The Effectiveness Of The Educational System

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The traditional approach to learning in the form of lectures, assignments and test is slowly finding its way out. The overall self-learning segment, in which e-learning is a part, in USA is worth about $16.5 billion. The size of the outsourced e-learning business in India is projected to be about $375 million by the end of 2012, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of about 15 percent. The revenue is expected to double in three to four years, triggered by US e-learning and publishing companies setting up their offshore centre in India. E-learning is gaining much importance in the globalized era because of various factors important among them are learner friendly technology, networked environment, geographically distributed work force, compressed business cycles, instant learning solutions, high cost of traditional training methods, challenges of work-life balance. The work place and our homes are being networked with various communication devices which paves the way for information from anywhere in the world at any time. The work force in the globalised era is widely dispersed across national boundaries. It will be difficult, uneconomical and impractical to call all for class room training. The problem can be easily solved by e-learning solutions.

The product or business lifecycle have compressed substantially in the changing world of business. Organizations cannot afford to send their employees away from work for several weeks for class room training. They need the employees to learn and perform simultaneously right from day one with the help of e-learning solutions as in [2]. The new forms of organizations created workplaces in which there are not enough experts to guide the junior employees for the development of their knowledge. E-Learning solutions bridge this gap. Traditional class room training is quite expensive as in [4]. E-learning solutions can help by carrying and delivering the training programmers right to the place of learner, rather than forcing them to travel to a distant training centre. E-learning solutions can help employees by delivering learning content at home. So that employees can balance their personal life and learn whenever/wherever they are comfortable.

IV. E-LEARNING PROGRAM PROCESS

Types of E-Learning

E-learning can be classified in to two. They are Synchronous learning, Asynchronous learning.

In synchronous learning, learning and teaching take place in real time even though the trainer and learners are physically separated from each other. Examples of synchronous learning include live radio broadcast, live television broadcast, online lecturers, audio video conferencing etc. Here the trainer will be delivering a live lecture and learners spread across different geographical boundaries will be listening, watching the same, asking/answering questions with the help of communication technologies like conference calls, world wide web, video conferencing etc., In asynchronous approach learning takes place with time delay as well as the trainer and learner are physically separated from each other as in [5]. Examples of asynchronous mode of training includes self paced course taken via internet, CD-ROM, videotaped class, audio video web presentations, email messages etc.

Measures for Proper Management of E-learning

It is through servers any information regarding the courses that are hosted can be accessed. For this purpose proper management of servers is necessary.

The network and network of networks (Internet) needs to be properly managed.

As innumerable courses are available in the E-learning, it is necessary that the contents of the course are efficiently managed which includes updating of the courses with all dedication.

For day today running of the courses, handling student feedbacks, giving assignments to the students, conducting tutorials and holding tests, proper management is necessary.

There is a need for quality assurance of online courses.

Proper measures to access online courses and modules all the 24 hours in a day are necessary.

Infrastructure and the Technological Tools

Proper software tools for implementation of online courses and/or modules.

Hardware and network infrastructure to support access to the online courses.

Setting up of a video conferencing network on the campus.

Setting up of a multimedia and video on demand laboratory.

Setting up of centers with high bandwidth connectivity for decentralized access.

E-learning Development Process

Paper-based worksheets

Identify the business needs and learning needs

Understanding the learner characteristics and design the program

Creating Infrastructure and then develop the e-learning content

More interactive resources – presentations

Shared folders/Intranet of resources

Remote access to resources

Launching the program, track the progress and measure the results

V. E-LEARNING TEAM

This team is formed with eight different roles. These roles are performed by various well trained people. Each and every role has its own rules and regulations. The people who are for these roles should follow them correctly in order to achieve the effectiveness of the e-learning process.

TABLE 1

HIERARCHY OF E-LEARNING TEAM AND THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

S.No

Members

Roles and Responsibilities

1.

Subject Matter Expert (SME)

The SME’s role is to provide content, resources and expert testimony.  The SEM also checks the accuracy of all materials created by the rest of the E-Learning team.

2.

