ONLINE EDUCATION AND LEARNING TOOLS
Author : Shraddha Bhosle
Role Of Online Education In Today’s World
Swati Nigam (2018) states that Online education gives students the freedom to learn anytime and anywhere, helping those with money or travel problems. Platforms like SWAYAM in India make good education cheaper and available to more people. The main goals are to let students learn in their own way, finish degrees on their own time, and keep learning throughout life. New trends include job-focused courses, fun activities for better learning, and clear ways to check progress. Online learning is great for busy people or those with social barriers. It’s also cheaper and gives access to the latest study materials. But there are challenges, like needing a good internet connection, managing time well, and less interaction with teachers. Even with these issues, online education is growing and helping many people.
Online Education: Help or Challenge?
Daniela Dumulescu & Constantin Valer Necula, (2020). talks about how online education is changing and the importance of self-regulated learning (SRL). More people prefer digital learning, but teachers are still important for sharing knowledge, giving support, and guiding students. Online learning can be hard because students may get distracted or lose motivation. SRL helps students stay focused by setting goals, tracking progress, and managing their emotions. Teachers can help by using tools to track progress, giving feedback, and offering encouragement. Online learning is flexible but can sometimes feel lonely or frustrating. For it to work well, there needs to be a balance between self-discipline, teamwork, and strong teacher-student connections.
Teaching Online: Opportunities and Challenges
Geetha Rajaram et .al ( 2022)The pandemic pushed education online, forcing teachers to change how they teach. Many students miss in-person learning, but teachers are using new digital tools. This study looks at the challenges and benefits of online teaching. PowerPoint and videos are useful, but MS Excel is harder to use. Online quizzes help keep students interested. Good internet is important for successful online learning. A data study shows both challenges and benefits shape online education. The research suggests better digital tools and teacher training. Improving technology can make online learning more effective. Future studies can explore other factors that affect online teaching.
Challenges of Online Learning During COVID
Deepak Pandit & Swati Agrawal, (2022) presented that the COVID-19 pandemic made schools move to online learning faster. This change had both good and bad sides. Online classes helped continue learning, but many students had trouble with weak internet and lack of devices. Some students felt lonely, stressed, and had trouble keeping up with studies. Schools had to improve technology and train teachers quickly. Teachers found it hard to keep students interested and change their usual way of teaching. Many schools started using both online and in-person learning together. Good communication and fun learning tools became very important. Even with problems, online learning brought new ideas. It also made education easier to reach for many people
Online Learning in Qatar During COVID-19
Noof M. AlQashouti et al (2024) states that the COVID-19 pandemic changed education, making universities switch to online learning. In Qatar, schools like Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar University, and the Community College of Qatar quickly started digital classes. This shift had challenges, such as students having different access to technology, teachers learning new ways to teach, and finding better ways to test students. This study looks at how teachers and students from these universities felt about online learning. Researchers collected survey answers from 660 students and 103 teachers to understand their experiences. The goal is to find ways to make online education better and more effective, especially during emergencies.
E-Learning Methods
Tirziu et al (2014) talks about E – learning , E-learning means learning through electronic devices like computers and the internet. It is becoming more popular worldwide because of technology and the need for flexible learning. Students can study while managing work and family life, and it also helps people from different cultures and backgrounds. In universities, technology helps teachers manage courses and allows learning beyond classrooms. However, successful e-learning needs good technology, trained teachers, and new ways of teaching. Challenges include technical issues, lack of interaction, internet access, student confidence, and attitudes toward online learning. Schools must improve technology, redesign courses, and create a positive view of e-learning.
Virtual Class
Sheila A Abaya et al (2022) presented that no matter where they are, people may communicate in real time through video conferencing. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it became a vital tool for online education and work. The researchers saw the need for an affordable video conferencing technology for their school because they were academics and were impacted by the pandemic. This application, which has capabilities like chat, screen sharing, and a whiteboard, allows for real-time conversations without time constraints. In contrast to standard video conferencing software, it also has a word cloud capability, poll generation for short questions, and file sharing capabilities. The tool was evaluated by University of the East, Caloocan professors and students based on interface design, usability, and interactivity.
