Basic Tasks, Priorities and Challenges of E-Learning

Introduction

The objective of selecting this subject is to focus on some of the very important and grass-root level queries pertaining to the latest model of learning - E-learning. We have limited our scope of the study to both the formal and informal educational sectors of the state. We have tried to analyze and study the important factors responsible for whatever development we have achieved so far in this field and also want to investigate the causes for the impediments that block the process of establishing a complete e-atmosphere in the state. We have tried to focus on the teacher who is interested in the overall development of the learners, knowledge becomes the key economic resource. It is the only instrument that is not subjected to diminishing returns. In today’s globalization world, knowledge is being treated as intellectual capital.

A modern equivalent would perhaps be “Information proliferates when shaded” sharing information, of course, has never been easy as it is at present. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is related to almost every aspect of human life and it can heavily affect our lifestyle. Nowadays, people have never acquired education simply for the sake of the betterment of life and enhancement of aptitude. It has always been a well-planned strategic move (AbstractSRJIS / BIMONTHLY/SONWANE J. R. (1366-1371)MAR-APR, 2014, VOL. II/XI www.srjis.com Page 1367) towards securing employment or the expertise in any particular field.

The parents of the student and the society substantial output from the educated class hence, learning becomes a major part of the public life. The present diversified needs of the students of the state bear testimony to the fact. Following the great ancient tradition of Ashrams, the students have naturally developed the traditional attitude of instructor-led training. Gujarat consists of a few cities, villages, mofussil townships, and rural areas and thus, the availability of qualified faculty has always been a constraint in general. As the mythological character of Eklavya invented the new mode of learning the educationists of the state were also forced to search new techniques of quenching the thirst of knowledge of the students.

E-learning

E-learning stands for electronic learning and encompasses the transference of information such medium, as the Internet, videoconferencing, tend to focus on the prevalence of online courses and online degree programs. Online courses are formatted with a learning management system that provides a manageable and customizable course for any given Instructor. It has an impact on distance education and correspondence course also. Until more recent years, correspondence courses consisted of printed materials communicated between the institution and student via mail. However, with the wave of technological advancements appeared new opportunities for the improvement of distance education.

Teleconferencing, Videoconferencing, and finally the establishment of online courses revolutionized distance learning for a fast-paced world. The term E-learning covers a wide set of applications and processes, including computer-based learning, web-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital collaboration. We define E-learning as the delivery of content via all electronic media, including the Internet, Intranets, extranets, satellite broadcast, audio/videotape, interactive TV, and CD-ROM. Yet, E-learning is defined more narrowly than distance learning, which would include text-based learning and courses conducted via written correspondence. Terms like E-learning technology-based learning and web-based learning are defined and used differently by different organizations and user groups. Moreover, use of these terms is constantly changing as the world of E-learning evolves.E-learning = Conventional education: In most countries around the globe and specifically, our country's primary school is deep inside a small village. To deliver unique and synchronous lectures in primary schools like these, it is possible through satellite communication. It is possible to deliver subjective practical demonstration in fundamental science without any laboratory. (SRJIS / BIMONTHLY/SONWANE J. R. (1366-1371)MAR-APR, 2014, VOL. II/XI www.srjis.com Page 1368).

Extensive use of CD materials is possible for secondary and higher secondary levels. Mock-objective type competitive examination is possible for school and college level student.E-classrooms: Education and knowledge society demands transmission of knowledge across all sectors of society breaking the geographical barriers. It aims to facilitate the best quality and intellectually satisfying learning experience for every learner. The concept of the E-classroom resolves the problem of good and quality education. Domain experts, researchers can deliver knowledge to the mass learners from far through E-resources.

E-departments

For quality, global, and up-to-date courses, long-distance courses wise virtual E-departments are recommended. The virtual E-department should have research fellows, technocrats, management gurus, department heads all together runs the department, design course consistent with the requirement of economy, industry, and society. The department is responsible for arranging E-classrooms.

E-learning cell

To integrate, coordinate, and manage this long-distance learning E-learning cell is recommended at university. Secondary & Higher Secondary education board levels. The E-learning cell is the department within a geographical region and body like the university education board. It is responsible for the smooth running of the virtual department, administration of E-learning resources, and coordination with another virtual E-learning cell.

Why E-learning is the only solution to learning?

1. Country’s educational infrastructure like school, colleges, labs, etc. have hardly kept up.
2. Teaching as a profession is a choice of few professionals, skilled persons, so a shortage of good teachers.
3. The best workforce should have the right mix of technical functional and business skills. Yet the current education system seems to be unable to equip students with a variety of these skills.

