Change is the only constant in life. The internet has changed the world for the better; it has changed modes of communication, business, and special education. Now you can elementary education right on your laptops, and if it can’t get any better a college degree too. There are 6 million people across the world taking online courses from 11 different universities. Many of academicians look down upon online learning as it doesn’t have peer to peer interaction and lose the personal touch, but we can’t deny that a poor person in a poor country, with limited resources, has a chance of making it big with online learning. It is changing lives. However, there are certain community values we should follow to make online learning a better experience:
1.) Consistency:
It is one of the most important factors in affecting online learning. As E- Learning kills peer to peer contact it doesn’t give the student a classroom experience which eventually leads in depleting the student’s enthusiasm and motivation. This affects the experience and the student might stop coming online. The experience should be interactive and professional to keep the student consistent in taking online classes.
2.) Honesty and Integrity:
As much as we stand in support of a great online experience or E- Learning there are also a number of frauds being committed in the name of online learning. Millions of students are duped of money every year or are offered fake degrees and certificate. So honesty and integrity remain an important factor, and it should be two way from both from the student and the institution offering E-Learning.
3.) Student and Platform Interaction:
To make the student understand the value of a particular course that he or she is pursuing online and to make the student feel that it is no less than a real classroom experience, the online platform should be more interactive and responsive towards the doubts and grievances of the student. The student should feel like his questions are being heard and also be answered in a short period of time. If the platform is this interactive and responsive it makes the online experience as real as the regular class room experience.
4.) Offering Real World Benefits and Solutions:
Online experience or as a matter of fact any learning experience can be of no use if the learning doesn’t apply in the real world. The courses offered in online should help improve student knowledge and skills in landing a job and even creating one. The online courses should be practical and useful for the student otherwise it contradicts the whole point of online learning; that is employment.