Integration of eLearning into Existing Educational System
In this era, teachers must use eLearning approaches as a powerful tool. They need to learn how student learning changes with e-learning, and how to alter their teaching methodologies with pedagogical approaches. They should take advantage of the opportunities afforded by e-learning. A blended approach mixing face-to-face classroom methods with technology-mediated activities seem to provide the highest learning outcomes.
In a country like India where secondary teachers have little prior experience with computers or similar technologies, all this can be a significant undertaking. In-service and pre-service e-learning teacher training programs have been designed and tested, however, with these goals in mind.
The potential of e-learning
The potential of e-learning is a broad term that includes many teaching approaches, types of technologies and administrative practices. A challenge in analyzing e-learning is that the technologies and their educational applications are developing extremely rapidly. An additional challenge includes its freshness and the excitement around their utility are leading to many suggestions for how to use technologies in and outside of the classroom. Some of the important potential contributions of e-learning programs in such educational systems include:
1. Addresses the shortage of teachers, especially science and other specialty teachers. It can do this by providing high-quality teaching materials, such as videos, interactive software or information on the Internet or a local computer. In a distant classroom or video conferencing approach, the number of students who receive live instruction from teachers in specialty subjects can be much larger.
2. Addresses the shortage of learning material such as textbooks for students. The material could be made available on hand-held devices such as e-books or mobile phones. Interactive features such as quizzes or games could improve the level of learning and understanding.
3. Improves the quality of education by providing improved informational content and learning approaches. Interactive and communicative e-learning may promote the development of skills in students such as critical thinking and problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
4. Provides students’ information and communication technology skills. The graduates will be better equipped to contribute to the knowledge-centred globalized economy.
Therefore, the goal of improving the educational quality and economic impact of secondary school education is coming to the front in many developing countries. Improving the quality and gaining impact is, however, perhaps more difficult as it may require a transformation of the educational system itself. Many countries along with India are turning to e-learning programs to assist with this transformation, and to fill some immediate gaps in their schools such as a lack of teachers and learning materials.
