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What is Blended Learning? A Comprehensive Guide

You may be wondering about “what is blended learning?” Well, blended learning combines traditional offline and online knowledge in a way that both complement each other.

It offers individuals the best of both worlds. For instance, a learner might choose to attend face-to-face classes and then supplement them by completing online multimedia coursework. It allows learners to attend class once a week physically, and then they would be free to go at their own pace without sweating about scheduling issues.

We will discuss in detail what this learning entails and how you can make the most of it.

What is Blended Learning?

As blended learning combines traditional methods of education and eLearning to create a more flexible experience, it creates dynamic opportunities for students outside the classroom.

The classroom setting provides the opportunity for role-playing with instant feedback from instructors. In comparison, online learning allows students to have personalized, self-paced learning with interactive media like games, quizzes, tutorials, videos, and other social media components. Students can access these eLearning features on their smartphones or tablets from the Learning Management System home page.

Why Choose It?

Educators at higher and lower institutions have organically adopted blended learning to help students in and out of the classroom.

Blended learning builds a truly integrated classroom that meets the needs of every student. Keeping learners engaged, motivated, and stimulated assists educators in being more effective and efficient. Here are the apparent benefits of blended learning;

Personalized Learning

Blended learning considers every type of learner, whether they want to learn in a traditional classroom, prefer to learn online, or want to try a mixture of both. Without the limitations of in-person learning or an online course, blended learning takes advantage of various methods so that the educational content can be customized to students and optimized for the subject matter they are studying. While it is almost impossible to fully translate face-to-face training to digital content, it’s still possible to restructure the existing content for online delivery to supplement the ongoing activity.

Latest Learning Trends

The blended approach utilizes online and offline technologies to enable instructors to seamlessly adopt the latest learning trends and modalities into their curriculum. Teachers can also use built-in reporting features in Learning Management System for in-depth and data-driven insights into the learners’ progress and success.

Reduced Costs

In-person learning may seem like a cheaper option when compared to online learning, however, you need to consider the actual cost of traditional classroom sessions. For students who are also working, in-class training means time away from work, paying educators, etc. A blended online learning approach lowers travel costs and can be used multiple times, reducing educators' burdens.

Fun & Interactive

Raising your hand and not being called on by the instructor is frustrating. In addition, it impacts the overall engagement of students in a classroom. However, blended learning offers more ways for learners to interact with educators and learning materials. It is an interactive experience in every sense of the word.

Diverse Reach & Customized Experience

Institutions worldwide are striving to make learning universal and accessible. Travel and language interpretations pose significant challenges, but blended eLearning can easily address these problems and can bring together students from different locations in its virtual space.

Learning Models

Teaching a diverse group of learners in traditional classroom learning can be challenging as it’s almost impossible to tailor the learning experience to individual needs. A blended model helps you to personalize the subject themes to time considerations, learning techniques, and personal preferences. But, to implement such models, you must change how you think about teaching and learning.

Here are some blended learning methods that you can use.

In-Person

Flex Learning

Rotation

Self-Blend

Online Driver

Online Lab

Gamification

Blended Learning: Best Practices

Blended learning is effective for covering a lot of courses material with independent and engaged students. But how do you encourage students to take charge of their education? You can maximize a combined at-home and in-class effort by putting best practices and blended learning strategies to work with the rest of your program.

A. Explain The Importance of Blended Learning

If you do not tell students the reasoning behind why you combined independent and face-to-face learning, you run the risk of losing them from the get-go. Therefore, stakeholders involved in the educational process should take the time to explain why they chose blended learning as a mode of knowledge delivery. For this, you also need to respect every student’s individual journey to fully engage them in the learning process.

B. Activities for Everyone!

To make the blended approach successful, you must have diverse activities for every student. To make this happen, try to have everything for everyone. For example, some learners prefer to learn by reading, while others learn best when doing things. You cannot use one one-size-fits-all approach, rather, you must pay attention to individual details and consider the needs of each learner. So include diverse activities like group discussions with or without tools for collaborative learning, games, online quizzes, role-playing drives, and every other method you can think of that will enhance user engagement.

C. The Tool of the Century!

Learners today have the most powerful tool at their disposal; the internet.

Why would you write questions on a whiteboard when you can show an engaging video? Also, ask learners to watch videos on their own time and then engage them in class discussions the next day. Learning becomes more interactive and practical when students explore stuff on their own, so why tell them a fact when they can actually research it and report it back in class?

How To Implement Blended Learning?

Pause and consider the benefits of your training and what you want the students to learn. You most likely already know this since you created instructor-led sessions. Then, use the experience and instructors’ knowledge to ask important questions like; where the problem lies.

Think of the aspects of your program that are difficult for you and your students and require practice to master. For example, dry, factual information, technical specifications, and compliance information. This is your opportunity to get a foot in the door and take instructor-led sessions to the next level by developing blended eLearning techniques for students to learn and practice on their own time.

To implement both online and offline training interventions set up a Learning Management System that can track the progress of students and the success of learning interventions.

When you will implement your blended learning program, your students will thank you for offering education that best suits their needs.

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The Best Online Learning Resources for Nowadays

The world of AI and virtual education is constantly evolving and growing. Whether you want to learn new skills or explore a subject or topic, online learning resources offer endless solutions. You can also complete an entire course on such platforms and save money compared to traditional classroom learning.

When students were forced out of school, it was challenging for them to find places to learn and develop new skills. The internet, however, saved the day, and many institutions started offering resources for online learning. In addition, many online platforms have made courses and training easier than before. Distance learning is a perfect way for most students to continue their education, so we’ve put together a list of online learning resources to help you find the best fit.

List of Top Online Learning Resources

1. Bloc

Bloc is an intensive option for students who want to learn quickly. It focuses on web development and offers a highly structured program running 25 hours per week over several months instead of short courses or lectures.

