What is Online Education । Online Education- Advantage and Challenges?

What is online education? Online education benefits, advantage, and challenges.

Nowadays online education degree, online education masters programs available in many countries. Online education appertains to the technology used for the teaching-learning process. In online education personal computers are used on the student’s side. Computers can be connected to the network by physical or wireless wiring in online education. The network usually entangles an urban or interurban network and, increasingly, the Internet. The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education has accommodated exploring alternative methods of training to increase entry to knowledge and learning to millions of students, youth and adults around the world. In general, we can guess that online education is remote although this last one becomes irrelevant because for the teaching-learning process it does not matter what the student is in the same campus or thousands of miles away. Today, anybody anywhere in the world with an Internet connection has access to an unlimited range of courses, diplomas, degrees certificates, and masters at a very low cost or totally free.

The most modern online education systems use the participatory and constructivist methodology recommended by pedagogues long before the development of computer networking technology. Because this technology provides all the communication and interaction facilities. With technological advances, more and more universities around the world are evolving to adapt to this current reality and make use of new digital tools to expand and diversify their academic offerings.

ONLINE EDUCATION- ADVANTAGES

Education has overcome barriers and now studying from home is a reality in our modern civilization.

Technological advantage

Thanks to the technological advance, the student can also make use of electronic laboratories related to different areas such as chemistry, mathematics, physics, biology, and electronics. Essential for experimental learning. Also, the library adopts another image by being in digital form, and other resources available online such as journals and databases become a reliable and accessible source for the student. In general, information and communication technologies (ICT) have allowed the generation of an increase in multimedia applications, educational software, and e-learning platforms.

New learning environment

Online education provides a new learning environment. The student learns through videos, podcasts, wikis, multimedia materials, discussion forums, and so on. These tools represent a highly interactive educational environment in which teachers, specialists and, of course, students participate.

Location advantage

No matter the location. Students can interact with teachers from anywhere by having a computer with Internet access. This is how studying from the comfort of home becomes the main stage for the transmission of knowledge.

Knowledge window

Due to its functionality, online education has crossed barriers used in all branches of knowledge. Practically it has become a very complete means, which response effectively and efficiently to the demands of a social and work environment.

Is it better to study online than in person?

The contents and the educational quality are the same in both modalities, however, when studying online we have a more flexible and adaptable model to the student. In addition, a better communication between student and teacher is created since the barrier of time and space is removed.

Guidance of Teachers

The responsibility for own learning is acquired since the student is the one who marks his work rhythm but always under the guidance of Teachers and Advisors, who provide the appropriate material for each lesson.

What are the advantages of studying online?

Among the benefits offered by online education is the opportunity to organize study schedules, a primary factor for those who have to complete multiple activities, allowing them to take advantage of the flexibility to decide if they want to study very early in the morning, at night or during free spaces in the day.

Access all time

Online education allows you to access the platform, 24x365 days a year, from your home or your suitable location.

Saving time and money

Saving time and money. The transfer to a classroom school is resolved with the option of online education, since according to the activities of each person you can intersperse the study either from home, office, cafeteria, etc. So saving time is one of the benefits that are most valued when starting in this modality.

Commitment

Each student is responsible for their work, in a classroom, the teacher is there to check if the activities are carried out or not, but online the student acquires the commitment of their education with the ability to be self-taught and self-reading.

Much more productive

Self-discipline becomes an inherent characteristic of the online student, as confirmed by Alejandro Espinosa, a student of the Degree in Distance Marketing: “Graduates or online careers, I think they make people much more productive because they become more self-disciplined. We must show that we can do things, without another adult being behind telling us what to do, "he said.

Globally promoting platform

One of the objectives of globally promoting online education is to battle educational backwardness. The entire community who had to stopped their studies to start working, the online study represents an effective opportunity that can help them meet their needs. The contact between teacher and student is permanent, the doubts about each subject are exposed more easily since the social pressure that occurs in face-to-face classes has no place in the online study.

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Dynamic method

The teaching methods are dynamic and easy to understand. The preparation during the online study focuses on reflection, self-training, and appropriation of technologies that facilitate learning. In this way, the means used during online classes such as shared documents, videos, forums, and other actions help to make the exchange of ideas effective, quick and encourage interaction.

Continuous interaction process

Continuous interaction. Studying online does not mean that it will be done alone, as many people think. The interaction takes place through groups or teams to prepare online presentations, seminars or projects and through the use of chat or videoconferences that allow direct and rapid communication.

This is how online education is a new door to knowledge that creates highly motivated people, efficient of effectively managing their time, with command of technological tools, willing to work and independent study with a greater commitment, and above all, people who stand out for his self-taught quality.

CHALLENGES OF ONLINE EDUCATION

Now, it is important to note that despite these and many other advantages, experience has shown that there are still some barriers to online training.

Reliable internet access: The main challenge to enhance the use of technology in educational processes is to ensure reliable internet access.

Sufficient infrastructure: High-speed connectivity and access to sufficient infrastructure are prerequisites for boosting online education.

Promote digital literacy: It is also important to promote digital literacy or the compression of digital tools and information to take advantage of online education.

Free: The high degree of wile in online education indicates that another of the challenges to overcome is to ensure the completion of programs, especially those that are free. In this regard, several studies agree on the centrality of the figure of the teacher to achieve an effective teaching and learning process in an educational modality. Although the new technologies allow taking content to more people, the role played by the teacher remains transcendental. That is why teachers must have the ability to use online educational methodologies and resources to establish contact with students and seek their attention, motivation, and interest throughout the program.

The lack of face-to-face: Although online education is very convenient in the sense that it eliminates the need for physical interaction, some argue that the lack of face-to-face contact with other students limits the learning experience since it makes it difficult to establish personal links that can only be generated within the classrooms.

Conclusion

Derived from the above, and based on best practices in online and face-to-face methods, hybrid learning or blended learning emerged, which integrates both modalities to create a comprehensive learning experience and provide students with flexibility and support simultaneously. The hybrid approach has the potential to encourage independent learning and collaboration, as well as provide more communication channels between students and teachers. Because it has proven to be a very successful method, more and more universities in the world are opting for this combined model.

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