The official data 2012 Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System survey shows that 2.6 million U.S. students enrolled themselves in online classes. The influence of online education in developed countries is so much so that 66.66% of students say that they would not have pursued a degree program in its absence. Watching the trend of student’s inclination towards online tutorials, Ivy League and other universities are expanding their degree programs in comparison to traditional programs. Furthermore, Learning House, and Aslanian Market Research conducted a survey published in 2018, wherein 1,500 students claim that online learning is as good as classroom teaching or even better. Two-third of students who are enrolling themselves in colleges prefer to study online.
Education happens to be a rare commodity in backward regions of developing countries. UNESCO data provides that one in every five children did not participate in any form of education. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, announced that it is best to introduce an online form of teaching to make education pervasive. Initially, online platforms of teaching did not gain weight. It was often termed as a gimmick of the western world. You can refer to it as an inferior medium of education. Limited funding lured the government to propagate a digitized education system, and encourage the citizens to accept it. Amidst vast criticism, developing countries can now see a slow and steady growth of online education. The services offered by online conferencing forums will need to expand with the augment in online education in SSA and the Indian subcontinent.
The 2016 Global Shapers Survey revealed that 77.84% of students across the world were active participants of online education. The global e-learning market predicts substantial growth. The market was worth $107 billion in 2015, and you can expect it to leap to $ 325 billion.
The Pragmatic Approach
Reaching the Remote
Education, with the help of online conferencing forums, can now reach the remotest geographical region. It gives hope that every child will grow up literate, and every adult can realize his dreams. It does not require a visa to cross the border and removes all barriers.
Virtual Classrooms
Online conferencing forums enable educationists to impart lectures, give presentations, interact with students, participate in question-answer, and clarify doubts. It also provides the tools to record the conferences, annotate, and several other features.
Capping the Handicaps
Some children who are in the confinement of the four walls of their homes, and cannot attend their school physically can enroll online to pursue their education. Thus, online web conferencing seems to be their savior.
The Stumbling Block
Dependency on unreliable internet and Electricity Backup
Education cannot thrive on its own. To avail the facility of the online conferencing forums, you would need access to the steady and continuous internet and a reliable electricity backup for constant learning. The students require a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone to continue with their spirit of learning.
Special Needs
Children with special needs are neglected when education resorts to web conferencing. The presence of technology means the absence of a personal touch. These children are unique and require special attention. Online teaching forums cannot meet their requirements.
Scarcity of High-Quality Lecturers/Teachers
Usually, online educators do not meet the criteria for quality quotient. The unavailability of high-standard teachers is another reason for the downfall of online teaching.
Lost and Found in Translation
Sometimes, the essence of education is lost in the process of translation. Diverse linguistic groups from different corners of the world meet at a single platform. It causes difficulty in interpretation and brings down the quality of education.
Ethics Issue
A surge of information is present on the internet. It becomes a moral responsibility of the educational organizations and the Department of Human Resource and Development to filter indecent content off school networks. While the learning and teaching process is conducted on online conferencing forums, it becomes a primary concern for countries to provide digital safety to children and provide them with child-friendly content on the web.
High Demand for Discipline
A high percentage of drop-outs and failures have been reported in the sector of online education. Students do not take online courses seriously. Their lackadaisical attitude is the main reason for the down-fall. Teachers have little or no control over the students’ behavior, and it becomes challenging to maintain discipline.
Conclusion
Every technological innovation undergoes several hit-and-trial. Although the online conferencing forum may be the talk of the town in the present scenario, it is the audience who announces the final judgment whether to accept it or reject it. The future of online conferencing forums will only thrive as long as it facilitates and augments the education sector.
By Travelrasoi
