Evolution Of E-Learning

Everyone knows that knowledge is power, and that is why people that sit on very tall buildings looking at nice views have a lot of it. But not everyone is exposed to that and not everyone can have access to a library.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, many children walk miles to school bringing their own chairs with them and often books are not even delivered. Information is outdated and poorly presented. These learning hurdles occur from primary education, through university and corporations. People receive information differently today and the training needs to adopt.

E-learning is the poster child of the internet and technology. Combining these two to create content that is unambiguous and easily translatable is the ingenious future of education. An education that is easily available, not bound by geography or city limits. Online learning is certainly changing the way we learn, teach, develop and manage. Is e-learning the end of classrooms?

 

E-learning seems to be the direction that western society is headed towards. However, it would be cruel to implement e-learning when there are countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (like you mentioned) and other third world/developing countries that do not have the same access to technology and internet as we do. For them, classrooms are still very much relevant as is using pen and paper rather than the latest Apple laptop. So, although e-learning may take over in western cities, it is very much not going to be the end of classrooms completely.

 

E-learning has greatly contributed to the acquisition of knowledge for many.However,it comes along with its disadvantages.The absence of physical interaction between the tutor and the students may in a way hinder the process.In addition,to support what has been said above,it is expensive since it requires a computer with internet connection,and this may not be affordable to many especially the third world countries.It is because of these limitations that I believe that E-learning is not the end of classrooms.

 

E-learning is evolving quickly. However, I don't think it is the end of the classroom. It is a great supplemental tool to strengthen the skills introduced in the classroom. As another poster stated, there are many places that are not technologically capable of handling this or the funds to buy and maintain them. With the speed that E-learning is developing that would be hard to maintain. There is also a necessary component of face to face interaction that some families can not afford in an E-learning environment. In China parents are paying over 130RMB for a face to face, one on one class with a leading English learning company online. E-learning is fun, but there are many resources that are not consistent or sustainable to completely absorb the need for the classroom.

On a whole other level, let's consider the need for socialization and development of citizenship skills. These are necessary and practiced in the school and classroom environment.