Online learning

Author: Mohan Das

ONLINE LEARNING

Online Learning encompasses a range of technologies such as the worldwide

web, email, chat, new groups and texts, audio and video conferencing delivered

over computer networks to impart education. It helps the learner to learn at their

own pace, according to their own convenience. Online Education requires a great

deal of resources and careful planning. In this, teachers act as facilitators rather

than transmitters of content knowledge, and ICT is regarded as resource that

enhances the learning experience of students. Learners learn through e-learning

tools which are available to all. E-Learning has brought back the joy in learning

through its innovative and interactive content delivery and has proved to be more

appealing among students.TYPES OF ONLINE LEARNING COURSES:

Robin Mason (1998) of the United Kingdom Open University has suggested that

most online- Learning courses sit on a continuum of a "partially online" or a

"fully online Learning course".

Partially Online Course: A "partially online" course is one that integrates existing

resource materials that are available either in print or non-print form such as

textbooks etc. with some elements of online learning. This might include the use

of a learning management system or simply a mailing list for some asynchronous

discussion (Naidu & Oliver,1999)

Fully online Course: A "fully online" course, on the other hand, is one that will

have most of its learning and teaching activities carried out online.

Online learning platforms:

The 7 Best Online Learning Platforms of 2022

  • Best Overall: Coursera.
  • Best for Niche Topics: Udemy.
  • Best for Creative Fields: Skillshare.
  • Best for Celebrity Lessons: MasterClass.
  • Best for STEM: EdX.
  • Best for Career Building: Udacity.
  • Best for Data Learning: Pluralsight.

Online learning platforms in India

  • Motion Learning App
  • Byju's Learning App
  • Vedantu Learning App
  • Toppr Learning App
  • Meritnation Learning App.

The Integrated Model:

This model is closest to a full online- learning course. Such courses are often

offered via comprehensive learning management system. They comprise availability

of much of the subject matter in electronic format like opportunities for

computer conferencing, small group-based collaborative online learning activities

and online assessment of learning outcomes. For the moment though, some

of the subject matter content may be best assessed offline in already published

textbooks and other sources. The learning and teaching in these courses takes

place in computer conferences, in which the prescribed readings and the assigned

tasks are discussed. Much of this learning and teaching activity is fairly fluid and

dynamic as it is largely determined by individual and group activities in the

course. To some extent, this integrated model dissolves the distinctions between

"teaching and learning" in favor of facilitation of learning (Bielaczyc &

Collins 1991.

Accessibility:

Online learning provides accessibility due to which a student can learn from anywhere

in the world. This is an especially important consideration for students

who wish to study in a different country. It doesn't matter where a student lives

and what he wants to study- he can always find a suitable course or even a Degree

Program that can be followed from home. Students learning options are not constrained

by their geographic location.