Learning English: Online and Traditional Tools
Lavinia Nădrag (2020) talks about the growing need for learning English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and how online teaching and tests help improve language skills. As digital tools become more common, teachers must use new technology to support students and make learning better. Testing is important to track progress, find difficulties, and improve teaching. Different types of tests, like peer and self-assessments, portfolios, and online quizzes, are now widely used in online learning. Tools like Google Forms and Microsoft Teams make it easier for teachers to check student performance. Even with some challenges, these tools can make learning more fun and creative. A good test should be fair, well-timed, and properly designed to give accurate results.
Online Learning Tools and Strategies
Marian Stan et al ( 2024) stated that Online learning grew rapidly during the pandemic, generating a lot of data from quizzes, feedback, and learning platforms. This data can help improve student engagement, prevent dropouts, and boost academic performance. The study looks at how data analytics, like learning analytics, can predict struggling students and personalize learning. It reviews case studies from platforms like Moodle and Canvas to show how data helps in decision-making. The research highlights using AI, deep learning, and machine learning to predict student success. The study involves reviewing past research and analyzing academic data. Data analytics is important in online education to support students and improve teaching. The study suggests ways to better use data in online learning for better results.
Improving Learning in Online Classes
Chicharro et al (2019)talks about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education combines science, technology, engineering, and math to help students stay motivated, especially in math. Teaching methods can be teacher-led or student-focused, with research showing that student-centered learning works better. Methods like project-based, problem-based, and challenge-based learning improve understanding. Online education is growing, using platforms like Moodle and Canvas to share lessons and help students connect. Distance learning is flexible, making it easier for students to manage work, family, and studies. Many online learners are working professionals with family duties. To support them, online courses offer resources like coaches, instructors, LMS tools, and special software to improve learning.
Conclusion
Online education has changed the way people learn, making it more flexible and accessible. It helps students study anytime and anywhere, even during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. While online learning offers benefits like lower costs and access to updated materials, it also has challenges, such as internet issues and less teacher-student interaction. Teachers use digital tools and strategies to improve engagement, but keeping students motivated remains a struggle. Learning English, STEM subjects, and other courses online has become easier with new platforms and assessment methods. Data analytics is also helping predict student performance and improve learning. Even with difficulties, online education continues to grow and improve, making learning more available to everyone.
REFERENCES
Chicharro & Elena Giménez & Íñigo Sarría, 2019. “The Enhancement of Academic Performance in Online Environments,” Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-13, December.
Daniela Dumulescu & Constantin Valer Necula, 2020. “Online Education – Friend Or Enemy Of Self-Regulated Learning?!,” Research & Education, Weik Press SRL, issue 4, pages 5-13, July.
Deepak Pandit & Swati Agrawal, 2022. “Exploring Challenges of Online Education in COVID Times,” FIIB Business Review, , vol. 11(3), pages 263-270, September
Geetha Rajaram & Sateesh Kumar T.K & Jagadish Angadi, 2022. “Moving Classes Online: Opportunities And Challenges For Educators,” Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 6(1), pages 12-16, January.
Lavinia Nădrag, 2020. “Traditional and Online Assessment Tools for Learning English,” Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 412-417, December.
Marian Stan & Mihai Ciobotea & Mihaela Covrig & Doina Liliana Badea, 2024. “Data Analysis in Online Education: Tools and Techniques for Improving Academic Performance,” Economics and Applied Informatics, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 3, pages 433-443.
Noof M. AlQashouti & Mohammed Yaqot & Brenno C. Menezes, 2024. “Online Learning and Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Higher Education in Qatar,” Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-29, March.
Sheila A Abaya & Allyssa Thea J Besana & Christian Jude G Ceballos & Christelle Alaine P Cruz & Raya J Jubilo & Carla Angela V Piamonte, 2022. “TalkED: A Video Conferencing Tool for Online Learning in Response to Education Technology Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic,” International Journal of Publication and Social Studies, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 7(1), pages 28-37.
Swati Nigam, 2018. “Role Of Online Education In Today’S World,” Working papers 2018-27-02, Voice of Research
Tirziu, Andreea-Maria & Vrabie, Catalin, 2014. “Education 2.0: E-Learning Methods,” MPRA Paper 77712, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2014.