E-learning: Shaping the Future of Education

Online education is positively changing the face of learning. The pandemic drove this change too fast, and people had to adapt. It's safe to say that they did. Remote learning allows people anywhere to learn from top-of-the-class educators. It will enable lecturers to be at multiple campuses at once and impart their knowledge to young minds.

It's genuinely fascinating. The ideas that seemed too good to be true have turned into reality. It's exciting to see education being out in the open for anyone to grasp. Schools, colleges, and universities are opening their courses for students around the world. It's nothing like before.

Things have improved for skill-based courses that require a lot of time and money. With the rise of multiple education channels and overwhelming response by the users, skill-based learning is deemed to be better online. Today, one can learn anything from the web-be it writing, dancing, singing, or pottery-and can legit certificates.

A person can turn any passion into a profession while being at home. If someone is interested in fitness, complete personal trainer courses are available online to guarantee them a promising career. This kind of independence was never seen before.

Do Students Lean Towards E-learning?

E-learning has seen an amazing response from learners all around the world. The most prominent players in the online education industry like Coursera, Unacademy, Udemy, and BYJUs have witnessed tremendous growth after the pandemic. Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda says that mission allows everyone in the world access to the best quality education. The company is now worth $7 billion, driven by a revenue increase of 59% in 2020.

Coursera has 31 million users. Unacademy, an online education company in India, is now worth $2.0 billion. It has 30 million users, with 350,000 being paid subscriptions. It has 18,000 registered educators who dedicate themselves to the betterment of students. Another company Udemy has 35 million users. Its enrollment numbers skyrocketed during the pandemic when many students were looking for skill-based courses to learn online.

Top universities have also started giving out online classes. Harvard has shifted its MBA classes online. Due to pandemic restrictions, they made this decision, but no one can deny that it's quite effective.

Benefits for Students

Online education has tremendous benefits. The most common reason is that teachers are paid well, and they put in a lot of effort for students. Apart from this, there are tons of options to choose from, both free and paid. Let's understand what's the driving force behind the success of e-learning.

1. Education is available anytime, anywhere: This is the chief driving factor behind numerous users. There's no restriction as to when one can study. People with jobs can easily access a course at night, and students can learn at their own will. It kills the geographical boundaries and makes education accessible for everyone.

2. It's efficient: E-learning platforms are well-versed with the use of technology. They send out PDFs for notes, practice papers, and remarkable pointers. Students can send in questions that will be adequately answered. They conduct live discussions about topics of importance. One can track progress easily. All this makes up an extremely efficient system that's easy to operate without restrictions.

3. It's affordable: Online courses are cheaper as compared to offline ones. The best part is there's something for everyone. There are expensive courses, too, but someone can easily choose another affordable option if they can't afford them.

Challenges of Online Learning

Nothing is without a flaw, and the same is the case with e-learning. Although the benefits are extreme and possess the ability to change the face of education, it's not without drawbacks. Online education works well when students choose their own skill-based courses. But same is not the case with university education.

E-learning deprives them of a college experience that is crucial for their development. They miss out on valuable interaction with peers and teachers. College is essential for a person's overall development, and sitting at home throughout college years can make them dull.

Another challenge is that the internet is not easily accessible in all parts of the world. Students living in these places find it way easier to go to school than studying with gadgets. The reason is simple-they can't afford them.

E-learning makes students dependable on gadgets like smartphones and laptops. It fuels the existing problem of over usage of these gadgets among children. This is a serious concern for primary and secondary school students.

Final Thoughts

Online learning will definitely change how we see education. Will it completely change? That's unlikely. Learning includes several aspects of personality development that can only happen when students attend classes and universities. It's great to have this option on the side in case of a disease outburst or natural calamity, but making it permanent is not a wise decision.