2. Canvas Network

Canvas Network provides open, online courses from educators worldwide. Canvas Learning Management System powers it and offers a place and platform for teachers, students, and institutions to come together and chat their courses for professional development, personal growth, and educational inquiry.

3. Khan Academy

Khan Academy provides an entirely free educational library of micro-lectures. It is a non-profit online platform focused on traditional academic subjects like humanities, science, mathematics, economics, and computer programming. Since the forum is free to use, anyone can get a taste of the topic before moving on to more advanced courses elsewhere.

4. SimpliTaught

SimpliTaught is an edTech platform offering curated content around key learning concepts. It offers opportunities for students to learn from the best educators worldwide. Learners can choose which key concept or course they want to take, and the AI-driven platform gives them a highly personalized learning experience based on their preferences and interests.

Also, educators, content creators, and institutions can come on the platform to create their courses to reach a vast majority of students and benefit from the AI+ML engine that lets them promote their courses, lesson plans, videos, audio, and other learning materials. SimpliTaught helps you to create, learn, and collaborate.

5. Coursera

One of the most well-known names in online education is Coursera. The platform has a vast array of online learning resources with a global roster of universities and partners offering more than 3,900 specialized courses. Most of the courses are free, or learners can use them to earn a degree from an accredited institution.

6. edX

edX is an educational platform that Harvard and MIT founded. It has taught more than twenty million people since its inception. The platform is a global non-profit organization that features courses from educators and universities all over the world in subjects such as computer science, engineering, languages, biology, marketing, electronics, and writing.

7. Academic Earth

Academic Earth is a repository of free online video lectures and courses from the world’s top universities and colleges. Students can find specific courses in many subjects and search by universities to learn what they are interested in. It is a smart search tool and an excellent site to start your academic journey.

8. Drawspace

Drawspace is an educational tool offering high-quality art lessons for all skill levels. Experienced art teachers design these lessons. They provide complete courses and individual classes to help students master different drawing techniques.

9. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning offers subscriptions starting at $19.99 per month. It provides learners with extensive video skills and a tutorial library. Once you have subscribed, the services also include LinkedIn’s Premium Career features to assist you in growing your career.

10. Udacity

Udacity is a 100% online platform with a strong focus on technology. It has a small but well-crafted collection of courses. If you are looking to learn the latest tech skills, data science, AI, or cloud computing at home, Udacity’s data science program has instructors from companies such as Facebook and Salesforce. In addition, under the “nano degree” program, Udacity allows you to pay monthly for your courses. Their classes come with tech support, career services, and real-world projects.

11. Udemy

Udemy is well known for teaching and learning online. The company offers courses ranging from $10 to $500 based on your chosen class and educator. Most of their courses are inexpensive but costs quickly scale depending on the complexity of the subject matter. It gets a little expensive once you take more than one class on the platform.

12. Open Culture

Open Culture is a website that collects audiobooks, ebooks, textbooks, and other educational materials to support lifelong learning with free classes, videos, and audio. The non-profit educational site finds free learning resources from across the internet and gathers them under one platform. They make these materials available for students to quickly find what they want to learn.

Final Thoughts!

Online learning provides learners with chances to pursue their education and upscale their skills at their own pace and will. Whether you are just starting out or a professional who wants to upgrade your skills and work simultaneously, online learning resources help you tailor your education to your needs.

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Online Learning is the Future of Education: 8 Reasons Why?

With the digitization of almost everything, education is also not lagging behind as many learners opt for personalized e-learning. Covid has abruptly shifted billions of learners out of schools, colleges, and universities and sparked an interest in online learning. Institutions are embracing this change and trying to figure out unique ways to implement virtual education. Thus, online learning is the future of education that lies at the heart of it as more and more students are reaping the benefits of this form of learning.

Distance learning is engaging students and moving towards interactive formats, such as technologies like gamification and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR). We will discuss some exciting developments in the virtual education sector. But first, let’s look at online learning and its benefits.

What is Online Learning?

Online learning is a form of education that encourages students to learn from anywhere. It helps them acquire knowledge using the latest technologies. Online learning is also called eLearning, distance learning, or Internet learning. It allows learners to develop diverse skills with customized learning.

Advantages of Online Education

The future of online learning has taken center stage, and although it’s tough at first to adapt to the format, there are numerous benefits once learners get the hang of it. Distance learning offers the following advantages

It offers flexibility to pursue your course from anywhere and at any time.

There is a wide range of course and program options.

Students can acquire a broader range of perspectives as learners in online courses are from different countries and backgrounds.

It is affordable and saves time.

It enables students to build their time management skills.

Online learning allows students to communicate with teachers and peers through multiple channels like videoconferencing, emails, etc.

Why Online Learning is the Future of Education?

The top reasons are as follows:

1. Social Learning

We all use social media, and social learning takes its base from these components of human interaction, technology, and group dynamics to make the learning process easier and keep students engaged. Contrary to traditional learning, social learning is about gaining skills and knowledge through technology, interactive videos, and reading books. As a result, it is much more productive, straightforward, and effective than classroom teaching.

2. Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning is a form of custom learning experience that addresses the unique needs of learners through instant feedback, pathways, and other resources. It offers personalization of courses rather than providing a one-size-fits-all learning model.

3. Artificial Intelligence

The worldwide online learning market was expected to grow to $325 billion by 2025, even before the pandemic. According to many eLearning experts, “an AI-based online learning platform is a system that has the power to maintain and accomplish different tasks requiring human intelligence.” AI can present solutions to human-related problems, such as speech recognition, decision-making, translation, and more.

