Technology and Future of Online Learning
Technology is evolving at an unimaginable pace; every day, something new is happening in the field of technology that leaves people dumbfounded. Things that were unimaginable only a few years ago are now possible. Man has evolved so much that today he has even attained the unattainable. Similarly, learning has also evolved. The year 2020 has been quite the opposite of what was imagined of it. The pandemic changed everything, and some believe that this might be the new normal. Considering the SOPs and the new normal, online learning also evolved. A number of universities and colleges around the world started using platforms like Zoom to conduct online classes. This might not be the perfect platform, but the opportunity to evolve has forced many people to introduce newer platforms that will offer more than what zoom offered. People utilized what was available, but the future of online learning is bright as a star.
There are many reasons why the future of education is online learning. The following are a few reasons.
It’s Flexible
The reason for the popularity of online learning is that it is flexible. Despite the pandemic, the learning process kept going on since options for online learning are limited. All you need is a reliable internet connection and a device, and you are good to go. This also ensures distance learning, which means that you do not have to be even in the same country to get enrolled in an institution. Virtual learning makes education accessible to anyone and everyone and makes education easily available. In recent years, more people have started opting for online learning, which makes the future of online learning brighter.
Wider Options
The horizons for learning are even wider with online learning. Even if you live in a country where a certain program is not being offered, you can choose an online learning course from another part of the world. It is believed that more and more institutions will be opening their doors to the online world in the future. Prestigious universities like Oxford and Harvard are also now offering online learning courses that were not offered initially; let’s say even 10 years ago. Technology has changed the educational world for the better; every day a new software is being tested so that this process can be improved even further. It is to be believed that in the near future, virtual reality and artificial intelligence will also be implemented to improve the distance learning processes. Already robotics is being used to introduce newer methods of learning to the students. Educational institutions are responsible for changing the perceptions of technology.
Customization
Another essential aspect of the future of online learning related to technology is the option of customization. A unique feature that technology can bring to online learning is the customization of the courses as well as learning, no matter where the student is or living. Customization is an essential aspect of learning. Right now, the only customization we see in learning is the choice of courses or the timing, but with technology, this can be taken to another level. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can be used in this aspect. Irrespective of the location or background of the student, education can be modified to help them. This could be a milestone in special education learning. When we talk about learning, we need to understand that learning is also categorized further into special educational programs for the specially-abled people. Students who are physically challenged can also benefit from this customization so that the learning process is further simplified.
More Immersive
Right now, as we speak, online and distant learning is very superficial. The students can only give their input, but when we talk about the zoom lesson, the students are expected to mute their speaker so that only the professor can talk while the others can listen. This is justified because, in a class of, let’s say, 30 students, giving everyone the right to talk will make the commencement of class almost impossible. But this also hinders the learning process for many students. Learning is always a two-way process; without asking questions, the students will not learn much, and the professor will keep going on thinking that the topic is clear to the students. But with technology and time, the learning process can be made rather immersive. Learning can be made real-time with the use of technology since there is no doubt that the future of learning will be online.
Cost-Effective
Every year students spend thousands of dollars on their education, but this will not be the same in the future. With online learning and the inclusion of more immersive solutions, this cost can be brought to a bare minimum. Since the universities will not accommodate the students on the campuses, they can reduce their operating costs, which will directly reduce the educational fees. This will take time to be implemented, but this can be a game-changer once it is put into place. Once education is more affordable, it will be accessible to more students, which will improve the general level of education around the world. Right now, hundreds and thousands of students drop out of college or university because they cannot afford private tuition, but we are hopeful that the future will be a lot different than this.
Conclusion
With the introduction of new technologies, every person’s responsibility is to make learning easier for students around the world and even more accessible. A lot of impossible things a few years ago are today possible, and we hope that online learning will also improve with time. This current pandemic has tested our capabilities to a certain extent, and this could be the right push in the direction we need to go. With big countries working on the technology, there are a lot of untapped potentials that can be explored.
This blog is a collaborative effort from the writer and paperslead.com
