ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ONLINE EDUCATION

25 May,2023  |  By Brainwonders

What is meant by "online education"?

The process of acquiring skills and knowledge through electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, laptops, and other similar devices connected to the internet is called online education. Through online education, teachers and instructors can reach a more significant number of students in a more flexible manner and more effectively instruct them in the essential skills. Students unable to participate in traditional, regularly scheduled classes can now study anything, anytime, and anywhere, using the internet.

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 affects all aspects of human living. Because of the lockout, students could not attend their regularly scheduled classes, which affected their academic performance. As a result, the Indian government's Department of Education decided to provide students with the ability to continue their education by enrolling in online courses.

This will result in an increased demand for various online educational techniques, and it was during this period, that the significance of online education first became apparent. Many educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, now offer their students access to online classes. Internet-based classes enable students to improve their abilities and acquire new knowledge without leaving their homes' comfort.

Benefits of Online Education 

Students have access to a fantastic new educational resource that is always open: online learning is available around the clock. Students will have greater flexibility in terms of their capacity to learn anything from any location and at any time as a direct result of the remarkable creation of devices (such as mobile phones) or technology and the availability of the internet. Traditional classroom learning does not allow for this flexibility since it forces students into a four-cornered learning environment, making it impossible for them to study effectively.

Online education can include voice, text, video, animations, live chats with instructors or mentors, and virtual instruction that the instructors provide students. These are the strategies for teaching students the information and abilities they need to become experts in their subjects to make a living doing what they love.

There are a lot of different internet sources that the students and teachers can use to interact with one another. These include Google Meet, WhatsApp, Zoom, and other similar services. Others have social media sites. The professors can connect with many students all at once by utilising these many sources. These resources make it simpler for educators to instruct a large number of groups simultaneously. Let's look at some of the other aspects of internet-based education.

Courses Available Via the Internet

The trend these days among students to pursue their education through online means is undeniably one that cannot be denied. There are a lot of people who favour studying because it is easy to access and provides them with the freedom to learn at their speed.

There are a significant number of courses that one can take online, but some are more appealing than others, and these courses are drawing in students. These courses also allow students to improve their abilities and prepare them for the job market. The following table lists all of the classes that may be taken online and provide links to access them:

• Certificate - Duration of Six Months
• One year for the diploma
• The duration of study for the Bachelor's Degree in three years.
• Master's Degree: a Study Period of Two Years

For the convenience of the students, a list of some of the most popular online courses has been provided below. The following options are available to the students, and they can pick one that best suits their preferences and areas of interest:

1. Post-Graduation Programs — After finishing their undergraduate degrees, many students continue their education by enrolling in post-graduate programmes such as MBA, MCA, MA, PGDM, and others. Students may find that completing post-graduate work online is more convenient for them in the long run. They can continue working while simultaneously earning a post-graduate degree and work experience through online education, which does not interfere with their current employment. However, before enrolling in any post-graduate programme, double-check that the programme in question has received recognition from the UGC or the AICTE.
2. Programs for Students Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree or Lower There are various programmes leading to a bachelor's degree or lower that can be pursued by students online once they have earned their 12th-grade certification. Students can achieve their undergraduate degrees through online learning. In addition, they can enrol in different diploma programmes and activities that will help them advance in their careers more successfully.
3. A Course in Digital Marketing - Digital marketing refers to marketing products using technological devices connected to the internet. The use of digital marketing to advertise goods and services is becoming increasingly widespread due to its prominence as the most effective marketing strategy currently available. Therefore, there is a need for professional digital marketers who are capable of managing the digital platforms professionally. A growing number of students are beginning their climb to success by enrolling in an online course that teaches digital marketing and getting their feet wet.
4. Communication - The ability to communicate effectively is essential for passing on one person's ideas to another. To be successful in any line of employment, one must have strong communication abilities. People who wish to improve communication skills and enhance the skills necessary to function professionally can enrol in one of the many online communication courses offered by various institutes.
5. Courses Leading to a Diploma In today's world, many students opt to pursue diploma courses in addition to the pathways leading to a degree. They will develop theoretical and practical expertise by completing these diploma programmes. These certificate programmes are also offered online; anybody can sign up to take them to improve their employment prospects.
6. Classes in Spoken English - English is the most widely spoken language in the world and one of the most commonly acknowledged languages. Therefore, it is in everyone's best interest to acquire the skills of speaking and writing in English because these abilities are required to be known by anyone who wishes to enter the realm of professional endeavours. one can obtain these skills through online education without having to go through the hassle of attending traditional classroom techniques. Students have the opportunity to connect with them from different states or countries while they are participating in online classes. This will assist students in developing the self-assurance necessary to engage in conversation with others.

