(By Nidhi)
E learning also called online learning basically takes place over internet not in traditional classroom. This is the best time for India to experiment on different methods of learning.
The impact of Covid 19 is uncertain, and we don't know how much long it would be. Colleges and universities have been shut down resulted in halting of every work in these institutions. With this online offerings of education have been started. This pandemic gives us the opportunity to experiment on alternative modes of education delivery.
Even if there has been pressure of using technology, many universities do not possess necessary mechanisms to meet the demands of the situation. Some are slow in progress, yet they are doing significant efforts of teaching and learning whether it is in terms of videos uploaded on youtube , assignments submission through mails and Google Classroom, video calling through zoom and skype, extensive use of apps like Swayam,
Course era or EDX. The UGC has circulated more than two dozens resources for students, so that, education should not be interrupted. But the problem is its implementation and access to students. Many international institutions have already shifted to online mode of learning because of their proactiveness and better access to technology.
Same with the students as students from affluent backgrounds have distinct advantage and students from underprivileged lack behind. This creates difference in access to education. Popularization of low cost devices like Raspherery may help in this matter. However, this is not enough, more research is required.
Our objectives of making education better can be achieved in this emergency with continuing experiments. Remote learning is not a distant future. This continuing experiments can be in form of record video lectures of teachers and then uploading them on YouTube so that students can view them as per their convenience. Second is providing notes of syllabus through WhatsApp, emails, etc.
Third, lecture delivered on digital platforms like zoom or skype when all the students are online, and engaged in which they can see each other, and it would be like live class. But again this give birth to new problem of availability of desktop or laptop to participate in live class, transparency in conducting online classes because sometime unauthorized users misbehave with teachers as many DU teachers has already reported. It is totally a disrespect for teachers who are treated like god in our country.
That's why these teachers started quitting online learning as this misbehave is totally intolerable. Well we always blame Indian education to be outdated and always insists on changing the curriculum. But this is the high time to adopt new methods as traditional methods came to halt. As we are not busy at this time, we can try to give new shape to our delivery modes of education. Now let us discuss pros and cons of e learning. E learning in no way is good because it provides flexibility as students are not tied to a particular time table.
Other benefits are reduction in costs as there is no need of infrastructure and set up, networking opportunities to students, so that, they can link internationally, all information can be stored in a database, and can be accesses anywhere, also provides access to expertise in technology which is the need of time. But as we know every coin has two faces. So this e learning has some disadvantages also like lack of accreditation and low quality. No face to face interaction, more work as it requires a greater amount of reading and assignments than traditional classes, intense requirements for Self-discipline as online courses usually have deadlines to perform the assigned task. So basically we can conclude E learning is the need of time but this doesn't mean end of traditional classes. Both are complementary to each other.