Dynamic Impact of Online Learning on Education

Online education is now considered as one of the most dynamic paradigms of learning. It may be a new player in the academic field but it has taken center stage for the past decade.

Today, there are over 7.1 million individuals who have taken part in this innovation. Just imagine, seven million students learning while facing their computers instead of sitting in a classroom. It’s too large a number to imagine, but it’s happening in this very moment.

To say that it’s probably not as effective as learning in a traditional classroom setting is short-sighted. Universities around the world have been conducting researches and improvement in their distance education system. The emergence of new technology also made this learning paradigm work effectively more than ever. Every university should take a clue from other academic institutions who jumped into the chance to expand the reach of knowledge and learning.

The most important advantage of online learning is how it's made accessible for those who can't afford formal education. There are many ways educators and students alike can benefit from online learning. Image credit: Alessandro Valli (Source: Flickr)

The most important advantage of online learning is how it’s made accessible for those who can’t afford formal education. There are many ways educators and students alike can benefit from online learning. Image credit: Alessandro Valli (Source: Flickr)

However, the most important advantage of online learning is how it’s made accessible for those who can’t afford formal education. Many students graduate from college with more debt than they possibly imagined. This is also why many people rather skip college and go straight into working. But with online learning, it gives chances to anyone to reclaim their right to education and for some, further their learning.

There are many ways educators and students alike can benefit from online learning.

Supplementary online courses

For people who merely wants additional knowledge, they’ll be happy to know that they can learn from universities such as Harvard and Berkeley for free. There are many open universities that have bachelor’s and master’s curriculum. Then there are also online websites that offer short term courses from well-known universities.

Coursera is one of the popular online education companies who forward learning through webinars, vlogging, and other form of online discussion. They offer classes in other languages other than English such as Chinese, French, and even German. edX is another reliable website with free online courses. Organizations like United Nation has taken part in this learning technology and has already established UNU Open Courseware.

Educational Youtube channels

Home of viral videos and acoustic cover singers, Youtube also offers some creative channels that won’t be out of place in an educational setting. Instead of relying on old VHS tapes gathering dust in the library, teachers can resort to Youtube videos for interactive and informative videos to use in class. And fo students who think they can learn more than they do in class, there’s definitely a channel that can quench their thirst for additional learning.

Take Minute Physics for example. They tackle simple to complicated concepts and create videos that make it easy to understand. For those who need further explanations on mathematical concepts, Tarrou’s Chalk Talk may be the answer to that dilemma. Be it Algebra, Geometry, and even Trigonometry! There’s a Youtube channel for every imaginable topic there is.

Accessibility to learning resources

It’s not just videos that anyone can easily access. The world wide web is a treasure trove of knowledge. Though practical experiences are still the best teacher, there’s no denying that learning about the basic through guide materials can help.

Do you want to learn about photography? You can easily download ebooks and magazines on photography. Do you want to hone your writing skills? There’s surely a blog that can dish out some of the best writing tips out there. If enroling yourself in a class is next to impossible at the present, there are definitely references out there that can inform and educate you. Ebook sites like Bookboon and Free-Ebooks don’t just provide novels but also textbooks and non-fiction works on business, marketing, entrepreneurship and the likes.

With online learning taking the forefront of education, there’s really no reason not to grab the chance to learn more. Every year, something new comes out and makes it even easier. Educators and students alike should definitely get to the times and make the most out of it.

*About the author: Kylie Prescott is a Journalism student. She’s a freelance writer for Essayontime and hopes to be a columnist for a news daily. You can connect with her on Google+.

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