Online Classes In India: Boon or Curse?

Online Education in India has come a long way with the development of technology. India is one of the nations that is developing at an exponential rate in terms of technology. With a population of more than 1.3 billion, the availability of high-speed internet, and smartphones, India has the most number of technologically driven persons.

The rise of the internet has changed the way of life in India. People like to do everything online, they shop online, do business online, make friends online, learn online, etc. While eCommerce is the most significant online industry, online education, and learning stand right next to it. With the ever-increasing information available on the internet and the countless number of online courses, many people in India prefers to learn online.

With the development of technology, Online Education in India has come a long way. In terms of technology, India is one of the nations that is developing at an exponential rate. India has the greatest number of technologically driven persons considering the population of more than 1.3 billion people and the availability of high-speed internet and smartphones. Due to the surge of internet connectivity in India, the life of people in India has changed tremendously. People these days spend much of their time online, make friends online, learn online, shop online and business online.

Although eCommerce taking up the most of the share on the online industry, Online learning and education stand right next to it. Many people in India prefer learning online due to ever-increasing information is available on the internet and the countless number of online courses.

An online class is a course conducted over the Internet. They are generally conducted through a learning management system, in which students can view their course syllabus and academic progress, as well as communicate with fellow students and their course instructor.

Online courses use learning management systems to deliver course content, allowing students to submit assignments and communicate with peers and professors. Online classes are generally self-paced, allowing for greater flexibility in completing coursework

The radical change in the mode of production requires the transformation of the education system. Our current education system, with its focus on memorization and standardization, does not fulfill the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to prepare students to compete against intelligent machines or the Sustainable Development Goals to enhance education access, equity, quality, and lifelong learning.

The pandemic worldwide has forced the schools and colleges to divert from the well-established classroom teaching to online mode and this has bought a huge difference in the mode of delivery and it is here to stay. Education in the past couple of months has gone through a drastic change that no one ever expected. 

The pandemic has exposed the educational institutions to a need to evolve and made the institutions equip to this new mode of delivery by equipping institutions with necessary technologies and infrastructure, also provided students and teachers with the skillset needed to adapt to the new era of a digital environment. This adaptation of the process was smooth in several first world countries where all the facilities and infrastructure needed to make this shift was readily available. The newly acquired skills and the organization of learning experiences are something that can have a lasting effect.

Online education is an imperative and integral part of changing technologies and consumer preferences. Hybrid learning and virtual classes will play a significant role in the long-term survival of many universities. Students will be attracted and enrolled in the universities offering online learning with flexible timings. Many countries are already incorporating classes with unconventional technologies such as augmented reality, Artificial Intelligence, and virtual reality-based learning.

The ‘Blended Learning’ approach is becoming more popular in many parts of the world. It refers to a hybrid learning model that gives the students a dynamic learning experience that lacked quality education or access to high-quality services. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) has helped personalize the learning atmosphere for each child: Educators will soon have to abandon the 'one-size-fits-all' approach that is often practiced in conventional classrooms, and use technology to deliver a learning experience that is tailored to the learning needs of a child.

The combined learning method will benefit both forms of students also, because they will have the potential to engage with various forms of content, such as film, audio, and presentations, the ability to individualize learning is enhanced. The role of educators will need to be redefined because with learning freely accessible only a button away, a teacher's role from that of a 'knowledge-giver' will slowly change to that of the 'facilitators' in learner growth and enable them to become life-long learners.

Technology should be used successfully to minimize teachers' time spent on activities such as paper-setting, assessment, and grading: this will allow educators to focus more fully on teaching and developing courses. Interactivity and participation in the traditional classroom will continue to be incorporated into online learning systems to keep individuals engaged: Physical classrooms provide a higher degree of teacher-student interactivity and to bring the element of interactivity and collaboration into their e-learning modules, educators will need to bring in a lot of innovations.