Instructional Designer (ID)

The instructional designer analyzes training needs, provides consultation on instructional strategies and techniques for e-learning, analyzes content, defines scope and learning objectives, selects delivery format and assessment strategy based on client training goals while supporting their business needs. 

3.

Online Developer

The online developer helps realize the instructional designer’s vision by using authoring tools to create e-learning--usually for the web. 

4.

Editor

Reviews E-Learning materials for clarity, consistency of style, grammar, spelling, appropriate references and copyright information.

5.

Multimedia Specialists

The multimedia specialists, depending on the project, can include a graphic designer, voice actor, videographer or photographer. These people collaborate with the instructional designer to provide additional media that supports the ID’s design and objectives for the training

6.

Information Technology (IT)

IT manages all the technology aspects of E-learning including hosting, learning management systems, sign-on security, etc.  

7.

Project Manager

The project manager manages the schedule, cost, scope and quality of the project by working with the project team and customer.  

8.

Quality Assurance (QA)

The quality assurance role assures that the E-Learning developed meets the requirements and specifications set out for the project. 

VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The questionnaire method has been adopted in this paper to collect the information from 100 colleges, regarding E-learning facilities the colleges are using. From the above table it is evident that, out of 100 colleges 96 colleges are having computer lab. The remaining 4 colleges do not have computer lab facilities. With regard to access to internet, 85 colleges have the facility and 15 colleges do not have. While, 30 colleges use E-learning and 70 colleges don’t use E-learning. And 97 colleges say that they need E-learning training and rest 3 colleges say that E-learning training is not necessary. With regard to use of VLE (Virtual Learning Environment), 17 colleges have VLE facility and 83 colleges don’t have VLE facility. Whereas, 12 colleges make provision for college students to interact with other students and other 88 colleges do not provide opportunity to interact. With regard to Student/Teacher relationship 92 colleges say that by using E-learning Student/Teacher relationship will be broken and 08 colleges say that Student/Teacher relationship will continue to be cordial. In case of providing quality training through E-learning 91 colleges agree that learning quality will improve and 9 colleges do not agree. In the survey, 16 colleges say that they are having video conferencing facility and 84 colleges say that they don’t have the facility. And lastly, with regard to EDUSAT facility, 75 colleges are having the facility and 25 colleges don’t have the facility. The following are the challenges and advantages of this process as per the data collection.

Infrastructure Snags

It involves high cost of purchase of hardware for its implementation and deployment.

It is difficult to measure activity, the results and also its impact.

Online Course Evaluation

Learner support and resources with respect to, course information, online support, content support and channels for feedback on resources and support.

Online information and design with respect to, completeness, clear syllabus, consistent and functional accessibilities, channels for feedback.

Instructional design and delivery with respect to, opportunities for interaction, alignment of course objectives to learning outcomes, clearly defined learning outcomes, variety of learning tasks, critical thinking tasks and channels for feedback on instructional design.

Student learning with respect to, opportunities for self-assessment, alignment between objectives, activities and assessments, comprehensive assessment strategy, opportunities for students to receive feedback, channels for learners’ feedback on assessment strategy.

Legal issues in E-learning

Copyright of scripts, code, multimedia, consultants, title and protection is done. To protect authentication e-commerce laws can be used. For the protection of data, the concerned Act may be used. The data collection should be fair and lawfully processed. The appropriate technical and organizational measures against unauthorized or unlawful processing may be taken. Authentication with regard to student identity, the verification of exam result/course credits, mandatory courses and integrity of data should also be done.

Advantages of E-learning

Reduced cost and saved revenues

Increased retention and application to job increases over traditional methods

On demand availability enables the students to complete training conveniently at off-hours from home.

Learning times can be reduced.

Consistent delivery of content is possible with asynchronous, self paced learning.

Self pacing for slow or quick learners reduces stress

Very limited staff is required and the time required for them is also very less

E-learning is readily available.

It is possible to get instant feedback.

VII. CONCLUSION

The overall result gives an impression that the knowledge of E-learning is essential for every college student and it plays a very significant role in the life of any student and teachers for improving their level of learning and education. Through this technique, it will be possible for the person to learn very fast and accurately. As a result of this, world has become very small.