Elearning courses; Everything you must know

Introduction to Elearning courses

The number of students opting for Elearning courses for higher studies has increased after the Pandemic. For instance, recent surveys show that over 50 per cent of schools around provide various certificate and degree programs through Elearning in the UK. As a result, Elearning courses are much in demand and very popular among many students planning to pursue higher education and working professionals. According to the Department, the main reason behind this increasing demand is that it enables lifelong learning for all people.  

The beginning of Distance learning

One of the oldest institutions to offer distance education globally is The University of South Africa, which started offering distance courses in 1946. However, the most prominent distance education university is The Open University in the United Kingdom. Around the world, many renowned universities and private institutions offer varied courses through distance education. 

These correspondence courses also evolved after the emergence of the internet  and other technologies. They adapted Elearning to them. Now there are millions of platforms offering online courses. In addition, many of these platforms offer free courses, making them accessible to everyone.

Advantages of Elearning

The best part about Elearning courses is that regardless of your life phase, you can pursue them at your convenience if you wish to go for higher studies. You may be a student, homemaker or a working person. You may have other things in life to attend to, making it difficult for you to go to regular institutions and study. In such situations, this approach opens the door to great opportunities.  

There are plenty of reasons that make Elearning courses a favourite choice.The first reason would be, as the name suggests, the possibility of doing the course sitting in the comfort of your home. You can live anywhere and pursue the course of your choice.

Another advantage is choosing the platform or institution of one's preference. You can study anywhere. Most Elearning courses are in 100% distance mode. So, all that you need is internet connectivity. You have the flexibility to study wherever you like. 

The course material for Elearning is always up-to-date. So you have the opportunity to learn fresh and new materials.  Elearning is the best mode of education for those with restricted mobility. Here, you can manage your education according to your convenience. You can plan the studies according to your regular work timings and commitments. 

Another benefit is the several varied courses available in distance education. You have the opportunity to choose from a variety of courses. Here, you will always have access to course materials online. Elearning has become a reputed and valid approach to pursuing higher education. In addition, the outcomes are the same as regular institutions, if not better results.  Regardless of age and place of stay, you can pursue higher education in a subject of your choice, thus realising a dream of attaining a certificate in a particular topic. 

E-learning and Distance learning

Distance education was not a recent phenomenon; until recent years, it was not very popular among students. Institutions offering courses through distance education existed from the second half of the 20th century. However, schools offering distance education have no accreditation or do not provide a valid certification. These aspects made distance learning a mode of education that is not preferred by many. However, things have changed recently, with many people opting for distance education to pursue higher studies. Because of the arrival of Elearning, students hardly learned anything in traditional distance learning. On the other hand, now, Elearning courses are as effective as offline programs. 

After Elearning courses became popular, many universities have started admitting more students and offering varied courses in the distance stream without increasing the number of staff and facilities. Today, many distance institutions have their syllabus converted to electronic files; thus, the course materials are just a click away. Today, universities and colleges consider distance learning an essential part of their academic efforts as necessary as their regular stream.  

Elearning and technology

With the advancement of the internet and technology, it is now possible to attend all the classes sitting in a virtual classroom. As a result, you don't have to bother to travel to your study centre. In addition, you can sit in the comfort of your home and access all your study materials, class assignments and class schedules on the website, much like in a real classroom. Furthermore, it allows you to interact with other students through a chat facility and contact the trainers through video or voice chat. Therefore, an Elearning system lets you have all your course materials online with demonstrations. So, you are thus getting multi-dimensional information through online media.  Some courses are offered totally in online mode. In contrast, some courses demand you be in a classroom at a specific location for a few sessions, such as laboratory and examinations.   

The best part about it is that you can be from any background and pursue any career. For instance, you still can opt for a course of your choice from the varied options available and prepare for the course at a convenient time every day. 

Various tools and technology are needed to make elearning easy and worthwhile. Voice-centred technologies such as CD, MP3 recordings and webcasts, and video technologies like instructional videos and other interactive technologies are integral to E-learning. Videoconferencing is used to connect with participants from different remote locations.  

Why do we need Elearning courses?

Unlike the earlier notions about distance learning and the concerns about its efficiency, students trust the efficiency of Elearning courses. There is a growing belief in distance education. In addition, it is more beneficial than traditional real-time classroom education. You can save a lot of time and money by shooting specific questions and clarifying doubts from trainers available online throughout the class time. The possibility of access to information is higher in virtual classrooms when compared to real-time ones. There is less stress on students, and if needed, one-on-one teaching sections are available for students. Unlike in traditional classrooms, where attention to each student is nearly impossible, students have the opportunity to interact with trainers without the distraction of classroom noise. The highest advantage here is, however, the time flexibility.   

Besides, students can avail support from other online sources. The advancement in distance education redefined the traditional notions about higher education worldwide. Elearning is cheaper than traditional education, and the student's physical location matters do not matter here, making it a very popular stream of education among students.  

E-learning platforms these days offer varied courses in almost every discipline. This is another major attraction. Since it doesn't cost much, unlike traditional higher education, anybody virtually can do courses in distance mode. Even workers can go for e-learning at a convenient time after working hours. Elearning has thus created history by allowing everyone to pursue higher education in various disciplines.  

A closer look at distance education degree programs

E-learning has set a new trend in education where anybody can learn any course without bothering about the institution's distance or shelling out a huge sum for completing a program. In addition, this trend has revolutionised education notions by making it possible for everyone to enjoy the process of learning a course of their choice.  

All possibilities of technology are utilised in distance education to make it effective. Technology and instructional design systems back the various tools used in distance education. 

As far as the courses are concerned, subject experts have made the curriculum to make them understandable. Technological advancements are at the centre of these online programs. Elearning uses radio, television, audio-video conferencing and other computer-aided instructional methods to conduct these courses. Depending on the institution where you are taking the course, you will also get study materials in different forms, such as video lectures, audio lectures and pdf notes. These institutions also have student counselling services in case you have any queries.  

The best part about distance education is that there is no age limit for learning any courses offered. Usually, anyone with a high school diploma can enrol for an Elearning course. Earlier, only limited courses were available in online mode. But today, there are many programs from all academic disciplines. 

Conclusion

Schools and colleges have been here for more than ten centuries. Still, a huge part of the world population is illiterate. And for developing countries, it is impossible to lay their hands on good education. Elearning courses are the perfect solution to these problems. Education will reach everyone, and everyone can study everything they want.