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What is the Future of Online Learning?
Over the past few months, online learning has experienced a massive boom. As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the world, schools and students have changed to online learning in an effort to continue with their studies or stay connected. With the current pandemic, we believe that online learning would be an integral part of our learning. The Covid-19 pandemic has taught people across the globe a lot of life lessons. It has taught us that learning will have to change in order to prepare students for an unpredictable future.
Students have learned a lot within a very short period of time regarding what works and what does not work and what the success needs of online learning courses are in a large perspective. Nevertheless, as the pandemic continues, what are the implications of virtual learning in the future? As schools reopen, many of them continue to utilize virtual platforms for the unpredictable future.
Both students and instructors require their digital skills to be useful in the future. Learners are now preparing to explore the real world so as to deal with any disruption that might occur in the future. Irrespective of how long the Covid-19 pandemic lasts, learning institutions might be forced to discover creative ways of getting students to enjoy their studies. Online has taken over face-to-face classroom methods despite it being used as a medium for entertainment content over the last few years.
When the coronavirus ends, learning institutions might be transformed by the experience of virtual teaching-learning. Rather than walking to schools, learners might use their laptops so as to see live-streaming classes. Virtual learning provides students with the advantage of studying from their anywhere, hence offering them flexibility regarding space. In typical school life, learners belong to a group that instills a sense of competition, thus motivating them to succeed, but virtual classes suffer from challenges such as attention span, as learners try to multi-task; surfing the net, chatting with colleagues, and checking emails during online courses. Notably, this poses questions of how to develop relationships and instill discipline in learners in an online learning environment, how to monitor their understanding, whether it is crucial to change back to traditional classrooms, and whether online learning is the best alternative.
Education is a continuous process, and schools have the vision of overcoming learning crises. Online learning enables learners to take advantage of the resources that are available online. Learning assessments might change, hence giving more weight to online presentations and weekly assignments than final examinations. Instructors are teaching students via video conferencing, and learners take part using padlet- and online note system, which enables them to share ideas, and flipgrid, which enables instructors and learners to share and create videos.
Online learning might be challenging for high school learners who prosper in social connections. The coronavirus pandemic abruptly ended their academic year, eliminating essential traditions such as graduation ceremonies, followed by the cancellation of examinations that affected learners emotionally. Other than implementing guidelines so as to offer a better learning experience, caring for the emotional and physical well-being of students is also crucial.
After this crisis comes to an end, learners will be more conscious of this virus as they come out of quarantine to continue with their studies at school. Notably, learning institutions would enforce social distancing by requesting learners to disinfect their hands prior to entering school as security guards will take their temperatures.
Desks would be rearranged in classrooms so as to increase space, the movement will be restricted within the classroom, group activities will be limited, visits to washrooms will be restricted, available space in learning institutions will be utilized for smaller groups, there will be a reduction in congestion during dismissal and arrival, there will be the cancellation of events such as excursions, field trips, and assemblies.
Why Virtual Learning is the Future of Current Education
Online learning is here to stay. As the ownership of laptops and computers grows across the world, online learning becomes increasingly accessible and viable. The speeds of internet connections are changing, and as a result, more digital training methods are arising.
With the massive development of mobile networks over the years and the increase in telecommuting, taking all crucial features of online learning on the road is a reality with portable devices such as smartphones. Technologies like social media are changing learning continuously.
Generally speaking, education is too costly, takes a lot of time, and the outcomes may differ. Online learning has been attempting for many years to complement traditional learning so as to make it more measurable and effective. The outcome now is that numerous tools assist in creating interactive learning programs and standardizing learning. Many online learning trends can provide us with a clear view of the future of online learning as well as how online learning tools will be shaped:
Personalized learning refers to tailoring teaching, learning environments, and curriculum to meet the requirements and aspirations of students. Tailoring is broader than simply differentiation or individualization since it affords students a degree of choice regarding what they learn, how it’s learned, and the time it is learned. Notably, this might not point to unlimited options because students will still have targets that they require to meet. Nevertheless, it might give students the chance to study in ways that fit their personal learning styles as well as numerous intelligences.
Micro-learning is the design of micro-learning activities over micro-steps in online learning environments. Micro-learning activities may be integrated into the daily routine of students. Unlike traditional online learning approaches, micro-learners usually tend towards push technology via push media, which lowers the cognitive load on students. Thus, the choice of micro-learning objects, as well as the timing and pace of micro-learning activities, are crucial to instructional designs. Micro-learning is a crucial paradigm change that avoids the requirements to have distinct learning sessions because the education process is integrated into the day-to-day activities of the end-user. Also, it is perfectly suitable for mobile devices where long programs may be overload.
Gamification refers to the utilization of game mechanics and game thinking in a non-game context so as to solve problems and engage users.
Why Online Learning is Popular
Virtual learning is more independent and doesn’t necessitate students to be in a specific location at a particular time. Online learning has numerous benefits that are contributing to individuals picking it over face-to-face classrooms. Here are a few advantages of virtual learning:
Flexibility
Online learning provides students with the freedom to learn from any place without the need to attend classes on the allocated time. Virtual learning is more convenient for students since they do not have to sacrifice a lot of time commuting in order to attend classes. Virtual learning implies that students can attend classes from the comfort of their homes so long as there is an internet connection.
Minimizes Learning
Students can tailor their schedules so as to minimize their learning experience. For instance, if a student works better in the morning, he or she can learn in the morning and rest in the remaining part of the day or doing something else. This means that students will retain what they learn better since they study when they are most alert, and they can use their daily hours well.
Makes Learning Accessible
Virtual education gives students access to learning in the future, for instance, in case you work-full time but intend to continue studying. Online learning enables you to acquire education without quitting your employment or shuffling between them.
Learn at Your Own Speed
In traditional learning, a teacher will usually overwhelm you with a lot of information, and it might be challenging to attempt and process learning concepts without looking for time to decode the notes. On the other hand, virtual learning enables you to educate yourself and thus take the time you require so as to grasp content before you proceed to the next chapter. This enables you to make sure that you understand what you learn and gain the most out of your academics.
Various Ways of Learning
Students may struggle to thrive in traditional classrooms, and it is significant to recognize that it is possibly not education, but it is the method of learning that is the problem. Without pressure from classmates and peer groups, students can absorb information better through online learning.
Even though much remains uncertain regarding the future of online learning, post-pandemic opportunities to a large extent depend on a learning institution’s current preparedness for online learning. Additionally, this is a chance that reminds us about the skills that learners require in the future, like communication, creative thinking, creative problem solving, collaborative learning, and making informed decisions. It’s an opportunity for schools and learners to reflect on how the Covid-19 pandemic would assist us in defining the look of online learning in the future.