Breaking the stereotype with virtual education

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Virtual Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in shutdown of all educational institutions across the world. Globally, over 1.2 billion learners has been affected. As a result, education has changed dramatically, with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms.

Online learning has been shown to increase retention of information, and take less time, meaning the changes coronavirus have caused might be here to stay.

With this sudden shift away from the classroom in many parts of the globe, some are wondering whether the adoption of online learning will continue to persist post-pandemic, and how such a shift would impact the worldwide education market.

Pre-Coronavirus Status of Online Mode of Education:

Even before COVID-19, there was already high growth and adoption in education technology, with global edtech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019 and the overall market for online education projected to reach $350 billion by 2025. Whether it is language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software, there has been a significant surge in usage since COVID-19.

New Normal Future of Learning:

Although some agree that the unplanned and accelerated transition of online learning without instruction, inadequate capacity, and weak planning would result in a poor user interface that is unfavourable to sustainable development, others believe that a new hybrid education paradigm with substantial benefits will arise.

Online education market in India 2020-2024
Online education market in India 2020-2024

Many are now touting the gains as the style of teaching has shifted. It made it possible through chat groups, video sessions, voting and even record sharing during this pandemic to access far-flung students more quickly and effectively.

Is Learning Online Effective Mode of Teaching:

There is proof that learning online can be more useful in a various areas for those who already have access to the right technologies. Some study indicates that students maintain 25-60% more content on average while studying online, compared to only 8-10% in a classroom.

This is mostly due to the students being able to learn faster online; e-learning requires 40-60 percent less time to learn than in a traditional classroom setting because students can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading, skipping, or accelerating through concepts as they choose. The structured environment is required, because kids are more easily distracted.

To get the full benefit of online learning, there needs to be a concerted effort to provide this structure and go beyond replicating a physical class/lecture through video capabilities, instead of using a range of collaboration tools and engagement methods that promote “inclusion, personalization and intelligence”, according to Dowson Tong, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and President of its Cloud and Smart Industries Group.

Since studies have shown that children extensively use their senses to learn, making learning fun and effective through use of technology is crucial, according to BYJU’s Mrinal Mohit.

“Over a period, we have observed that clever integration of games has demonstrated higher engagement and increased motivation towards learning especially among younger students, making them truly fall in love with learning,” he says.

COVID-19 Acts as Key to Online Knowledge Dissemination:

Major world events are often an inflection point for rapid innovation, a clear example is the rise of e-commerce post-COVID. While we have yet to see whether this will apply to e-learning post-COVID-19, it is one of the few sectors where investment has not dried up. What has been made clear through this pandemic is the importance of disseminating knowledge across borders, companies, and all parts of society.

The concept of traditional education has changed radically within the last couple of years. Being physically present in a classroom isn’t the only learning option anymore not with the rise of the internet and new technologies, at least. Nowadays, you have access to a quality education whenever and wherever you want, as long as you have access to a computer. We are now entering a new era of the revolution of online education.

There is no need to discount the skepticism surrounding education through the internet. It’s hard to understand the notion of leaving behind the conventional classroom, especially if it’s to face this vast space called The Internet.

Online education enables the teacher and the student to set their own learning pace, and there’s the added flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone’s agenda. As a result, using an online educational platform allows for a better balance of work and studies, so there’s no need to give anything up.

Studying online teaches you vital time management skills, which makes finding a good work-study balance easier. Having a common agenda between the student and teacher can also prompt both parties to accept new responsibilities and have more autonomy.

Offers Wide Selection of Untapped Varieties of Programs:

In a space as vast and wide as the internet, there are infinite skills and subjects to teach and learn. A growing number of universities and higher education schools are offering online versions of their programs for various levels and disciplines. From music composition to entrepreneurship development, there are options for every type of student.

Studying your program online is also a great option for getting an official certificate, diploma, or degree without physically setting foot on a university campus.

Vision of Accessibility:

Online education enables you to study or teach from anywhere in the world. This means there’s no need to commute from one place to another, or follow a rigid schedule. On top of that, not only do you save time, but you also save money, which can be spent on other priorities.

The virtual classroom is also available anywhere there’s an internet connection, and a good way to take advantage of this is to travel. For example, if you’re studying abroad and want to get a job, online education is a great choice. There’s no reason to give up on working or studying while exploring new and exotic places.

Customized Learning Space:

As mentioned before how flexibility can help you to set your own study pace. But online education is also flexible for each student’s individual requirements and level of ability.

Online classes tend to be smaller than conventional class size. Most of the time, online learning platforms only allow one student at a time, and in almost all cases, this allows for greater interaction and more feedback between you and your instructor.

Cost-effectiveness Feature:

Unlike in-person education methods, online education tends to be more affordable. There are often a wide range of payment options that let you pay in installments or per class. This allows for better budget management. Many of us may also be subject to discounts or scholarships, so the price is rarely high.

We can also save money from the class materials, which are often available for free. In other words, the monetary investment is less, but the results can be better than other options.

Conclusion:

Today’s educators have to rethink higher education for a world that’s being overturned by technology. The technology is transforming jobs and skills faster than organizations or people can adapt.

Coursera’s Global Skills Index 2019 found that two-thirds of the world’s population is falling behind in critical skills. Research from the World Economic Forum suggests that the core skills required to perform most roles will change by 42% on average by 2022. So grabbing global opportunity is now accessible on finger tips, by going digital or rethinking in new direction of online model of education.

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