One of the trademark features of artificial intelligence is the ability to assemble and analyze users’ data every time they interact with edTech tools. This is why online education courses can be designed to become more efficient. Using artificial intelligence technology can help to:

Decide the levels of learning expected of a student.

Aid the users to the next level by providing relevant content.

Assist students by considering their previous experience, knowledge, skills, learning styles, and preferred pace.

4. Video Learning

Video learning refers to learning experiences facilitated by video. It combines camera footage, text, graphics, animation, and audio to create a multisensory learning experience. This efficient learning technique practically demonstrates the subject material, serving as one of the best reasons for students to learn online.

5. Learning Management Systems

Managers usually use a content management system (CMS) to build and store digital information in institutes and schools. Lately, institutions have extended this concept of CMS to eLearning platforms, known as Learning Management Systems (LMS).

LMS offers several benefits as it allows educators and other faculty members to design, document, and register courses and study materials in the software. Thus, eLearning plays a significant role in a technology-based and digitalized education system. Students can go online and study any required course. Using the capabilities of LMS, educators are creating lesson plans and managing practices efficiently, thus getting rid of the old analog ways for the better.

6. Microlearning

Mostly, students are never excited about large and multi-phase projects. So, learners in collaborative classrooms have found a way around this problem. They are splitting learning materials into manageable pieces. The whole process of chunking is known as microlearning. Teachers also break study materials into modules to produce more brilliant and faster retention. For example, they can break a two-hour-long lesson into four 30-minute sessions. Besides improving knowledge retention, microlearning enables learning on the go and supports self-paced education and personalized learning.

7. Customized Learning Experience

Distance learning empowers students to study at their own pace, offering complete flexibility. It aids learners in setting the study time depending on their attention spans. Also, virtual education is customized as per students’ requirements and mastery levels which also helps students to be in a better mental health space. Many online course platforms have a record and save option, where learners can visit the saved sessions later or revise the topic as required.

8. Learning and Development

People have different learning styles and want to study according to their preferred choices. eLearning allows students to learn remotely according to their favored learning style and instructional design principles. Therefore, the future of online learning relies on Learning and Development (L&D) because it helps assess resources and overall course and assists students in learning and developing their skills.

Final Thoughts

There are varied reasons to believe that online learning is the future of education. We have discussed the top reasons in this article why most students undertake remote education and why organizations offer it. Both learners and educators benefit from virtual learning as it gives a better experience. Different educational institutions can develop and utilize e-learning software to bring in more learners and educate them effectively. Online education software aids the majority with accessing virtual study resources and opportunities worldwide.

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Critical Effects of Online Learning on Mental Health

The radical transition from face-to-face classrooms to a high technological dependency has left many consequences. The most significant of them is the effects of online learning on mental health. Learners are expected to navigate a variety of technological tools as well as maintain their productivity. This affects their mental health, and students report feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and depressed.

The harmful effects of online classes have impacted the overall morale of students. However, there are ways to navigate virtual learning and mental health in a way that puts students first. Furthermore, it allows them to get used to e-learning without any hassle. We will discuss these ways, but before that, let's look at a critical question, i.e., “How does online learning affect mental health?”

How Can Online Learning Affect Mental Well-Being?

Online education can affect mental health in a variety of ways and some of which are described here:

Causes Anxiety & Stress

We may like to believe that learning from home would be an easy-going and comfortable experience, but in reality, it is not the same for every student. According to a study, students are more likely to feel increasingly stressed due to online learning than in-person education. There is a myriad of factors contributing to such feelings of stress and anxiety.

Concentrating on study material at home can be challenging due to limited privacy for many learners. In addition, distractions like family members interrupting the live sessions, helping siblings with their work, or internet connectivity issues add to the already overwhelming experience.

Parents must ensure that their children have access to devices such as laptops, smartphones, etc., and WiFi to start at-home e-learning in the first place. Once they get their hands on the equipment, schools and parents must determine how young children can handle ed-tech tools such as Google Classroom and Zoom.

Feelings of Social Isolation

Social interaction dramatically influences the process of learning. In traditional settings, students learn as a group and are accustomed to in-person instructor feedback and attention. In an eLearning environment, it’s nearly impossible to mimic such interactions. Due to limited interactions with peers, many students report feeling isolated, thus impacting their mental health.

Learning Fatigue

The number of learning materials and resources available to students online can often lead to information overload. Teachers usually recommend to students many online resources, which learners find challenging to stay on top of. Besides, gaining knowledge from home often blurs the boundary between learning and students’ personal lives.

As a result, many students cannot extricate themselves from their studies and keep stressing about incomplete assignments and work even during their downtime. In addition, many educators are also inclined to interact with students outside the classroom hours, which adds to the feeling of never being able to enjoy free time. Consequently, students report learning fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

Solutions to the Effects of Online Learning on Mental Health

Mental health issues can seriously influence the relationship of students with learning. But there’s good news. Educators and other educational stakeholders can devise ways to ensure that online strategy is compelling and considerate of their student's mental health.

Don’t Enforce Unnecessary Rules

Many schools, colleges, and universities felt the need to implement specific rules at the start of the pandemic to maintain discipline while the students were learning from home. Although the idea to recreate the classroom environment at home was well-intentioned, it resulted in more stress in learners’ lives because in-person and online learning is different.

Promote Social Interaction

Institutions must be willing to revise their current communication strategies and devise a plan that allows dynamic interaction among students, teachers, parents, and counselors. Besides formal communication channels, teachers should also arrange informal discussion forums for students to communicate with each other. For example, many LMS platforms offer individualized meetings for each course and a conversational thread to let students discuss general topics.

Offer Online Mental Health Support

Institutions must be ready to dedicate necessary resources to enable easy access to mental health professionals to cater to students' need for mental health support. Besides organizing information sessions, promoting awareness, and sharing resources, schools must have mental health experts online to cater to learners’ needs. Institutions can arrange it through their existing Learning Management Systems (LMS), with which the students are already familiar.

