E-learning in Nanjing University for Web-Design - Thesis Example

The medium of instruction is through computer-based products or equipment and mostly involves digital modern technologies.Even though its definition is very broad it is always used interchangeably in a variety of contexts and even in some instances, no face-to-face interaction takes place at all. It is also defined as education through the use of Information and communication products and services for the coordination, supervision and co-ordination for the end user in a virtual environment. In the United States of America, its definition is that it is a learning experience that uses wide spectrum of I.C.T products to reach the learners.

It has the ability to enable the learners to learn from anywhere at any time regardless of age, Gender or even social back ground at your own pace. This form of learning has taken root today and is mostly very common with the upward moving fast lane guys whose time is a very critical issue and a very decisive factor in their everyday lives.This has led to the creation of what is today known as e-schools which mainly operate through the internet. These institutions exist mainly in cyberspace and they have no physical facilities, everything is done virtually and everything is automated by the use of special computer software and hardware.

These types of institutions can know be found everywhere offering different disciplines provided they are not practically oriented technical subjects with most popular courses being Business Administration and Information Technology related. However, this form of learning will be more ideal if the subject you are studying is not available nearby.Even though much of the focus on e-learning has been much on the deployment of some particular technologies but I personally believe it should be on the issue of how people communicate and learn in an Information environment.

It mostly depends on proper communication between students and lecturers, unfortunately when it was first being popularised it was being hyped as a means of minimizing cost by delivering content to students by means of Information and Communication Technology. 

With this advent of virtual classrooms there have been considerable cost benefits to institution but still there are several drawbacks. There must be high speed internet access with the most modern computing facilities, and also there is no two way communication as it is instructor led rather than the dialogue classroom conversation most people are conversant with. Above all that they will still require the students to be online at a particular time and this becomes even more disadvantageous when it is being delivered to a global audience whose domestic time is unlikely to favour them.

Contrastingly asynchronous instructions used in e-learning will always allow students to be in a position to control their own timetables and fit it alongside their other personal commitments. This is a major win in particular for the adult learners with a lot of personal commitments throughout the day. Most modern technologies in Asynchronous electronic learning enable the student to experience two way communication with their instructors and the technologies themselves are perceived to be multidirectional.

Some of the communication technologies mostly used in asynchronous learning are E-mail: We all know what it is and it is one of the most collaborative form of e-learning today. Collaborative learning Forums: Here the students post questions and answers in some interactive electronic boards, The lecturers may chip in on a regular basis to provide instructions on difficult tasks and assignments and also to counter check on the students progress. Electronic Boards: It enables participants to create images and share them amongst other users.

Application sharing: It will enable learners and instructors to collaborate on the same learning materials in sequence or simultaneously and participants are in a position to see what is happening at all the times. Simulations & Virtual Labs: These are also very common today, they enables students to work together in teams to construct projects and finish them at their own disposal. Digital Libraries: They act as some electronic references that provide archived materials the text, video, audio files and presentations.

They are mostly common and good in revisions as the students can later on access the education materials which they might have missed on. Real time test and evaluations: It can always be sat on demand and completed at the students own pre-defined pace. Video and Audio streaming: Very common nowadays and probably the most popular today. Here the students can see and hear the facilitators and in case both of them are connected to the internet they easily interact on one to one basis Still e-learning is not a preserve of the less established institution even the most established educational institutions such as Harvard, Yale and Oxford have embraced and widely adopted the idea as it is an idea of the future rather than a social norm or prestige.

Instructional Design for e-Learning has been perfected and refined over many years using established teaching principles, with many benefits to students. As a result colleges, universities, businesses, and organizations worldwide now offer their students fully accredited online degree, vocational, and continuing education programs in abundance. Electronic Learning is a catch it all term that covers a wide range of digitally transmitted instructional material that can be delivered on these points vital points.

online learning : Learning where medium of instructions is by use of computers and computer related devices. online education : Learning and training which is conducted through a computer network. distance education : A study undertaken by student studying far away from the particular administrative campus. technology-based training : This can be defined as the delivery of training contents or manual through Internet, computer networks, satellites broadcasts or interactive TVs. web-based training : Here computer based training are transformed by technologies and methodologies of the world wide web.