4. In conventional education, learning is a “one-time” activity, but now days learning is a continuous activity because technologies and business practices are changing rapidly; some skills are outdated within few months and new skills gain significance. The advent of the Internet and the WWW saw the boundaries disappear. Information could be shared in the form of text, pictures, video, sound, etc of course with a restriction based on download speeds. Broadband enabled the streaming of videos. Learning Management Systems facilitated learning across locations within an enterprise Internet or Video. (SRJIS / BIMONTHLY/SONWANE J. R. (1366-1371)MAR-APR, 2014, VOL. II/XI www.srjis.com Page 1369) conferencing, bulletin boards, chats, discussion groups, online learning, etc. all becoming possible.

Benefits of E-learning

In India as well, so many schools, colleges, and the university started using technologies like computing, communications, broadcasting, and the internet to provide cost-effective education to its learners. E-learning is a modern, efficient, and flexible alternative to learning. Anyone can learn anywhere, anytime. The following are the benefits of using E-Learning in education.

1. Cost and time saving: The biggest benefit of E-learning, however, is that it eliminates the expense and inconvenience of getting the teacher and students in the same place. Web-based products all teacher to update lessons and materials across the entire network instantly this keeps information can be retrieved just before it is required.
2. E-learning improves learning efficiency: One analysis found that online students had more peer contact with others in the class, enjoyed it more, spent more time on classwork, understood the material better, and performed on average better than students who were taught in the traditional classroom.
3. Online training is fearless than traditional learning: Students taking on online course enter a risk-free environment in which they can try new things and make mistakes without exposing themselves. This characteristic is particularly valuable when trying to learn skills, such as leadership and decision-making. A good program shows the consequences of students’ actions and where/why they went wrong. After a failure, students can go back and try again. This type of learning experience eliminates the embarrassment of failure in front of the group.
4. Fastest and an easy tool for informal students: Learners who do not belong to the formal educational system should make the maximum use of E-learning, as it will be the fastest and easiest available system for the acquisition of knowledge.

Apart from the above mentioned benefits, some are listed below:

• It has an outreach to the masses.
• It is flexible: promises to deliver just-in-time learning so that students can learn anywhere and anytime. No demand and over and over again.
• It is student-centric rather than teacher-oriented. Learners control the contents and the pace of learning. Thus it provides self-paced learning (SRJIS / BIMONTHLY/SONWANE J. R. (1366-1371)MAR-APR, 2014, VOL. II/XI www.srjis.com Page 1370).
• In fact, it provides Personalized Learning. Advances in e-learning technology allow for a customized learning experience that fits their learning style, schedule, and preferences.
• It provides consistent and uniform training for every user.
• It simulates a personal tutor and the expert on-site.
• It is available even in remote places.
• It evaluates student performance.
• It imposes no time constraints on the learners. They don’t have to miss time from work and attend the classroom.

Above all, E-learning has a global reach. Technology can be easily integrated into the educational system to provide global reach and real-time experience. E-Learning is implemented in many forms depending on the media and the learning styles of the users.

Some Impediments:

• Effective awareness of computers is not generated among the students as well as the teachers, which at length, kills the charm of the whole enterprise.
• Sometimes students download materials and enrich the hard disks of their computers, but the ‘God-given hard disk in the brain remains blank, bereft of any data.
• The students carrying data in pen drive or floppy disk are so dependent upon these media that without them they feel a sort of emptiness.
• Students are found to collect all sorts of information on the Net, and seldom true to verify the authenticity of the same.
• It is a fact that unless there is a thirst for information in the student no amount of IT can succeed
• E-affairs are the greatest threat to e-learning.
• Improper proficiency in the English language is a very mayor impediment to the e-learning system for the students of Gujarat.
• Round the clock power supply is the basic requirement of E-learning. In villages and a smaller town, these factors hinder E-learning to great extent.
• The presentations are colorful and sophisticated. But (I) were few heavy in content, (ii) showed inconsistency across the set, (iii) were more textual than graphic.

Conclusion

The right blend using E-learning tools and techniques along with traditional classroom teaching is the best possible outcome. E-learning is the best tool available to get the involvement of all learners (SRJIS / BIMONTHLY/SONWANE J. R. (1366-1371)MAR-APR, 2014, VOL. II/XI www.srjis.com Page 1371). In any mode of learning, the general interest of humanity should never be overlooked. E-learning never aims at making e-human beings. Our technocratic drive has some pitfalls too, of which one should be aware. If we overlook them, we shall add years to life not life to years. We shall conquer outer space but not inner space. We might do larger things, but not better things. We shall clean up the air, but pollute the soul. We shall conquer the atom, but not our prejudice. We shall use the computer more, but hold more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we might communicate less and less. A time when technology can bring these ideas to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight or to just hit delete and send them to the ‘Recycle Bin’.Hence, it is now high time to plan our drive towards technology and E-learning keeping in mind our best interests as well as all the above-mentioned points.

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