Not Just Homework: Trends in E-Learning

Advancements
in technology have enabled many Internet users with greater access to
educational resources online. The roots of e-learning can be traced
to correspondence or distance learning and video-recorded courses; we
can see both methods are still applied but using computers instead of
snail mail and tape players. E-learning has an edge over traditional
learning methods because it offers a faster and less expensive way of
delivering and receiving knowledge and information.

To make
e-learning more dynamic, developers are on
the move to create unique learning systems and e-learning tools
that enhance the educational experience of every individual online.
E-learning provides education providers with the ability to share
material in numerous formats, including word documents, PDFs,
slideshows, and videos. Live online classes or webinars are also
available for those who would like to have a more ‘personal’
interaction with educators.

Many
educational tools are continually being developed across various
platforms and media to match the learners’ lifestyles and the
gadgets that they use. For instance, the use
of smartphones
and tablets has become widespread, so it is no wonder that e-learning
providers have started to develop educational apps suited for various
devices. They have also made themselves visible in various social
media platforms. What are the other trends we can see in the growth
of e-learning?

Doing
homework by playing games

We
used to scold children for playing video games before they do their
homework; now video or mobile games are used to teach various areas
of study. Games as e-learning tools are effective in capturing
attention
and improving the cognitive function of learners. This “gamification”
of e-learning has become a successful and fun way to learn a new
language, do quick problem solving, simulate commercial flying,
explore outer space, and improve spelling skills, among others.

Learning
through viral videos

Better
bandwidth utilization means being able to access more videos faster.
Video-recorded lessons have long been used to teach and it looks like
they are here to stay, especially with the low cost of video
production
and the ease of how they can be shared. For learners, watching
lessons via video is faster and more entertaining than reading
through a block of text. Also, unlike text documents, videos can
include subtitles, graphics, photos, and other elements necessary to
the lesson. Videos also make use of storytelling, because facts are
easier to remember when woven into a narrative.

Use
of infographics and other visual tools

Like
videos, graphics provide learners with a faster and easier way to
‘see’ information. Infographics are particularly helpful when the
raw data information source is dominated by numbers—they get the
point across faster in a more pleasing way. Infographics and other
visual
tools
can be utilized to help educate people on facts and statistics,
because they present each piece of data in correlation with others in
a way that can be more easily understood than when you are just
reading the numbers in a column.

Incorporating
all of those trends are Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that
cover a diverse range of topics, from traditional academic courses to
lessons in pop culture, digital communities, and web development and
design. MOOCs are generally offered free of charge, making them more
accessible to a large number of learners. It would be very
interesting to see what education providers will come up with next in
e-learning.