E-learning

Why is e-learning worth considering in education?

Education has been a fundamental part of humankind’s life for hundreds of years, but it is undergoing changes due to the developments of the modern world. Therefore, it is not accidental that several distinct methods of teaching and training are included into the notion of education. Although traditional education is still the basic form at most schools, other modernised and technology-based methods are also getting more and more popular, such as e-learning. E-learning involves the use of technological devices in learning and teaching. Due to the fact that electronic tools such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and many others have spread all over the world, it is obvious that these modern gadgets tend to have a huge impact on everyday life, in which education occupies a primary role. However, one may be sceptical towards electronic learning because of its excessive openness, yet it is a beneficial tool of education that can not only increase students’ interaction, but also improve the efficiency of teaching (Uzunboylu, 2006).

As many people around the world have Internet access, the World Wide Web has become a uniquely easy way to acquire information and knowledge. Plenty of web pages are available for browsers; however, they need to be careful and conscious about the reliability of many sites. Therefore, it would be advisable to teach children even at an early age how to use properly the web not only for online games, but also for researching and learning, so that they can profit from the knowledge in their further education. At this time the notion of e-learning comes up carrying several advantages in itself.

First of all, many students may find it time-consuming to be looking for a book’s chapter on the shelves of a library. Online searching, however, may take less time and effort to locate the necessary relevant source. Browsing on the Internet is particularly more motivating and inspirational for students because young people have been growing up in a technology-based society where electronic devices, such as laptops, smart phones, tablets, and e-book readers became well-known concepts. Therefore, Internet using, which is a common activity for students, may attract them more than sitting in a library. They can exclude the irrelevant information and zoom into the necessary by using a simple variation Ctrl+F variation which can highly facilitates the searching instead of wading through an entire book. As an evidence for it Rohleder, Bozalek, Carolissen, Leibowitz, and Swartz, who are from two distinct African universities surveying students’ experience regarding e-learning, claim in their paper that “e-learning was useful from a research point of view, as it lends itself to easy capturing of data. The data is already available and accessible electronically” (98).

Secondly, using the Internet makes it possible to bridge distance, allowing users to reach remote materials and communicate with tutors or students without personal contact. Thus it is a very mobile method because there is no need to meet a tutor personally or make a phone call because the web is there to solve this problem. For instance, a student could not participate in a class along which they had to submit a paper or an essay, he or she can send it by e-mail easily. Moreover, the teacher can also convey the compulsory readings or home tasks via Internet in order to avoid misunderstandings.

Apart from the everyday use of the Internet, E-learning is an acknowledged use of training throughout the world. In 2002 important projects were launched by many European Union countries to integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into education (Uzunboylu). The so-called e-Learning Action Plan was considered “as a source for guidance and inspiration” (Uzunboylu, 202). European countries appreciated the existence of e-Learning due to its connecting power between distant countries. What is more, several states of the EU intended to found teacher training programs to stimulate teachers and tutors to use ICT as a beneficial tool of education. Such projects were The European Training of Trainers Network and Improving Continuing Education Through E-learning.

In addition, Korea has also planned to make a greater emphasis on e-Learning not only for extending the ranges of options to acquire knowledge, but also for creating a knowledge-based society (Lee). The principle aim was to decrease educational costs. For this purpose it was important to develop such a society where electronic learning and device-related education is established efficiently. The Korean government found it essential to widen the quality use of the Internet so that the costs of the traditional education method would diminish.

In conclusion, it is clearly visible that e-Learning has a great impact both on learners, teachers, an even on the society. Not only are there educational purposes, but also governmental issues that play important roles in the field of Internet using. The web is a world-wide phenomenon having the ability to spread knowledge through one insignificant click.

Works cited

Lee, Hyunjeong. “Creating a Knowledge-Based Society through E-Learning in Korea.” Educational Technology Research and Development. 54.5 (2006): 529-540.

Rohleder, Poul, Bozalek Vivienne, Carolissen Ronelle, Leibowitz Brenda, and Swartz Leslie. “Students'

Evaluations of the Use of E-Learning in a Collaborative Project between Two South African Universities” Higher Education. 56.1 (2008): 95-107.

Uzunboylu, Hüseyin. “A Review of Two Mainline e-Learning Projects in the European Union.” Educational Technology Research and Development.  54.2 (2006): 201-209.