and professional careers.
Online education generally refers to education that takes place through the Internet. There is no conventional description, although numerous websites and writers have described it in various ways. For example, according to a web page on India Education, "online education is electronically aided learning that relies on the Internet for teacher/student contact and the dissemination of class materials. Online learning is a kind of distance education, such as web-based, e-learning, and digital learning. It is accessible over the Internet and uses web-based content and activities. The Advanced Research Project Agency of the United States Department of Defense pioneered e-learning in 1969 using Internet technology.
The Internet has developed exponentially since the advent of the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1991. One estimate claims that the Internet reached 50 million individuals in just four years. In comparison, it took Radio 38 years and TV 14 years to reach the same number of target audiences. The Internet and the WWW have simultaneously captivated the imagination and interests of many educators worldwide, adopting phrases such as web-based learning, online learning, and so on. The Advanced Research Project Agency of the United States Department of Defense pioneered e-learning in 1969 using Internet technology.
The Internet has developed exponentially since the advent of the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1991. One estimate claims that the Internet reached 50 million individuals in just four years. In comparison, it took Radio 38 years and TV 14 years to reach the same number of target audiences. The Internet and the WWW have simultaneously captivated the imagination and interests of many educators worldwide, adopting phrases such as web-based learning, online learning, and so on.
Online learning approaches may be categorized in a variety of ways. When teaching and learning occur simultaneously, i.e., in real-time, e-learning can take a synchronous approach. At the same time, the teacher and the student engaged. When communications are transmitted and received simultaneously, it is similar to a phone or video conferencing. This is known as asynchronous communication when communications are delivered and received simultaneously. For example, you can read an email or a letter whenever you like, but you cannot delay phone contact. When a student studies alone, the E-learning strategy might be customized or collaborative when a group of learners learns together.
A teacher can guide e-learning. An instructor, for example, can continually steer learning while giving an online course. On the other side, online information is uploaded, but then the student interprets it in his or her own way. For example, you might study online material regarding the spread of COVID-19 and conclude what caused it and how it should be avoided without the content's developer influencing your learning. E-learning may result in certification; for example, an online course may result in certification. E-learning, however, only sometimes results in certification. For example, when you read an internet article or watch a video, you learn but do not receive a certificate. Online courses may also be provided for studying rather than taking the test and obtaining a certificate.
People are concerned about the usage of online education, which has grown in popularity. The following are some of the benefits of online education−
Online education, like the open and distance learning (ODL) system, gives the learner freedom in terms of time and speed. Unfactionalized education promotes openness and flexibility since the student has various options regarding the kind of programs, their duration, amount of credits, entry and departure points, and so on. Because of this flexibility and choice, many working professionals and eager lifelong learners may enroll in online programs provided by schools in India and throughout the world.
Another reason students enroll in online programs/courses is cost efficiency. In comparison to formal education, the cost of developing online education includes the costs of developing the program (learning materials, lecture or a video/audio, etc.), its execution, and internet data costs, which are less than the costs incurred by formal institutions on higher maintenance costs. Because internet bandwidth costs so little in nations like India, the program's entire cost becomes inexpensive and reasonable. Courses from several overseas colleges are affordable to students with typical incomes, especially if no qualification is necessary.
Online courses allow for peer learning. Because learners from multiple sociocultural backgrounds come together, their experiences, stories, and activities are carried out in groups. Collaborative and peer learning improves learning by allowing participants to share topics and difficulties while learning from one another. In a typical teacher-centered classroom, there may need to be more practicable.
Online education is fast expanding in India. Many new businesses, online content providers, and learning management systems have emerged recently. The demographic dividend and increased internet users have drawn several service providers to this business. People have already begun to use several internet services for banking, shopping, and social networking. The next great internet service will be education.
The government encourages the adoption of digital technology through initiatives such as Digital India. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has created SWAYAM (www.swayam.gov.in), an online platform for online education where numerous institutions provide programs ranging from elementary school to higher education. SWAYAM is working to provide access to the best teaching and learning materials for the most disadvantaged students. SWAYAM now provides courses from 9th grade onwards, with each course housed in four (04) quadrants, namely video lecture, e-text (reading material), discussion forum, and self-assessment. The task of verifying the quality of the programs offered on SWAYAM has been delegated to nine (09) entities representing higher education.
These are the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning for Engineering (NPTEL), the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB), and the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTRR).
All India Council for Technical Education
National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning for Engineering
National Institute of Open Schooling
University Grants Commission
Consortium for Educational Communication
National Council of Educational Research and Training
Indira Gandhi National Open University
E-Learning, which refers to the use of networked information and communication technologies for teaching and learning, is rapidly evolving. We explored the interchangeable terms used to describe e-learning in this unit. Elearning is extensively utilized by educators worldwide because of its multiple benefits.
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