Allow Personalized Instructor Feedback

Social interaction in classrooms is incomplete without instructor feedback. In traditional settings, instructors offer face-to-face feedback to students. However, this interaction is translated into emails in online learning.

Personal and Classroom Boundaries

We discussed how students experience learning fatigue and information overload due to a lack of boundaries between academic and personal lives. Due to such diminished boundaries, the effects of online learning on mental health are adverse. So, enforcing such boundaries can significantly affect students’ mental health.

Conclusion

Distance learning has almost become a permanent fixture in education; the learning future remains flexible. So, it instantly becomes vital for educators and students to stay resilient and do their best to pay attention to the mental needs of all those involved.

When the stakeholders create new learning opportunities to fit today’s world, they must closely consider the relationship between online learning and mental health. To mitigate the bad effects of online classes, they must always be ready to make amendments for the betterment of students, educators, and parents.

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Classroom Learning vs Online Learning: Real Differences

The pandemic had left us in unprecedented times with empty schools, colleges, and universities, thus leading to a new model of teaching and learning. Consequently, we were forced to start things online. But it also raised a vital question: classroom learning vs online learning; which is effective?

With the rise and popularity of online learning, education is taking place remotely and on different digital platforms. However, as many people have become accustomed to new technologies and transformation, they are still confused about whether “is online learning effective or not?”

The sudden shift from classroom learning has left many wondering whether online education will continue post-pandemic and how it will affect the physical classroom system. Here we will sketch a comparison between the two learning modes, i.e., online learning vs. traditional learning. We’ll also discuss their major advantages, disadvantages, and fundamental differences.

What is Classroom Learning?

Classroom learning refers to a form of education where you create a face-to-face environment for instructors and students. In this mode of learning, real-time interaction happens between students and teachers. The classroom's physical environment includes boards, projectors, teachers, and class monitors. Therefore, it holds learners accountable, and there are lesser chances of distraction.

Advantages of Classroom Learning

Physical classrooms offer many advantages that are not found in online ones.

Relationship Building

Learners develop close relationships with teachers and other students in a physical classroom. It allows students to receive feedback from their teachers in the form of their voice tone, movement, body language, facial expressions, and lessons taught on the chalkboard or whiteboard.

Exchange of Ideas

Students are present with their peers in the classroom, allowing them to share ideas, clear their doubts, collaborate, and network with fellow learners and teachers.

Reduced Distraction

Physical classrooms have fewer distractions or challenges, unlike at home, such as television screens, calls, kids, or other noises.

Disadvantages of Classroom Learning

Until recently, there were no significant drawbacks found in traditional learning.

However, with online learning making a name in the world of education, some significant flaws have been identified in traditional classroom settings. They are:

Time-Consuming and Costly

If the courses are taking place at a distance from your home or workplace, you must travel from one place to another to attend classes. Hence, it adds travel time and expenses like meals, tolls, etc.

Inflexible Schedule

An inflexible class schedule can cause serious issues if you have a static work routine. Having to cancel attending a lesson or your work, mainly because you are not the only student, can make completing the course challenging.

Learning Speed

In face-to-face learning, everyone is expected to pick the lessons at a particular speed, making personalized learning almost impossible. In addition, some learners may not relate to a fixed learning schedule or class environment and need to study at their own pace and convenience to excel at education.

What is Online Learning?

Online education is a learning experience that lets learners and instructors connect virtually. This learning mode uses online whiteboards, video conferencing, and screen sharing to conduct live sessions and discussions with students.

As online classrooms are cloud-based learning solutions conducted digitally, they are customizable and accessible to all learners on various devices like desktops, smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc

Advantages of Online Learning

Online classrooms offer the following benefits;

Multiple Multimedia Options

Although in physical classrooms, there are many multimedia options available, like videos and PowerPoint presentations, the choices in online learning are unlimited, with quizzes, screencasts, videos, and a variety of other technological functionalities.

Flexibility

Where in-person learning requires students to commute, bear extra expenses, and disturb their work schedules, online learning doesn’t demand learners to do so. A significant portion of e-learning courses doesn’t need teacher-student interaction. Learners can take lessons whenever and wherever they want through laptops, smartphones, or offline.

Endless Opportunities

Besides online learning sessions, virtual courses will likely improve students’ understanding of the study material. Students can achieve their educational goals through tutorials, certifications, or standalone courses in the corporate sector.

Shrinking Distance

With online learning, taking training from outside the country becomes an easy task. Remote classes let multinational companies train their employees across borders. Likewise, it is easier to teach learners no matter which part of the world they are in. Students can make online study groups and learn with their peers.

Virtual Quizzes

Online quizzes are more effective than the traditional pen-and-paper mode. They ensure the active engagement of students in the subject material. Moreover, they increase their motivation, help them recall information, and gain better grades.

Another significant advantage of online quizzes is that it reduces students’ stress. Platforms like Kahoot! And Quizizz has a live dashboard with background music. Learners can see their own and others’ rank. So, they get involved in healthy competition to get higher scores. The fun and interactive features make students excited and forget they are taking a quiz.

Tracking the Results

In physical classrooms, teachers used to do manual checking of the answers. But in the virtual world, quizzes and their solutions can be sent to instructors, aiding them in tracking students’ progress.

Managing Study Materials

Learners submit assignments online and can email questions to their instructors. They can also get the study materials before the class starts, helping them to prepare in advance for the lesson and even understand things at their own pace.

Disadvantages of Online Learning

Those who think online learning is a boon are not correct. It also has flaws.

