Online Education
The education imparted through internet is called online education. Online education is a highly evolved version of distance education. The different types of online education are :
- Purely online : It is totally conducted through the Internet
- Blended Learning : It is partly dependent on the Internet and partly offline
- Asynchronous : The communication in Asynchronous type of online education is through list-serves, forums, threaded discussion, email and weblogs.
- Synchronous: The communication in Synchronous type of online education is through videoconferencing, teleconferencing and chat.
- Instructor-led group: The group sits forth the computer through which the instructor teaches.
- Self-study : The candidate learns from the internet by self.
- Self-study with subject matter expert : The candidate learns from the internet but is assisted by a teacher who is expert at that subject matter.
- Web-based : The whole reference matter is on the website. The teaching is totally web based.
- Computer-based (CD-ROM) : The subject matter is not only on the website but also sent to the candidate on CD .
- Video/audio tape: The online education is imparted with the help of video cassettes and/ or audio tape.
Working: First the candidate has to decide about which course he/she want to pursue and which online educational services provider he/she want to register with. The student has to sign up and fulfill the registration process through the internet. The username and password are allotted once the registration process is over and the fees are paid. Now the candidate can log in to the internet class room and start attending the sessions.
Some of the online educational services provider have a provision of facilitating their students with online chatting and conferencing. They can eve get their problems and confusions solved through the internet. The students are given grades on the basis of their assignments, homework and the online test scores.
Benefits of Online Education :
- The course is accessible anytime from anywhere, 24 X7
- The online education facilitates student centered teaching approach.
- Online classroom increase student interaction
- The exposure to the knowledge is increased
- Online participation is less frightening.
- The internet makes the instructors more accessible
- The student can finish off the course at his own pace.
Note of concern : All online courses are not recognized. Prior to registering and sending the fee , it is always better to conduct a research about the recognition, acceptability and credibility of the course that you will be taking online. In short online courses cannot be trusted.
