By: Ghulam Farooque Kaka
The world is suffering from the by the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. It has posed threatening consequences. The education sector is also suffering a lot due to this pandemic. It has disturbed millions of students’ education. All the educational institutions are closed while this loss may not be fulfilled, but this pandemic has also provided the best opportunity of the best usage of technology for online learning.
Online learning is the best option or alternative to overcome during the challenge of pandemic. It is best way to engage students. It is even alternative option for both students and teachers to spark the light of education in this uncertain environment.
Online learning also known as e-learning (electronic learning) is the type of distance education. Online learning can take place over the internet. It is non-traditional method of education learning in which students learn through different electronic devices with the access of internet.
The University of Phoenix was the world’s first private institution that offered the online degree of bachelors and masters in 1989. While, University of Florida was the first public institution which stated online learning in 2013. By the end of 2018, 98% of public universities and colleges had been introduced some online courses and trainings through online education.
Students’ ratio of interest and enrolment also is increasing day by day. In early days in 2000 there were only 8% student enrolments in an online course. But enrolment was started to increase with the ratio of 20% in 2008, 30% in 2013. In 2009, Barak Obama, then president of United States has kept a close eye on the growing ratio of students’ interest in the online learning in the country he reserved $500 million fund for course and material of online learning. Today, world’s top ranked institutions are successfully offering online trainings, diplomas and certifications including degrees of bachelors and masters.
No doubt, technological advancement and modern resources of communication has increased opportunities of online learning. Modern technology has make online learning simplified and effective through online video lecture sessions, voice recognitions, automatic corrections and connections and live exams.
In current situation online education has provided the freedom of study and reduced the 80% costs of learning. Online learning has reduced the student’s burden, time and money. In a physical class students has to leave their resting place which increase the living and travel expenditure and students has to purchase notes, books and other relevant material. While in online learning students can take class from anywhere and everything related to the subjects in online class is available all formats such as in videos, documents and slideshows at their given Learning Management System (LMS) portals by the institution.
In general, online education is an opportunity for all students from urban, rural, rich and poor that they can prefer modern learning system (e-learning system) in pandemic situation. It is a low-priced and faster than the traditional learning system which will save their time.
There are reports that some students are facing problem. Mostly the less developed countries are facing multiple challenges such as lack of resources and awareness. If they want to meet the world they have to overcome from these challenges.
This is crucial time for all of us. We need to come forward. Being a literate part of society teacher and students have also paly role to drag out from this challenge. It is our responsibly to defeat Covid-19 and continue education.
Online education is the only way to save our time and lives. With this option we will be able to gain positive objectives of learning through satisfactory utilisation of time, money, and technology. One may coin that COVID-19 has put ‘e’ in the education system that ‘e’ actually needs encouragement.
The writer is a research scholar of Department of International Relations, University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He can be reached on email: [email protected]