It must also be pointed out that it is only natural that students encounter immense levels of anxiety in the current quarantine periods amid social distancing, self-isolation, and online studies. It must not be easy for them to be unable to hang out with their friends, peers, and classmates as they used to, and not be likely to spend their energy on sports.

As educators, they must shoulder the responsibility of equipping them with appropriate defense strategies and helping them build and strengthen their connections with supportive adults, including their educators.

Students can learn anywhere at any time since online education requires a laptop or a smartphone with an internet connection. This enables working individuals to take up new courses without ever giving up their jobs. Since all the course materials are readily available at fingertips, they can learn anything and everything in their free time or weekends.

Many prospective students overlook the cost advantages of online classes. Although online learners may pay the same per-credit tuition rate as an on-campus degree, and certificate-seekers, they do not pay for on-campus housing or meal plans. Learners also save time and money by eliminating a commute. It is a more feasible way than pursuing a regular campus degree.

Online Education really helps students who can’t afford a college degree to achieve their dream without ever having to spend a fortune on college fees. It helps you to manage and save time since you are studying at your own comfortable time.

Other cost savings include cheaper textbooks, especially if online learners can purchase digital versions. As long as online learners take enough credits to qualify as part-time students, they can apply for federal financial aid programs, such as grants and loans. Most colleges also allow online degree- and certificate-seekers to apply for institutional aid, including need-based grants and merit-based scholarships.

With the ability to study anywhere, online learners can complete coursework at home, a coffee shop, or a library. This advantage of online learning allows students to work in an environment that best suits them. As new online degree- and certificate-seekers research different places, they should focus on those that offer a reliable internet connection and few distractions. Another factor to consider is space requirements, as some facilities' tables may lack the space for a computer and reference materials.

Another advantage of online education that relates to flexibility involves prospective students' geographic location. Many of the nation's top colleges and universities offer online degrees and certificates, meaning that learners do not have to relocate to attend a premier school. They do not incur moving expenses since they can study from any location. This flexibility also saves money, as the cost of living among different cities can vary greatly.

Besides saving money, not needing to move means that degree- and certificate-seekers do not need to end friendships and professional relationships. They can also live closer to extended family members. These advantages of online classes can lead to greater emotional well-being and less stress.

Non-traditional learners enjoy two significant advantages of online classes related to career advancement. A certificate or degree can qualify an employee for a raise and some companies restrict management-level positions to employees who possess a bachelor's or master's degree. Earning a degree can lead to a promotion that may also involve increased wages.

Besides tangible career benefits, most online degrees and certificates also allow learners to continue working while they study. Students can work during the day and complete coursework in the evenings or on the weekends. Additionally, learners who work can apply new knowledge and skills to their job immediately.

Learning online can help students hone the technical skills they need on the job. New skills can include the ability to use new software suites, perform in-depth research online, and communicate effectively online in various formats such as discussion boards and teleconferencing. Employers often demand these skills as more and more positions require employees to work remotely. Students can also add new skills to a resume and discuss them during a job interview.

Online college courses give you the chance to talk about classroom assignments using chat forums or live online discussion sites. You can still exchange ideas and dialog with other students without having to travel to a common meeting place that might not be convenient for you.

Everyone has a different and unique learning pace. Many children have grasping issues due to not being able to keep up with the teaching speed. Many students find it difficult to follow the lessons in a classroom where everybody is taught together.

Online education solves this dilemma as all the course materials are provided beforehand so that they learn it by taking their own time. Through live chats and forums, students can clear their doubts in an engaging session

As long as online classes are accredited and approved by Distance Education Council (DEC) of India companies and employers consider online degrees as a relevant educational certificate to hire you. Many of the companies are motivating their employees to pursue online education as well.

Online learning allows people to learn in their own style and at their own speed, which helps them absorb more information. If someone needs more time with a particular topic, they can go through it as slowly and as many times as they need. Nearly all online colleges will require students to engage in weekly discussions with the rest of the class, the professor, or both. This may mean posting to a discussion board or participating in group chats held at a specific date and time. There may be a prompt for students to respond to or students may be asked to come up with their own discussion topics. It will vary by class and the preference of the professor.

