How will e-learning Shape up in Future?

How would a typical classroom appear in the year 2050?

Just imagine. Virtual classrooms would take over learning spaces, with almost every educator relying on different types of technological devices to impart knowledge to their pupils. Tablets, iPads, and PowerPoint presentations will become quite common in the educational spaces.

So, here’s how it is going to be.

You walk into a classroom, only to be greeted by visually appealing slide-shows portraying the World History or the climate of the Prairies instead of the traditional blackboard.

It will surely be extraordinary, isn’t it?

A Brief Concept of e-Learning and Education Technology

It’s been quite some time since educational technology has been around. But it has been undergoing an excellent transformation since the last few decades. This is driven by the fact that several academic institutions are advocating its utilization in multiple ways. Consequently, the various teaching as well as learning tools are shedding off the yoke of age-old customs, grooming for an amazing technological makeover.

Thanks to this technological boom, students are assured of education that is more:

• interactive
• convenient
• accessible

Here’s how the e-learning environment is going to be like:

For instance, modern learning environments boast of computers and numerous other types of technological gadgets like iPads, tablets, and so on. Teachers have also started motivating learners to turn to educational apps with an aim to facilitate their learning processes. Since such an education system is dependent on technology, coupled with an access to the Internet, it is popularly referred to as ‘e-learning’, or electronic learning!

Now, let us take a glance at some of the latest e-learning trends that would have a profound influence on the future e-learning world.

Being acquainted with these trends and features of e-learning would enable you to form an idea about the probable look of the future e-learning classrooms.

#1. MOOCs

Massive open online course (MOOC) refers to an online curriculum that offers learning programs to students across the globe, via the Internet.

These online sessions promise to educate pupils with the aid of traditional teaching tools, including:

• recorded audio
• video lectures
• problem sets
• reading and comprehension sessions
• academic notes

Educators and students would be capable of interacting with each other over the web, in the form of video conferences.

You can join an MOOC from any portion of the world, For example, you might be based in The Philippines and yet you can chat in real time with your course instructor who is currently residing in The United States of America.

Such an intense flexibility of time and space makes MOOCs so popular among students and teachers alike! And it is being embraced with increasing zeal in the educational sphere with every passing day.

In fact, you would be glad to learn that there exist certain MOOCs that provide free access to students when it comes to their course materials. Although it might not be completely free in the following years, yet it would continue to enjoy a high degree of confidence among learners and educators.

 

#2. Mobile Learning

How many of you are not aliens to the term ‘m-learning’?

It is, in fact, a major part of the e-learning process. Also termed as mobile learning, it is an extremely effectual e-learning tool, which is being welcomed in numerable educational organizations. For, online courses would be soon available on your mobile devices.

The following benefits associated with mobile learning contribute to making it a boon for most learners.

The presence of mobile learning would inspire millions of students to focus on their academics. For, they would not be compelled to depend solely on their teachers for their notes and lectures. On the other hand, mobile phones are powerful enough to assist pupils in referring to e-books online, just with a tap on their screens. Moreover, it would also help them communicate with their fellow classmates or revisit classroom lectures that have been recorded in videos.

#3. Gamification

I am sure you must have observed how many classrooms across the world are introducing a game-based learning approach in their curriculum.

Rather than traditional lectures that often tend to appear monotonous and dull to the majority of learners, several learning spaces have been adopting the practice of using video games to teach lessons! And the result it amazing. Because they have the ability to drive away the dull ambiance.

Want to know why?

Because youngsters love games, as much as they love technology.

In order to leverage such an enormous addiction to both, smart educators have come up with a cool idea to engage their learners. Academic institutes have, therefore, started applying the interactive elements similar to those discovered in games with an aim to simplify each and every academic concept to their pupils.

Video game players are used to overcoming challenges in order to cross several levels and eventually win the games. So, the students really enjoy the brand new concepts of e-learning that make gamification a mandatory portion of the learning procedure.

Kids simply love it, for it helps to add a lot of fun to the learning experience, making it interesting as well as engaging.

 

#4. Virtual Technologies

Remember some of the movies made in the early 2000s? Some of them gave viewers an exceedingly beautiful learning experience, as they were being able to view three-dimensional characters.

Sounds unique?

Indeed it is.

Known as 3D and IMAX movies, they imparted a magnificent and realistic experience to viewers. Such movies represent virtual technologies that have taken the world by storm. However, this sort of a technology is no longer restricted to movies alone.

I will tell you how.

Have you heard about the technology of ‘Google Glasses’?

Or the ‘Keyglove’?

Well, these are some of the recent tools of virtual technology meant to take education to the next level. Their sophisticated appearance and elegance make them even more interesting for technology freaks who are making efforts to learn their lessons in a classroom.

Also referred to as ‘wearable technology’, the possibilities of virtual technology tools are infinite.

With the development of the CAD software and various other types of multimodal appliances, users are capable of enjoying the recreated experiences of virtual visuals, smell, sound, touch, and taste.

Future of Teachers with Presence of e-Learning in Education Scenarios

The innumerable possibilities of e-learning in the education scenario might threaten some educators, principals, and professors. However, I should request you not be scared of the situation.

For, e-learning will definitely not jeopardize the role of teachers or professors in a classroom environment, trust me. I agree that the utilization of ultra- cool technological products would revolutionize learning spaces, but there is hope for educators and education administrators, of course.

Therefore, your job is not at stake.

On the contrary, e-learning would make a difference to the way lessons are taught inside classes. This is simply due to the fact that e-learning would ensure that your students are exposed to richer content and increased flexibility that you have never witnessed before.

So, naturally, the role of teachers would evolve with the passage of time. The objective would be to customize themselves to the manifold vistas of digitized learning.

For instance, students might opt for a particular virtual ambiance for deriving the pleasures of education. Now this setting is likely to be modified according to the requirements of the subject or topic that your pupils might be studying at a given time.

As a teacher, your responsibilities too might alter.

With the advent of more advanced tools of e-learning, very soon, teachers are more likely to assume the role of a motivator, mentor, and a facilitator rather than merely a knowledge-sharer. Therefore, teachers would not adhere solely to the aim to ensure that students are disciplined. In fact, in the world of e-learning, their roles would diversify. And so would the dimensions of learning!

eLearning is sure to experience a sea change soon. And for the better, of course. It is going to make this process of learning easier and more interesting for the students.