While doing the job if you want to get a degree or learn new skills then what? It was difficult earlier but now it is simply because of e-learning. E-learning can be defined as learning with the help of electronic technologies. This is a ‘new normal’ thing due to Corona outbreak. Many courses and post-graduation programs were available online before Corona outbreak but now due to lockdown, even all schools adopted this method. We will also go through E-Learning pros and cons.

Quotes on E-Learning

“E-learning is a big umbrella that covers a lot of opportunity. The model works.” – Tom Cintorino

“We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning.” – Elliot Masie

Statistics on E-Learning

Here’s a table with some interesting information about E-Learning:

What is E-Learning?

E-learning is a form of education that uses digital platforms to allow students to learn anytime and anywhere. It combines videos, quizzes, and online discussions to make learning flexible and accessible for everyone. In 1999, Elliott Maisie used E-learning phrase for the first time professionally. E-learning courses are strictly delivered using the internet where teachers can teach and students can interact with them but not in a classroom. Courses in pen drive or DVD are not considered as e-learning courses. When sessions are live students can virtually raise their hand and ask questions but sometimes sessions are pre-recorded for them, there are interactive sessions for doubt clearance. E-learning courses include course information, timetable, curriculum map, teaching materials like articles, books, and handouts, summative and formative assessments, student score tracker, performance analysis tools and also links for the websites that are very useful.

In India, many e-learning platforms were available for online certification courses but  Byju’s, Unacademy, Vedantu, etc. came up with the idea of online coaching for competitive exams, for school subjects, for graduate students. Some of the e-learning platforms have also introduced their app. In these apps, students can choose their stream or class and start learning. These apps provide video lectures, notes, useful links and discussion sessions arranged by tutors and they are user friendly. Before the availability of these platforms students used to go to coaching classes, it was a time-consuming process but now they can learn from home at their convenient time.

In classroom limited number of students were allowed at a time so teachers had to give the same lecture many times. But with e-learning platforms, teachers can teach many students at a time. In classroom teaching teacher teaches at a speed which might be less for some students and more for some students as grasping power of each student is different, with e-learning slow learner can repeat the lecture and fast learner can go ahead. Exams are scheduled on a particular day at a particular time in classroom teaching but in web-based, you can attempt the exam at your preferred time.

Impact of COVID on E-learning

On 24 March 2020, the government of India ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days as a preventive measure for COVID 19. But the lockdown period increased as the growth rate of pandemic increased. Due to COVID 19 outbreak, most of the countries closed schools and colleges. This pandemic affected badly on the education sector. As a solution to this situation, many colleges and schools adopted e-learning option with the technologies like zoom, Webex and Google classroom.

So students can learn and teachers can teach from home, in a safe environment. Initially, it was difficult for both students and teachers as many of them were not used to such technology. But after some training, it is found that e-learning is easier and more efficient than classroom teaching.  The only barrier for e-learning is the lack of good internet facility in the rural area. But it can be stated that the importance of e-learning is increased due to COVID-19.

Top 10 E-Learning Companies in India

Pros of E-Learning

• E-learning is a cost-effective and efficient tool.
• Sources of e-learning are easily available anywhere, anytime.
• It gives flexibility to students to learn at their speed so it improves productivity and performance of a student.
• One can repeat the lecture for as many time as they want.
• Part-time or full-time workers can also take advantage of e-learning.
• It helps to reduce its carbon footprint by offering alternatives to paper-based learning.
• Students can save time by accessing content, when and where they want.
• It encourages independent learning.

Cons of E-Learning

• When it comes to practical knowledge then e-learning is less helpful.
• Face to face learning experience is missing which is important for certain age group otherwise it can lead to social isolation.
• Most of the online exams or practice questions sheets are limited to objective type questions only.
• In e-learning, cheating prevention is complicated as anyone can do the project or assignment given to the student.
• Increased screen time can increase strain on the eyes.

CONCLUSION

During COVID-19 pandemic, e-learning helped students to attend schools or college from home. Through e-learning, teachers can easily explain a concept with the help of animations and it is scientifically proved that one can understand a concept quickly and clearly through visual learning. But you can not completely rely on e-learning classroom experience is also important for overall personality development at least up to graduation. One can use it as a supplement. After graduation, while doing the job your skills must be updated time to time so for it, e-learning is the best option.

So overall e-learning is very beneficial for students as well as teachers.

Author – Vaishnavi Guntoorkar

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