12 Ways To Use E-learning For Customer Acquisition And Retention, Part 2
Some people try to learn by reading a textbook. Other people use e-learning platforms and software such as Moodle and Learning Management Systems (LMS) in order to learn. Often times, these courses are self-paced, which means they do not take up time that could otherwise be used for more productive tasks. As a result, educators may be taking the wrong approach when it comes to the use of information technology in education if they assume that students should suffer from information overload or feel unable to keep up with what is being taught. The opposite can be true; students who are able to distance themselves from distractions and focus on the material at hand can easily absorb new knowledge.
Typically, online courses use one central website and an online platform to host the course material, allowing students to access and interact with the content in addition to accessing the entire body of knowledge being taught. This is a great way for students to access university level learning materials. However, it does not allow for in-class discussion or collaboration that would help students come away from the course with a deeper understanding of their subject matter. This can be beneficial if their professor is not present during class hours but allows for no opportunity for students to engage with peers during class time. In order for students to effectively learn from these materials, professors will have to consider hosting these courses in addition to classes that take place on campus. It is not a great idea to assume that students are "self-motivated" in an online environment.
Students across the world have access to this technology. One popular example of this is MOOC (Massive Online Open Course). An online class provides an easier opportunity for students to obtain credit for college level work, but it does not provide a degree or certification. The Internet can be very useful in reaching people who do not know how to get involved with educational technology. This allows those with limited interest or knowledge to find out more about what technologies are available to them and how they can participate in the education system more effectively.
Community colleges, charter schools, and high schools have all made use of online classes to allow students to access higher education in a way that would not be possible if they had to be physically present in the classroom. Teachers can also make use of online tutorials in order to access resources that would not be available to them otherwise. While this can be effective, it is also important for educators to consider the risk associated with using these materials. By providing students with a personalized learning experience, educators are able to encourage their students' curiosity and create an engaging educational experience. However, personalization also means that there may never be any "wrong" answers. Teachers may feel that they have lost the ability to effectively assess their students and tailor their teaching style appropriately.
Online classes allow students to access material that they would not otherwise have opportunity to experience. For example, an online class can be designed to meet a student's specific needs. As these courses are conducted online, instructors can also include multimedia examples of the material being taught, including videos, podcasts and other media sources as a way of helping students fully understand the material. Online classes allow for greater flexibility in how the course is designed and how content is delivered; however it may also lead to less personal interactions between teachers and students, which can negatively impact student learning outcomes.
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Conclusion
As the internet continues to expand and becomes more accessible, computer-mediated communication presents a variety of opportunities for people to learn online. The examples above show how people take advantage of this technology to increase access to education, or to teach courses with a face-to-face component that would not be possible otherwise. On top of these examples, there are many others that focus on how individuals can use technology in order to learn better and faster by using new types of media. For example, videos can be used as an aid for lectures and textbooks by incorporating visual explanations (Kincheloe, 2006). Online games allow users to "learn" new skills through interactivity (Prensky, 2001).