Technology Issues

Although the internet has been part and parcel of daily life for a long time, not everybody is tech-savvy. That’s why it can lead to feelings of frustration and loss of time while dealing with such issues. Moreover, some students cannot handle the virtual sessions' tech requirements, like reliable WiFi and a fast processor. So, online learning will be a waste of time and energy in some cases.

Lack of Socialization

In face-to-face spaces, you can interact with fellow students and build a bond with them. On the contrary, in online classes, the scope of social interaction is limited, and the chances to meet and communicate with your peers are lesser.

No Routine

Though learners benefit from attending classes at their will, it can result in unnecessary delays. The disadvantage of online learning is that any environment away from the classroom has plenty of distractions. One must create and follow a consistent schedule to reduce the impact of these distractions and delays.

Classroom Learning vs Online Learning

Virtual classrooms have resulted in maintaining information and saving time, whereas physical classrooms offer greater socialization and accountability.

Here are a few key differences between classroom learning vs online learning.

Time Management

Time management plays a significant role in the difference between online learning vs traditional learning. Virtual education is more flexible, and one can attend lessons anywhere and anytime, saving students time and travel expenses.

Which is More Flexible?

Another difference is the flexibility online classes provide. Also, virtual education seems more organized with smaller parts that are easy to learn and manage even on busy schedules.

Learners can also appear for tests at their selected time and don’t have to be physically present in a class. Moreover, if they cannot understand a particular lesson in an online course, they can go through the subject material plenty of times to grasp the concepts.

On the other hand, traditional classes have rigid schedules, where an instructor must manage many students simultaneously.

Interaction & Collaboration

Mode of interaction is another difference between online and face-to-face classrooms. In physical classes, learners can interact face-to-face with each other and their teachers. They can ask questions and get answers on the spot, thus offering a dynamic learning experience. They also get to share their views and ideas about the subject matter at hand.

Whereas such interaction is missing in online spaces, it is somehow made possible via chats, emails, forums, and webinars. The only thing missing from them is any practical experience, for example, activities or illustrations practiced in real-time.

Mode of Instruction

An exciting feature of online learning vs traditional learning is the mode of delivery or instruction.

In-person classrooms require teachers to deliver lectures verbally or through PowerPoint presentations. In comparison, instructors use tools like graphs, videos, presentations, and visuals in online education.

Additionally, traditional classes need the physical presence of teachers and students, but virtual classrooms demand instructors to be tech-savvy.

Teachers also need to monitor students’ progress. Manual tracking is the standard in physical classes, where educators verbally instruct.

Conclusion

So, you might want to choose between classroom learning vs online learning. But the answer is we cannot conclude which is better as both have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. 

You can use any or go for a blended approach depending on the needs of the course material and your students.

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Ultimate Guide to Synchronous vs Asynchronous Learning

The sudden onset of the pandemic has shone a new light on the art of learning. As the world shut down, educators found different ways to deliver their programs remotely. The two buzzwords that have overtaken the online academic world are synchronous vs asynchronous learning.

If you are wondering what these forms of learning represent, they mean the difference between following your course material in real time vs. studying at your own pace. So, in the age of digital learning, where millions of students are taking courses online, the question is, what’s the best delivery method of teaching to serve the needs of learners?

Before going into the synchronous vs asynchronous learning debate, let's discuss what these learning mediums encompass.

What is Synchronous Learning?

With synchronous learning, education happens live and at the moment, as in the case of a webinar or a workshop. Before the covid-19 pandemic hit, most synchronous learning occurred in face-to-face classroom settings. However, it has changed since then! We are now seeing a shift from in-person to virtual learning environments, live training formats, video conferencing, and live chat rooms.

Why Choose It?

Why would you still opt for synchronous learning when instructors can record almost every course?

Well, it turns out that students like it. Often, learners who buy asynchronous courses do not end up completing them. Getting through the course all by yourself becomes challenging without community and accountability. That is precisely why some students still choose live learning, where they can see and interact with the instructor in real-time.

Theoretically, it might limit your scale as you cannot just sell thousands of copies of a course recording. But, synchronous learning does provide a better experience for some students. Also, some educators prefer it because it lets them feed off the energy of their students, so they bring A-game to their studies.

Pros of Synchronous Learning

There are numerous benefits to the live nature of synchronous learning, including;

Real-Time Interactions

Through synchronous learning, learners can interact with fellow students and instructors in real time. By engaging with each other, elaborate and high-quality discussions unfold among students contributing to the overall educational experience.

Instant Feedback

Also, as students can ask educators questions in real-time, they get immediate feedback on their progress. Thus it allows teachers to meet students in their exact moment of learning need– rather than sharing feedback several hours or days later when the lesson isn’t fresh in the student’s mind.

Accelerated Learning Curve

When students get to clarify their doubts instantly, they can quickly move on from their learning obstacles, allowing them to accelerate their learning curve.

Cons of Synchronous Learning

Additionally, synchronous learning has multiple challenges. Here are a few;

Lacks Flexibility

Because synchronous learning happens at a set time, it is not flexible to accommodate different schedules and priorities. Students and teachers alike are expected to commit to a fixed time and place, which can be difficult for those with other commitments.

Inconsistent Learning Experience

During synchronous learning, the quality of the session depends on who the instructor is. Consequently, the quality and learning experience of such sessions can be inconsistent.

No Personalized Attention

With multiple students participating in a single session, it’s natural to feel the need to compete for the teacher’s attention. Unfortunately, a lack of attention from educators can lead to favoritism toward some learners.

What is Asynchronous Learning?

Asynchronous learning refers to forms of education that do not occur in the classroom or at the same time. So, learners can engage with study materials anytime and at their convenience. Asynchronous learning is usually delivered through pre-recorded lectures and downloadable digital content to allow such flexibility. Some common examples are e-learning courses, recorded videos, webinars, podcasts, discussion boards, and downloadable PDF resources. 

