Education

Education

Problem Statement

“What is the impact of online education upon a student's performance?”

In the 21st century, the online education is received via internet for educating in distance learning. The E-learning provides the student with asset of instructions and electronic guidance on course modules. E-learning is in essence the transference of knowledge and skills facilitated principally by networked and linked computers. It is significant to note that e-learning involves to a large extent a level of interactivity. E-learning lends itself to almost any area of training and can be easily adapted or customised to serve students with special needs.

Literature Review

As access to computer technology and the internet has expanded, educational institutions have moved quickly to use these technologies for instructional purposes. “Online learning is one of the fastest growing trends in the educational uses of technology”. Many virtual universities now exist with large enrolments and many traditional institutions of higher education are offering courses and complete degrees online. Online delivery of content has gained popularity with many administrators, faculty, and students in higher education due to its potential for “flexible access to content and instruction at any time, from any place”. Although there is much written about online instruction, as well as blended and traditional learning environments, some concerns have been raised about the quality and effectiveness of online instruction in general, and in special education (Pilkington, 2004, p. 161).

The use of technologies in education transforms the process of learning and. therefore, the behaviors of those who teach and those who learn. . The teaching this modality represents a reduction of hierarchy and directivity, while encouraging student self-employment and requires the teacher is an entertainer and a guardian of the student learning process. However, in many cases it is evident that universities to incorporate new technologies to teaching remain without altering the model traditionally focused on teaching the teacher as transmitter content (Robison, 2004, pp. 174).

Thus, virtual learning interactive design strategies should enable synchronous interaction effective asynchronous between: learner-content, tutor-student, student-student, and tutor-tutor. Virtual learning environments leads to a new way to learn and teaching is characterized by interactivity, encouraging integration and context to a degree difficult to achieve with linear techniques presentation (Salmon, 2000, pp. 125).The use of new technologies in education transforms the process of learning and, therefore, the behaviors of those who teach and those who learn. They modify the traditional roles of teacher and student.

The number of students enrolled in online learning courses is also growing rapidly as studied by Finholt (2002); it was projected that 2.2 million students would be enrolled in online courses by 2004. The sixth annual report on the state of online learning reported that over 3.9 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2007 semester; this was a 12 percent increase from the previous year. These data indicate that over twenty percent of all US students in higher education were taking a least one online course in the fall 2007 semester. It is important to note that this ...