With the advancement of technology, teaching has also evolved from being limited to the confines of a classroom to being a global activity. Everything from kids learning programs to PhDs is being made available online. This is further augmented by the pandemic, making online teaching the only way to move forward academically. Online courses are now available on almost any subject with great care taken by tutors to provide the same support that students receive on campus. More than 6 million students are participating in online higher education programs at the moment.
Resources in Online Learning
The study material provided for online classes is almost exclusively digital, but this varies depending on the institution. Some courses may require physical books before starting the system, but eBooks and other digital content are rapidly replacing these. Some courses include such resources with their tuition fee. Here are some of the common digital resources provided for an online course.
- Ebooks and Journals
Written resources are essential while teaching, even if it’s through the internet. The same can be said in the case of learning as reading is a vital part of it. The institution will provide eBooks related to the course through digital mediums like a website or by email. The main benefit of this is its portability. Ebooks allow one to study from anywhere through their laptops or phones.
- Recorded Lectures
Online education eliminates the need for real-time lectures as they can be recorded and provided to the student to watch at their convenience. It allows students to repeat the same lecture anytime without bothering the tutor. Students can also take their time to write down notes as the lecture can be paused whenever necessary.
- Interactive Sessions
Even though online learning has developed leaps and bounds, it isn’t easy to recreate on-campus courses’ face-to-face interactions. This is where interactive sessions and online forums come in. Students can interact with other students and tutors to further understand the subject. Queries and doubts can also be raised on these forums.
- Assessment in Online Courses
Exams are an essential part of any course, and the same goes for online programs. Students have to be assessed at regular intervals to understand the depth of their knowledge in the subject. Institutions and tutors have come together to make these as relaxing as possible, dividing assessments into individual assignments, group activities and exams. A mixture of this will be conducted depending on the course to achieve on-campus competency.
Advantages of Online Learning
Online learning can be very advantageous in many ways. As the pandemic leaves no other options, these advantages should be maximised and made use of.
- Efficiency and Accessibility
Online methods are efficient in the delivery of lessons to students. With a large variety of resources that can be accessed at any time, students have much more freedom to create their study schedule. The use of digital resources also helps tutors convey the concept more efficiently. In addition, online learning goes beyond geographical limits and offers courses to students around the world.
- Accommodates a Variety of Learning Styles
Online methods are compatible with almost any course. As a result, anything from kids learning programs to certificate courses can be held online.
- Affordability
Online courses eliminate the need for campus and all the resources associated with it, like electricity and water costs. Digital study resources are also much more affordable than using paper. It is also very eco-friendly.
