The evolution of technology and the growth of the Internet in recent years have made online education one of the most promising academic options for most students. Online education provides knowledge on any subject, topic or stream of interest. Due to the convenience and options it offers, it is currently evolving to be more popular than classroom education.
Online education encompasses everything that can be taught and learned. There are different types of online education available on the Internet today. They are classified according to the technology used, the method of education and various other parameters. Live distance learning is real-time in nature and uses technologies such as video conferencing and online classrooms to give the feel of a virtual university environment. Students who choose this type of distance learning interact with the tutor and her classmates, which connects the student with the rest of the classroom. This makes the learning experience wholesome and enjoyable. Additionally, interaction is a very important aspect of any course, and getting the experience of real-time interaction makes learning bottlenecks quick and easy to resolve. Because it is real-time in nature, students are required to take classes at a set time instead of scheduling them at a time of their choosing. Also, it might be a bit difficult for students in different time zones to get online at the decided time.
Online education that does not take place in real time is known as asynchronous online education. Educational materials are mostly stored for later access by students. Interaction occurs primarily through student forums. The students post the problems and questions in the forum and the tutor answers them at a later time. Course materials are published on the Internet and can be accessed by students at any time. Also, tutors can record the videos of the lessons and post them on the forum. This distance learning method allows students to schedule lessons whenever they want and decide the pace of their career.
People can opt for blended online education where they get the benefits of both systems. They can schedule self-paced classes and access published course materials, and can be part of live webinars and online classroom sessions. For students unable to attend class sessions online, the recorded versions are posted almost immediately online for access. Activities and exercises that are posted in the student forum can be discussed in the online sessions to make the most of these two learning methods for students. The combination of these two methods will give students a comprehensive education plan required to excel in their chosen course.
Due to the broad nature of the programs and courses offered, choosing a course that suits students’ needs can be challenging. Reviewing all the features and technology that online courses offer before deciding can ensure that students get the best of the available options.