Colleges and Universities Offering Distance Learning Online

Online institutions enabled the ability to obtain higher education more flexibly. The fact that you can now get a higher degree education or academics at your fingertips without it interfering with the activities of your daily life is fantastic news.

The fact that practically everyone now likes to learn online has resulted in an increased demand for online educational institutions such as universities and institutes. Although many educational institutions, including universities and institutes, have begun offering online courses to students, all of these establishments can't be ranked among the top ones.

As a result, we have researched which schools and institutes offer the most excellent online education and can help students succeed in any available online courses. This section includes a rundown of top online educational institutions and colleges. People are free to pick one of these options based on the path that best suits their interests and preferences: -

• Distance Education at IGNOU's 
• The University of Sikkim Manipal
• The Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University 
• Dr BR Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU)
• The Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU)
•  Amity University
• The National Institute of Marketing on the Internet (NIIM)
• The National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT),
• The School of Open Learning located within Delhi University (SOL)
• University of Mumbai University of Karnataka Open University (IDOL)
• Jaipur National University (JNU)
• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
• Chandigarh University (CU) 

The Advantages of Online Education

Students who are eager to further their education but are either physically unable to attend traditional classes or are prevented from doing so by unforeseen life events can now take advantage of the opportunities provided by online education.

Students are increasingly turning to online education as an engaging and convenient manner of furthering their knowledge. For those who are interested in learning more motivating information regarding online education, the following benefits of this new model of education have been discussed:

1. Flexibility During online education, students can choose when and where they do their coursework, making it one of the most beneficial aspects of this kind of instruction. The student can participate in any online class offered without leaving the comfort of their own home. They are free to attend classes whenever they choose and from wherever they are. Students are not bound to a schedule, so they are free to pursue multiple professional paths simultaneously. Since there are no class times, students can use their free time to improve their skills by engaging in additional practice and extracurricular activities.
2. Opportunities to Form Large Networks Students have the opportunity to form large networks with other students through online classes. This is because there are a large number of students enrolling in online courses from a variety of states and countries. They can link with one another to carry out initiatives based on various concepts, and they are also capable of standing alone as an empire in the business world. In addition, they can form emotional connections with people from different states and comprehend the cultures of those states.
3. Cost-Effective: An online education will help save money because it will deduct extra money that the student needs to spend during the traditional classroom method of schooling, such as travelling costs, hostel fees, lodging costs, shifting costs, public transport expenditures, fuel costs, etc. Online education will help save money because it will deduct extra money the student needs to spend during the traditional classroom teaching method.
4. Learning at your own pace - Each kid comes into school with a unique frame of mind and a unique capacity to assimilate new information and abilities. If a student cannot grasp the concepts being taught in the classroom at a rapid pace, it can be challenging for them to comprehend everything being taught in the school entirely. Students who choose to get their education online have the advantage of being able to study at their speed and according to their aptitude levels.

Online Education	Traditional Education
The students does not attend regular classes.	The students attend regular classes for effective learning.
The students need to have just a computer and a good internet source to take the classes.	Heavy books, notebooks, pens, and all related things are needed for taking the classes.
There is time flexibility during online education as the aspirants can attend the classes from anywhere at any time.	There is a fixed schedule of classes and the students have no power to change that schedule according to their time.
The students can get the personalized attention of the tutor to solve any problem or clear any doubt.	It is hard to get personalized attention during the traditional education system.
During online education, students can connect with many people from different states or countries as there may be a large no. group of students present during the online class.	In the traditional classroom method, there is a limited no. of students that are present during the class and limited students means limited thought processes and also limited numbers of ideas.

Educational Resources Available Online

There are several opportunities available across a variety of mediums to acquire new knowledge and abilities. Learning new things in one's spare time through the medium of online education is a productive technique to accomplish this goal.

