E-Learning (Essay Sample)

E-learning
Name
Institution
E-learning
E-learning is the use of information communication technologies (ICT) and the electronic media in education. The form of E-learning includes a number of types of media that is used to deliver audio, texts, animation, images and streaming video. E-learning also includes technological applications and processes such as satellite TV, video tape, and computer-based learning.
A lot of work has been done in the area of E-learning. Scholars have done pieces of research on the future of E-learning, the impact of E-learning to various disciplines among others. Some scholars argue that E-learning is a central nerve for diversifying educational processes. E-learning presents a myriad of research opportunities in virtually all faculties. Innovative technologies in e-learning indicate a revolutionized education system. E-learning allows individualized learning and also enhances collaborative learning as learners interact with each other in different forums. Hanson (2001) writes that E-learning has provided a new wave of strategy that addresses the needs of the 21st century.
E-learning has modernized the education system and, therefore, enhancing the efficacy of life systems. For example, traditionally, it is a requirement to see the teacher at the front of the class for knowledge to be gained by the students. However, in the modern times, students only need to sit before their personal computers, tablets or smart phones to gain knowledge from the teacher. In her study, Hanson (2001) asserts that students tend to understand more on online studies than the traditional form of education. The modern children enjoy every bit of their time while using electronic gadgets. Therefore, the world’s ability to embrace E-learning has served to change students’ attitudes towards education, thus performance. Hanson makes reference to a study conducted in the University of California where majority of the sample students indicated that they enjoyed online classes more than the traditional class setting. An analysis of units and disciplines in the same university found out that those taught online were performed best than those taught via personal touch. The explanation that Hanson offers is that the students are aligned towards technological development and as such, their positive attitude towards the online classes enhances the positive performance.
The study by Hanson (2001) lays emphasis on how the educational systems have been diversified through E-learning. She notes that international studies have been made easier through information and communication technology. Individuals from different geographical regions, ethnic and racial groups can share classes and exchange ideas in the discussion forums. Diversification of education systems by E-learning can also be illustrated by the tutors who take students through the online courses. These tutors come from different geographical regions. Hanson (2001) writes that through shared knowledge, the education system is diversified.
Ruiz, Minter and Rosanne study of the year 2013 lays focus on the impact of E-learning in medical education. According to Ruiz, Mintzer and Rosanne (2013), E-learning is the use of internet technologies to enhance acquisition of knowledge and performance. Therefore, their study attempts to identify how internet learning has affected the medical scholars. However, the authors state a thesis that E-learning is least effective in medical training as compared to the traditional method of having instructors led the lectures in a classroom.
E-learning infrastructure inn medical institutions include digital libraries, otherwise known as repositories. Technical standardizations are incorporated in the study media in order to have uniform study content across the globe. According to Ruiz, Mintzer and Rosanne (2013), e-learning in medical education can only be used to supplement the traditional class setting and not to be the only form of conducting lectures. This assertion is based on the fact that the medical profession is a practical one where individuals need to gain real experience. Despite the assertion, the study states that the incorporation of e-learning into medical education enhances the shift towards application of adult learned theory. Therefore, educators no longer serve as distributors of knowledge and content, but have become involved as facilitators of the learning process and assessors of competency in the field.
E-learning in medical education has increased the accessibility to medical learning information (Ruiz, Mintzer and Rosanne, 2013). The medical content on the web can also be easily updated. However, this updating should not be considered as manipulation of information. Updating of electronic data is easier compared to printed material as hard copies are rigid and expensive to produce. Through online studies, learning instructions can be personalized. E-learning also allows for easy distribution of information and standardization of the content. Electronic information is easy to revise, therefore, making the educators’ work easy. The learners also have absolute control over the learning content that they access, thereby promoting better comprehension of the subject matter.
Ruiz, Mintzer and Rosanne (2013) also note in their study that e-learning allows the learners control over pace of learning, the learning sequence, and the media through which they can use to learn. Through these opportunities that e-learning presents, the learners can be able to tone their experience to meet individual learning objectives.
Standardization of course content by the e-learning systems enhances the quality of studies unlike the traditional lectures which tend to separate sections of the same course content. E-learning provides an automated system of tracking and reporting the learners’ performance reduces the workload on the administration. More so, e-learning can be improved to determine whether actual learning has taken by installing software applications that check the number of times a student logs into their account.
The integration of e-learning into medical education has had numerous advantages to the medical profession. The system allows institutions to periodically revise their curriculum to address the contemporary issues since it is quite easy to update electronic information. According to Ruiz, Mintzer and Rosanne (2013), the success associated with e-learning in medical education has created a basis for revolutionizing the whole education systems. It is the view of the authors that the education systems of the world will change wholly to the adaptive and collaborative learning offered by e-learning. The role of the teacher will also be transformed from being a disseminator to a facilitator.
In studying the effects of e-learning on higher education, Singh and Worton (2005) identify the internet as a technological innovation with the potential to generate dynamics in the way the society retains knowledge. Singh and Worton state that the internet has the ability to restructure and transform the traditional models of higher education. The significant effect of e-learning to higher education is that it promotes the ability of students to be more engaged and develop the relevant skills as required in this century. E-learning has improved the efficiency of higher education by boosting the positive attitude of the teachers to work towards personalizing the learning processes.
The improved quality of higher education as a result of e-learning has paved way foe healthy economic growth. An educated workforce ensures quality production. E-learning also creates direct job opportunities in the technology industry. Teachers and students require electronic devices (laptops, tablets, and smart phones) to access e-learning opportunities. Therefore, the deep integration of technology into the education system promotes the development and thriving of the technology industry.
Singh and Worton quote a study conducted across thirteen countries in Europe with highly developed e-learning systems. In the study, schools with highly established e-learning systems tend to perform better than those that still rely on the traditional form of education. The ability of students to perform routine skills on the computer in the course of learning instills a sense of interest in them and also challenges their intelligent quotient. Therefore, the interest coupled with the challenging online activities improves the thinking of the learners (Singh and Worton, 2005).
E-learning in higher education does not only impact on the students and the teachers but also the management and the administration. The efficiency of administrative functions has improved through the introduction of e-learning. Virtually all college administrators in Australia and other developed nations demonstrate advanced technology because of e-learning processes. The administrators are mandated with the responsibility of ensuring the students are safe while online. Therefore the management is compelled to adopt the best anti-spy ware to protect the learning databases. All these actions by the management because of e-learning promote technological development (Sing and Worton, 2005).
As mentioned elsewhere in this review, e-learning is a broad concept yet contemporary, as such; it presents a wide research area. Shapley, Sheehan and Walker (2010) did a work on the challenges of e-learning. When an instructor or institution decides to incorporate e-learning into their systems, a standard approach is normally applied. First, the...