Now that we have a clear picture let’s explore why you should choose asynchronous learning.

Why Choose It?

Like synchronous learning, asynchronous education has its benefits. The most significant advantage for students is that they can go about their studies at their own pace. They no longer have to manage schedules for a live session. They can accomplish tasks and assignments when they have time.

Moreover, learners with disabilities and different learning styles claim they have greater freedom to learn when and how they want. And for those with other responsibilities, for example, single parents juggling upskilling with work shifts, asynchronous learning ensures they’ll be successful.

Instructors can also enjoy asynchronous learning. While we do not want to create and forget during e-learning programs, asynchronous learning does allow teachers to scale their efforts without the need to re-teach their course live all the time.

Likewise, it allows instructors to reach more students who aren’t limited by time constraints.

Pros of Asynchronous Learning

The advantages of asynchronous learning are as follows;

Flexible Schedule

One of the most significant advantages of asynchronous learning is that students can engage with study material and resources at their preferred time and place. As a result, learners and educators can prioritize their other commitments besides training.

Interaction & Feedback

Even though asynchronous learning doesn’t happen in real-time, students can still post questions to discussion forums or send them through email and get responses later. Hence, there is still room for engagement and peer collaboration despite not interacting individually.

A Large Number of Learners

Additionally, as asynchronous learning occurs across multiple platforms, locations, and different times, an unlimited number of learners can participate in a single course. Therefore, it makes the training content more accessible.

Cons of Asynchronous Learning

As it has advantages, there are also some disadvantages of asynchronous learning.

Lack of Classroom Interaction

Without educators and peer presence, asynchronous learning lacks a personal touch. As a result, students are highly unlikely to form classroom relationships that they would otherwise have along their educational journey if it were in a real-time learning environment.

Need to be Self-Disciplined

Because asynchronous courses are individualistic, they require self-discipline. Students must stay focused and self-motivated to stay on top of their progress. That is why learners lacking discipline don’t do quite well in asynchronous learning.

How to Choose Synchronous vs Asynchronous Learning?

So how can you decide which form of learning is better and what suits your learning needs? There’s no set rule for every case. The choice of synchronous vs asynchronous learning depends on your particular needs.

You should try asynchronous learning if your students are self-directed and autonomous learners.

Likewise, if the learners have limitations in joining through synchronous live sessions, you should consider an asynchronous form of education. However, synchronous learning answers your educational needs if they require live feedback and assistance.

Why Not Use Both?

While we like the idea of dichotomy, setting up a choice of synchronous vs asynchronous learning is a bit misleading. When you can choose the best of both worlds and still generate a great course, why not use both?

One way to combine both is by hosting a live synchronous session and offering recordings to students who cannot attend classes simultaneously. Students can get all the benefits of interactions when they make it live, but they can also catch up later if they miss the session. 

Another way of utilizing both is adding an online community to your course. It will allow students to go through the course material at their own pace, but adding live Q&A sessions, office hours, and co-working times gives you the advantages of a synchronous course. You can also create a discussion forum or all-member chats to keep the conversation going. Thus this combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning gives you the advantages of accountability, getting questions answered, and relationship-building without having to worry about running a course multiple times

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Positive Learning Environment Creation Tips for Teachers

A positive learning environment is much more than motivating posters on the wall in the learning center. And as the world has moved to remote learning after the pandemic, teachers must truly understand and support the students’ needs to create an environment for learning that celebrates diversity.

For instance, clearly establishing classroom rules will help set the tone for a healthy learning environment, where learners know what is expected of them. Students feel confident, comfortable, and successful when they fulfill these expectations. Having such structures in place will aid students to feel safe, allow teachers to understand their needs, and promote positive well-being.

Negative vs. Positive Classroom Environment

Educators also need to keep in mind that creating an environment for learning isn’t a one-time thing but requires renewed attention every time. For such attention to detail, they must understand the difference between negative and positive learning environments.

Impact of a Positive Learning Environment

To dig deep into the differences between negative and positive learning environments, let’s first look into what a positive learning space feels like to students.

Sense of Security

Take Risks

Sense of Community

Impact of Negative Learning Environment

However, in a negative learning environment, students experience more undesirable feelings such as;

Feeling Frustrated

Disconnect

Stress

Thus, the creation of a positive learning environment becomes crucial.

Why is a Positive Learning Environment Critical?

Preparing a framework for a positive online learning space requires a lot of thought and consideration. But once the system is in place, both students and teachers reap the benefits of the hard work. For example,

Research evidence suggests that such environments in place increase academic performance.

Students with disabilities will find more significant support from fellow learners.

There will be enhanced opportunities for interaction among students, teachers, and parents/guardians.

Different stakeholders will appreciate that students' and teachers' mental health is taken as seriously as their achievements.

This way, students take ownership of their learning experience, making informed efforts to improve their grades and performance (also known as self-regulated learning).

You can create an environment conducive to students’ development from the get-go to help them achieve their academic goals.

10 Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment

Here are the critical components of creating a healthy environment for students to excel.

1. Building Positive Relationships

Creating positive relationships with students and parents is vital; it begins when students join the virtual classroom.

Knowing your students’ unique personalities, needs, likes, dislikes, strengths, and areas where they can improve is essential to building such relationships. Educators will be able to support students both individually and collectively if they put in the work early.

2. Encourage Students to Collaborate

There are plenty of ways to help foster strong student connections. Consequently, it will help improve students’ sense of belonging, create a caring positive classroom environment, and increase engagement.

Educators can use these two strategies to help students with it. First, provide a space where students can collaborate before class and discuss things they are passionate about. Then listen to what they have to say. It will forge a strong bond between students and teachers. For example, if you learn that one of your students loves ballet, try asking them about it next time they are online in the class.