There are a large number of resources available to supply you with online classes, regardless of whether you have an interest in the marketing sector and want to learn marketing online or an interest in the information technology sector and want to learn coding and programming online. The following is a list of resources that are utilised to provide students with online educational opportunities: -

1. Live Lectures Delivered by Faculty and Industry Experts During Online Classes Students enrolled in online classes will have the opportunity to participate in live lectures delivered by professional faculty as well as industry experts. Because they have already gone through a lot of different experiences throughout their career, they are in the best position to provide students sound guidance, and students can successfully learn from them.
2. Recorded Lectures: During their time studying online, students will have access to recorded lectures. This will allow them to refer back to these lectures whenever they have questions or become stuck at any stage of their professional careers, which is something that is nearly impossible to get in a conventional classroom setting.
3. Digital learning Materials – The students will have access to e-books that they can study in order to further their education through online learning. They can keep these books for the rest of their lives and read them whenever they want. When taking classes online, you will not need to spend money on books or lug around cumbersome textbooks.
4. Interaction with Faculty on a One-to-One Basis Students are given the opportunity to interact with faculty members on a one-to-one basis. They are able to directly contact with the faculty, and the faculty will answer their doubts personally so that every student may learn all of the topics in a manner that is effective for them. If they find that they do not comprehend any given topic, they have the ability to do so.

What are some of the drawbacks of getting an education online?

• Once you enrol in an online education programme, you will have less time to physically contact with your classmates by meeting them. This is because there will be no physical interaction. There is a greater focus on contact through virtual mediums, and you do not physically encounter your lecturers or colleagues on a daily basis.
• Keeping track of how much time you spend looking at screens Because everything in our world is happening on our cellphones, it might be tough to concentrate on a single task at a time. 
• It is possible to become distracted while using social media, which can lead to decreased concentration and interaction.

Is Online Education the Way of the Future? 

Over the course of the past few years, there has been a shift in how we think about education. Online education is replacing education delivered in the traditional classroom setting. It is not necessary to attend conventional classes or even classes on a consistent basis in order to master skills and courses. It is now much simpler to acquire knowledge from any location in the world thanks to the proliferation of new technology and people's increased use of the vast information resource known as the internet.

According to a recent survey, a growing number of students are enrolling in higher-level studies or diploma programmes. However, you might not believe that thirty percent of students are pursuing these courses through online education because they consider online education to be more effective and time-saving than the conventional method of education.

Whether you are a student or a working professional, receiving an education online can help you make more informed decisions. As a working professional, you can enhance your abilities and become more professional in your industry through the use of online education without having to worry about how this would effect your current job. As a result of this positive response, online education has the potential to become the education model of the future.

Opportunities for Employment Following Completion of an Online Education

When it comes to the stage of employment, one of the most common questions that comes up among students is whether or not an online degree is worthwhile. Students will often only enrol in a class once they have a solid understanding of the job opportunities that will be available to them upon successful completion of the class.

If a student invests their time and money into acquiring new skills, it is likely that they have their sights set on higher-paying positions within that industry. Therefore, the solution lies in the provision of education over the internet. Students will have access to a plethora of employment prospects if they complete any type of course that is offered online.

After finishing the course, students have the option of applying for jobs in the public sector if they have the online degree, which means that it is not only valid for positions in the private sector. Students have the opportunity to launch manybusinesses in a wide variety of fields, depending on the curriculum that they have completed. 

The following is a list of available jobs that students can apply for based on the courses they are taking:

• ​Architecture
• Railways
• ​Banks
• ​Media & Communications
• ​Management
• Marketing & Advertising
• Writing​
• ​Finance
• The Development of Software
• Technology based on information
• The field of Human Resources
• ​Sales & ​Production
• ​SEO Optimisation
• ​Call Centres
• Advisory Services for Product Designers
• Relations with the Public

Conclusion

There are a lot of misconceptions about getting an education online that are floating around in the educational community. This is a preliminary step that we have made in order to dispel some misconceptions and educate students on the realities of receiving an education online. Ninety percent of pupils believe that traditional classroom education and online education are on par with one another. Even receiving an education through the medium of the internet is superior to the more conventional classroom setting. However, the students will decide on the modes of instruction based on the preferences and options that they select for themselves.

Pursuing higher education in the relevant discipline is the initial step toward a career. You can get the training you need to do what you want to do at some of the best educational institutions in the world.