Listening to and reading lectures, doing homework, handing in papers, and talking with your peers– doesn’t sound so different than any traditional class. In reality, the experience most students have with online education is very similar to attending courses on campus. If you have any questions about how your online school holds courses, ask administrators or check out their website to get a preview and familiarise yourself before you start taking classes.

Schools offering online education are eager to help you qualify for financial aid. Additionally, many online schools can charge less than traditional campuses because there is much less overhead to upkeep than on a physical campus. Today’s online schools now offer digital book rentals or downloads that will cost you a lot less than a traditional textbook. Add these savings to what you are being spared in car maintenance, clothing, and food, and you cannot go wrong.

However, one of three students find online classes difficult. While we can all agree that self-discipline and time management are always at play when it comes to learning, online learning involves less guidance from an instructor than traditional learning.

Typically, online learning also removes scheduled meeting times and deadlines. As a result, your students must put themselves in the driver’s seat when it comes to their ongoing education and there are no face-to-face lectures or classmates to remind you about pending assignments students can easily lose track of their studies. It takes a lot of motivation and patience to complete your online course or abandon your course entirely.

When you imagine a traditional classroom, lively group discussion, and students raising their hands to ask the instructor questions likely comes to mind. Admittedly, these moments do not arise as naturally in online learning. For some individuals, these face-to-face interactions are a must to bring the material to life.

Nevertheless, it is possible to bring more social interaction to online learning through competition, scheduled Q&A sessions with an instructor, and discussion channels. Complex topics, operative techniques, and practices that require a physical environment are best conducted in person. Yet, more repetitive topics in a high turnover environment lend themselves naturally to online learning.

Online learning is often theory-based and lacks practice-based learning. Theoretical knowledge refers to facts, theories, and reasoning whereas practical knowledge is based on hands-on endeavors and tasks. For example, online learning would be a great tool to learn the theory-based side of football, like its history and the rules of the game. However, it cannot be used to transfer practical knowledge like how to actually play the game. Only getting out on the field can do that.

Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that e-learning cannot replace the knowledge that comes through hands-on experience. It can also cause social isolation as well as provide an easy arena for students to cheat during examinations. 

In a nutshell, A good lecture or the seminar has its foundation in words but gains its texture and flow from countless other subtle cues and interactions in the classroom. These include the body language of the students that an alert instructor will observe and use in modulating the pace and content of the discussion, the pauses and inflections in student questions that would escape capture by a microphone, and the dynamism that occurs because each student, sitting among different neighbors at a unique location in the room, experiences and engages with the class slightly differently.

A course is also made effective by the unscripted interactions that occur as students gather before and after the class, and by the simple fact that the physical act of getting to class requires at least some investment of time and energy. In short, attending a well-run class in person is immersive and engaging in a way that far exceeds anything that consumer technology can possibly hope to deliver now or in the foreseeable future.

While it is still too early to judge the effectiveness of online versus classroom learning, this unplanned experiment with electronic education reveals a number of insights regarding teaching and learning that can have longer-term implications. Foremost, it shows that teachers can be very adaptable and creative when provided with the right incentives.

During this humanitarian crisis, teachers are stretching themselves so that their students have continuity in learning. Before the pandemic hit, if any school or college had suggested that teachers move to online education within a week, educators would have balked at the idea.

But now teachers have proven to themselves that online learning is not only possible but has immense potential that is yet to be tapped. For students who cannot be present physically in a school or college, an online medium is definitely an option. 

While this alternative existed even before the virus upended our world, a much larger percentage of teachers and students are now more accepting of trying this mode of learning. And a change in pedagogy can be brought about only when there is a willingness to embrace it.

Writer: Anisha Kapoor

Editor: Sonal Kamble