“We need to bring learning to people instead of people to learning.” – Elliot Masie
“Online learning is not the next big thing, it is the now big thing.” – Donna J. Abernathy
An online technology revolution is bringing about fundamental changes in the way education is delivered and received. With the digitization of education, the outreach of educational programs is improving day by day. This offers new opportunities for both teachers and students to teach and to learn, thus ensuring greater involvement in the overall cycle of learning.
With the introduction of modern technology-aided learning platforms such as smart boards, MOOCs, tablets, and laptops, etc., the way education is provided in schools and colleges has been changed. The Internet of Things (IoT) is proving to be one of the most cost-effective ways of educating young minds. Incorporating a world-class learning experience to everyone is also a robust system. The educational technology companies are actively trying to find new ways to improve access to education for people who are currently struggling to get proper educational facilities.
Online surveys show that the population of youngsters from all over the world, taking online courses in the past is gradually growing. The best part of digital education is that you can build tools only once and make endless use of them for future generations. You are, therefore, saving on lots of resources and effort. At the same time, online education empowers teachers to customize educational items based on individual learners’ unique needs.
Why Digital learning is the Future of Learning?
Online learning will be the main facet of the subcontinent’s future education. It is fascinating to see how smart innovations improve the country’s overall educational system. Penetration of online education system into the rural market is rapidly growing. The affordable high-speed internet and direct-to-device technology allow rural students to take online courses and develop their knowledge and skills.
Trends in online learning
Social media as a learning tool has made tremendous progress. Many teachers and students today make use of social media as an integral part of the whole e-learning experience. These days, it is a crucial forum for sharing knowledge on essential issues. In addition to being able to exchange knowledge everywhere, social media resources are also a fantastic source of creating networking opportunities for cost-effective developing future jobs and social activities.
Interactive Learning Resources: Training is no longer limited to a conventional classroom environment with the introduction of interactive technologies such as flipped classrooms, smartphone phones, etc. For such ground-breaking digital aids the millennials learning cycle is being re-wired. Interactive learning platforms are being developed by different educators, using the best of technology.
Combined learning and digital systems are being improved. Sitting at one location, people can collaborate on assignments and projects with others spread all over the globe. Likewise, the teaching spectrum is not restricted to a specific region or location only. This is no longer a national affair but tracks developments around the globe. Educational institutions believe that providing online learning is crucial for their survival and growth in the long term.
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS): MOOCs platforms make self-learning crucially feasible.
MOOCs help a lot of the country’s young people to develop their skills and qualifications. It allows millions of people who have no access to affordable education by gaining access to a variety of skill-based courses to boost their employability.
Learning MOOCs allows students and working professionals to learn from anywhere and at any time, at their convenience. In addition, some of the courses offered under these programs include a valid credential that is appropriately accepted as a step in the right direction by the Institutes and the businesses.
The need of the hour is to know at one’s own pace. In this regard, MOOCs have been a positive trend in achieving self-learning goals by giving one and all equal access to high-quality online learning material & digital content.
Advancement in Visual Learning Aids: Learning based on audio-video is picking up speed in India. Learning based on videos is very common among school-goers because it blends learning with fun. Such an educational-learning platform is highly interactive. Not only this form of teaching technique is restricted to audio-video, but it also includes educational software, podcasts, ebooks, etc.
Interactive Software – Game-based learning: Game-based learning is the next big thing that will redefine India’s digital education future, especially in the K12 sector.
It is already creating an environment where the learners can relate easily to what is being engagingly taught. Game-based learning will certainly revolutionize educational world goods by changing the k-12 field and help to create a healthier self-trained workforce for the future.
Why online learning is the way forward for real education
With the internet becoming much more affordable and accessible, the integration of digital and conventional teaching-learning media will increase. The education industry will witness the rise of small, medium, and large-scale educational technology companies that will shortly be offering academic institutions a range of innovative digital products.
In addition, the government is taking ambitious measures to implement policies that will further improve the country’s online education industry. To help promote the use of creative educational technologies, it is making efforts to enhance the quality of digital technology across the region.
Like all other professions, online learning will see significant changes in the way Universities and Colleges provide education in the coming days. We will experience a host of opportunities arising from online education that will empower this country’s youth.
Advance Learning Management Systems (LMS) with its proper knowledge management tools will help improve the design and delivery of Universities and Colleges in India, offering educational courses.
Furthermore, emerging technology allows for resolving all language barriers. Learning content can now also be made available online in regional languages. Students and teachers can access the vast pool of information content through e-learning and m-learning initiatives supported by government and private players.
Online education helps students to interact with a wide variety of freely accessible research content on the internet, thereby building a self-learning environment.
Living in a globalized world, Indian youth are preparing themselves for Business 4.0 learning needs and challenges. With the digital transition, the country’s education system is bound to deeply re-adjust both for how we learn and what we know. The young population of our nation will undoubtedly prove to be a demographic dividend if the advantages of technology are made accessible to every household doorway within the country.
Online education will also inspire young people today to learn and participate in the vast sea of information that is increasingly made accessible to them through the digital revolution in a number of ways.