By Ms Lina Ashar
The advent of online education has changed the entire conventional process of learning. It made the students learn anything sitting at any corner across the country. This brought great flexibility to the learning process and shortened the learning gap between the students. In the last decade, online university programs and courses gained popularity worldwide. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic truly revolutionized education in India, marking the inception of online schooling.
Globally, the adoption of online schooling has paved its way for over a decade now. In India, the perception of online schooling has always been sceptical. In the past ten years, tablets and laptops have become common additions everywhere. However, COVID-19 compelled the need for social isolation and forced schools to adjust to long-distance or online learning quickly. As a result, from elementary schools to universities, the curriculum moved online. The online education sector in India was not only valued at an all-time high of INR 19,300 crore in 2018, but it was also poised to reach INR 36,030 crore by 2024. Fuelling this growth was the rising Internet penetration, as well as simplified access to innovative technology.
In response to the evolving needs of students and parents, online schools have started offering hybrid schooling models. Various academic models are being developed by schools striking a balance between the convenience of online education and the importance of physical connections and experiences.
Recently, the UGC NCrF report published in April 2023 has adopted a credit-based framework, officially recognizing online schooling as a mainstream form of education. This recognition provides legitimacy and ensures that online schools meet the required standards, further enhancing their credibility. Also, according to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), a national-level board of education in India has witnessed a three-fold increase in exam takers in the post-COVID era compared to pre-pandemic times. NIOS offers flexible learning options, including online schooling, empowering students to pursue education outside the traditional system.
Considering these massive shifts in the status quo, it is clear that technology and consumer preference have been central to the evolution. However, it is common knowledge that a tech-driven transformation was underway long before the pandemic.
Post-pandemic, the online schooling concept has experienced significant growth as parents have come to appreciate and understand its numerous benefits. Online schooling has the potential to revolutionize education in several ways. Technological advancements, coupled with changing attitudes towards traditional education, have led to the growing popularity of online schooling as an alternative or complement to traditional brick-and-mortar schools.
Here are some key aspects of how online schooling is transforming the educational landscape:
- Access to Quality Education: Online schooling can provide quality education to students who may not have had such opportunities. It breaks down barriers of geographical location and enables students from remote areas or underserved communities to access a wide range of courses and educational resources. It can also cater to students with specific needs, such as those requiring flexible schedules, students with disabilities, or students who need to balance work and education.
- Flexibility and Personalized Learning:Students can access materials and coursework conveniently. This flexibility allows for personalized learning experiences, where students can focus on their areas of strength, spend more time on challenging subjects, or pursue additional interests beyond the core curriculum. Further, the availability of teachers
- Enhanced Learning Resources:Online schooling uses various digital tools and resources that can enhance the learning experience. These resources can include interactive multimedia materials, virtual simulations, online collaboration tools, and access to vast digital libraries. Such resources can engage students in innovative and interactive ways, making learning more enjoyable and effective.
- Diverse Learning Modalities: Itallows experimenting with different learning modalities. For example, it can incorporate self-paced modules, live or recorded lectures, discussion forums, gamification, and multimedia presentations. By offering a range of learning modalities, online schooling caters to different learning styles and preferences, accommodating students who thrive in various educational environments.
- Global Connectivity and Collaboration: Through online platforms, students can interact with peers from different cultures, backgrounds, and countries, thereby gaining exposure to diverse perspectives. Collaborative projects and virtual classrooms enable students to work together on joint assignments, promoting teamwork and communication skills.
- Lifelong Learning Opportunities:Lifelong learning implies providing access to a wide range of courses and programs for learners of all ages. Additionally, it also has a good retention value. Lifelong learners can choose from a plethora of online courses, certifications, and degree programs to continue their education and professional development.
- Cost and Resource Efficiency:Online schooling can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional education. It eliminates the need for physical infrastructure, such as buildings and maintenance, reducing costs for both institutions and students. Additionally, online materials can be easily updated and distributed, ensuring students can access the most up-to-date information and resources.
Online education has transformed the education sector, creating new opportunities and challenges for traditional learning institutions. Traditional learning institutions have had to adapt to the new digital landscape of education, investing in new technologies and infrastructure and innovating to remain competitive. Online education has democratized access to education. The transparent and personalized nature of online schooling, along with its accessibility and quality, has garnered increased acceptance among parents and students. As online schooling continues to evolve and adapt, it promises to play a vital role in shaping the future of education in India.
(The author is Ms Lina Ashar, Founder, Dreamtime Learning School, and the views expressed in this article are her own)
