COVID-19 pandemic has to change the way of living for the entire world. A lot of organizations and institutions have to change the way of their work. This pandemic also didn’t spare the education institutions.
This pandemic has affected the future of over 1.2 billion children. All the schools and other educational institutions have been closed due to the covid-19 pandemic. So, to ensure the safety of the children’s health and education, the world has changed classroom learning into E-learning.
E-learning is the process in which instead of physical classes children take classes online on electronic devices such as mobile, computer or laptops etc. this is a very effective way to teach the students and to avoid the spread of the covid-19 virus. Everything has its cons too.
Developed countries didn’t struggle too much as they have already been applying electronic media in their normal education system, so it was not new to them. But developing countries have to change their whole education environment. However, these countries are trying too hard to secure the future of children.
Figuring out how the world is reacting toward the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Due to the current situation, many platforms are now offering free learning through their websites or apps. Like a Bangalore based educational technology called BYJU’s the world’s most high demand edtech company allows free classes through its app.
Another platform Tencent classroom is offering its free services to the students as well. Another platform that is developed by Bytedance called Lark is working in Singapore.
Lark is a unique platform that allows students and teachers to set up conferences, real-time edited projects, and much more.
Alibaba has also initiated a distance learning tool called DingTalk, which works just like the above platforms. Right now, the world is tracking a huge influx in the online learning movement. According to BYJU’s data 200, per cent of students have started learning through this platform.
What are the challenges of E-learning?
The developed countries don’t have to struggle much after implementing electronic learning in their education system. But the countries which have low resources have faced a tremendous amount of challenges. A lot of students don’t have access to the internet.
Some students don’t have access to any electronic devices. According to OECD data, In Indonesia, only 34 per cent of students have access to a computer while in countries like Switzerland and Norway 94 per cent of students have access to computers.
This situation was also faced in the US as many of the students don’t have privileged backgrounds so they can’t get a quality electronic education.
In some countries like Australia, the government is helping the students by providing them with the electronic equipment
A new imperative in the education system:
This is clear from the current situation of the world education system is disrupted to a very great level. Previously, a lot of writers, like Yuval Noah, have criticized the education system for just focusing on the same old academic skills and not training the students to learn more critical thinking skills, which are very important for success.
This sudden change in the education sector could be the key that can help us update the old education curriculum to the new one. E-learning is training students to get more knowledge in different areas.
They are not a constraint and that part is helping them to learn new skills that can help them in their future life. Some people do not accept this new narrative as they think that the old system could teach students more efficiently but know many people have accepted this change and know they have accepted this new system as a “ new normal” in their life.
Is E-learning useful?
According to recent students, E-learning is more effective than traditional learning. Studies have shown that students can retain 60 per cent more material when they learn online. If this is compared to traditional classes, students only can retain from 8 to 10 per cent.
This is because E-learning is smart, learning too requires less time and it gives a lot of options to students such as re-reading the core concepts, skipping through the phases of classes etc.
Moreover, this technology also made work very easy for teachers as well. They can easily make slides and teach through animations. A study shows that visual learning is more effective than traditional board learning.
According to BYJU’s institution. “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,”
What is the Future of Online learning?
Some of us thought that the sudden move towards this technology with no proper training and management will only end up giving terrible results, while some of us believed that this is an alternative path that can boost the education system.
According to Wang Tao Vice president of Tencent education, “I believe that the attachment of the education system with information technology will be more accelerated in future and after some time it will become an integral part of our education system.”
A lot of universities have already implemented this into their education system. For example, Zhejiang University has uploaded more than 2000 courses in just two weeks to their website.
The future seems to be bright. It is just like that educational system is getting an update that will take some time but eventually, it will benefit us all.