3. Create Rules for Positive Behavior

High expectations from learners are vital for setting the norms for student behaviors and laying the foundation for their success. For this purpose, set clear classroom rules and techniques.

One excellent way to implement these rules is to frame them positively. For instance, instead of saying “don’t disrespect any student,” try framing it like “all students should be respectful to each other at all times.” This positive framing will make a huge difference as you show that the expectation is tied to positive behavior.

4. Use Positive Reinforcements

Positive reinforcement helps build intrinsic motivation and promotes positive learning habits. The two techniques that teachers can use are;

Recognize when students are making an effort to excel, even if they don’t display a hundred percent mastery. Sometimes, we learn best when we are failing. So praise their efforts to persevere, which will help them, in the long run, to not give up in the face of challenges and implement problem-solving methods.

5. Create a Comfortable Virtual Environment

It may be impossible to high-five kids on their way to a virtual space, but there are other ways teachers can give personality to the virtual environment. They can make the atmosphere feel real and bring a sense of togetherness by;

First, begin the class with a greeting and ensure that all students see your face. Although it may seem trivial, it adds a personal touch that lets learners feel good about attending the lesson.

Then, ask a question before jumping into the lesson’s content. A fun icebreaker can get learners to talk and interact before starting the learning process. Teachers can get help from VR and AR for a better virtual environment.

6. Keep a Positive Mindset

Anyone who has been an educator knows how exhausting this job can be. So, taking time for yourself becomes very important. Online education has its own pros and cons which everyone should have to know. While it is challenging with the demands both inside and outside of the classroom, it is highly recommended that you work to find some time for yourself to implement self-care techniques to help you maintain a positive mindset.

7. Importance of Social-Emotional Learning

Students and teachers’ well-being has taken the forefront for good reasons. Perhaps it is easier said than done, but the mental health of students and teachers is critical.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps students understand their emotions and regulate them in an uncertain world. Teachers can implement these SEL strategies using several ways. For example, having mindfulness activities will help students to learn and navigate new emotions and aid them in bringing their better selves to the classroom, contributing positively to the educational environment.

8. Motivation First

Creating lessons and unit plans while keeping motivation in mind sparks excitement and joy in the learning process.

Teachers must weave topics that learners are passionate about and try to find ways to make otherwise dull lessons more interactive and fun.

9. Give Instant and Personalized Feedback

Showing students that you care about their academic performance and effort can help to motivate them and foster positive learning outcomes. A pro tip for this would be to personalize feedback for students, as it’s a great way to take some time out and highlight the achievements of the students and the areas they need to improve on.

10. Find Time for Fun

Solely focusing on academic material can lead to burnout. Instead, educators should be aware of incorporating games into learning and naturally weaving fun into lessons that students will appreciate. These things will make distance learning more fun and fruitful.

Final Thoughts!

A positive learning environment in your virtual classrooms will set your students up for success. Educators will set a stage for students to love online learning.

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Best Distance Learning Universities in the World

When it comes to distance learning, it’s an active and technological method of education. Distance learning universities offer an alternative academic learning environment and distance learning programs and courses for people interested in schooling but face difficulties in attending a physical school, college, or university.

Additionally, distance education is done online with less stress and more benefits for students with other responsibilities. Consequently, many people are now paying attention to getting a degree through distance learning programs, especially those who manage their businesses, families, or work to support themselves.

We will elaborate on the best distance learning universities in the world offering programs. But before that, let's dig into the meaning of distance learning.

What is Distance Learning?

Distance learning is also called e-learning, online learning, or distance education. It usually refers to an education system without physical appearance; every learning material and resource is accessed online.

Significance of Distance Learning

Distance learning offers numerous benefits, including:

Learners can access study material at any time.

They can attend classes remotely, allowing them to join from anywhere and in the comfort of their homes.

It saves students time and money, allowing them to effectively manage their time with family, work, and education.

Distance learning gives students the privilege of choosing a convenient learning time and promotes an individual’s self-discipline.

Online learning is without geographical limitations, and technology has made it available for everyone. So, learners can access top universities worldwide and acquire any professional degree, helping them overcome barriers to education.

Why Choose an Online University?

There’s a question that most stakeholders want to answer. Why does the online education format is appealing to students?

The answer is simple; it helps degree-seeking students balance classes with work and other responsibilities. In addition, it enables them to schedule school around their working hours.

The best distance learning universities in the world also offer an accessible and affordable path to a professional degree. Learners can compare top country programs when choosing a distance learning course. Rather than restricting their options to local schools or relocating, they can enroll in top distance learning universities to acquire knowledge in other states or countries.

Hence, many distance learning programs meet high academic standards where students don’t need to sacrifice quality for convenience. Moreover, accredited online universities meet these quality standards the same way as in-person courses.

How to Choose a University for Online Education?

Choosing an online university will shape your future for the good. So, how can you opt for a distance learning program that fits your schedule, budget, and goals? Unfortunately, most prospective students only look at costs and overlook other factors affecting their experience and career options.

Experts believe that you should consider your goals first when looking at different options. First, take time to identify your needs and why you want to pursue an online degree, and then recognize the kind of support you might need to succeed. Next, seek support services and resources that are significant to you, for example, tutoring, internships, career counseling, health classes, wellness classes, and social clubs. Also, research well to see which institutes offer the best distance learning courses in the world to go further.

Research all these factors to find the best fit for you.

Evaluate the Degree’s Cost

Choose an Accredited School

Pick Your College Major

Determine an Online Format

Top 10 Distance Learning Universities in the World

Here’s a list of the best distance learning universities in the world and why you should choose them.

1. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a social research institute. It is set up in Manchester, United Kingdom. The institute was founded in 2008 with over forty-seven thousand students and faculty members. It is one of the best distance learning university in the world.

Online Courses Offered

Following are the distance learning courses offered at the University of Manchester:

Law

Journalism

Humanities

Architecture

Social Science

Art and Design

Computer Science

Medicine and Health

Business Management

Natural and applied science

Engineering and Technology

Education, hospitality, and Sport

2. The University of Florida

The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida. It is an open research university established in 1853 with 34,000 students. Also, UF provides many distance learning programs.

Offered Online Courses

The courses they are offering encompass:

Journalism

Liberal Arts

Communications

Agricultural Science

Medicine and Health

Business Administration

Science and so much more.

3. University College of London

University College of London was the first established university in London, England, in 1826. It is a top-ranked public research institution and a part of Russell Group, with almost 40,000 learners enrolled.

Online Courses Offered by UCL

The distance learning courses at the university are:

Social sciences

Business management

Humanities development

Computing and Information systems

Education and so on.

4. University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is one of the leading institutions in research and education. It was established in 1881 and is located in England. UL is also a part of the Russell Group.

Online Courses Offered by the University

The classes they are offering are as follows:

Psychology

Health care

Public health

Cyber security

Digital Marketing

Computer Science

Business Management

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

5. Boston University

Boston University is a private research institution in Boston, USA. It has two campuses and was founded in 1839 in Newbury by the Methodists.

Distance Learning Courses Offered

Their distance learning program offers bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. They are as follows:

Law

Journalism

Humanities

Architecture

Social Science

Art and Design

Computer Science

Medicine and Health

Business Management

Engineering & Technology

Natural and Applied science

Education, hospitality, and sport

6. Columbia University

Columbia University is also a private research school founded in 1745 in New York City. It has over 6,000 students.

Offered Distance Education Courses

Some of the elaborate courses offered are:

Bioethics

Engineering

Data Science

Business Studies

Applied Analytics

Computer Science

Narrative Medicine

Artificial Intelligence

Operations Research

Applied Mathematics

Technology Management

Insurance and Wealth Management

7. The University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria is among Africa’s top universities. It’s known for its socially impactful research to solve the world’s most pressing issues. Moreover, they have been offering distance learning program degrees since 2002.

Online Courses Offered by the University

You will find the following distance learning courses in Pretoria:

Law

Ecology

Economics

Accounting

Culinary science

Agriculture and forestry

Management Education

Engineering and Engineering Technology

8. The University of Southern Queensland

It’s one of the most prestigious distance learning universities in Toowoomba, Australia. USQ is renowned for its supportive environment and commitment to excellence.

Online Courses Offered by USQ

The virtual education courses at the university are:

Business

Commerce

Humanities

Climate science

Law and Justices

Agricultural science

Applied data science

Creative arts education

Health and Community

Engineering and science

Communication and Information Technology

English Language programs and so on.

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology was established in 1885 in Atlanta, USA. The institute is committed to service, and research and provides focused, technological-based education to numerous students worldwide.

Online Courses Offered by Georgia Tech

Distance learning courses at Georgia Tech are:

Education

Mathematics

Natural sciences

Computer science

Medicine and Health

Business management

Engineering and Technology

Environmental and Earth sciences

10. Charles Sturt University

Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus public university in New South Wales. They have over 43,000 students enrolled in different programs.

Online Learning Courses Offered

Their distance education courses include:

Education

Applied science

Computer science

Medicine and Health

Business management

Engineering and so on.

FAQs About Online Degree Programs

There are a lot of questions that distance learners will have on their minds while opting for an online degree. Here are the most frequently asked questions!

Are distance learning degrees considered valid by employers?

Today, as education has transitioned to online platforms, many employers prefer and hire college graduates who earned their degrees online. A distance learning degree from an accredited college or university matches the same high standards as an on-campus degree. At most institutions, distance learners and on-campus students get identical diplomas.

Also, online programs usually use the same instructional resources and staff members as an in-person program at the same college. Likewise, online students meet the exact graduation requirements as on-campus learners. Consequently, many employers hire online graduates for various entry-level positions.

Do I need any technical or soft skills to join the distance learning program?

There are only specific minimum requirements of the software and hardware components of the device for you to access the learning material and online classes. We recommend you always check the course syllabus for soft skill requirements. Usually, these requirements are only how to handle your device, set up the learning environment, and access your syllabus.

Is an online degree worthwhile like traditional ones?

The delivery method is the only difference between an online course and a traditional degree. Universities and colleges set high academic standards for all degree-granting programs, including distance learning courses.

Whether learners enroll online or in person, undergraduates must complete general education prerequisites, major courses, and electives to earn their bachelor’s degree. Accrediting bodies at colleges and universities review faculty qualifications and course materials to ensure quality online and in-person classes. So, an online degree is as worthwhile as a traditional course but has the advantage of a more flexible delivery format.

What devices do I need for distance learning?

Depending on the degree program requirements, you would need a smartphone, notebook, or computer.

How can I manage my time studying remotely?

You need to plan your course very carefully to succeed. Check your courses daily to keep yourself on track and complete the assignments and quizzes. Here are some more valuable tips to help you manage your time effectively during an online course.

Conclusion

A shift to remote learning during the pandemic has made online education more common. Today many universities offer online degrees, and students must choose a program and an institution that suits their educational and career needs.

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Ways to Enhance Learning Process in Online Education

With a diverse range of professional degrees, diplomas, and opportunities to learn from the comfort of your home and mobile devices anytime and anywhere, online learning is a go-to choice for almost everyone. However, despite the endless advantages of online education, there are several ways and suggestions to improve online classes and create an efficient learning environment.

How do enhance the learning process in online education?

This is where you can get the answer to the above question. So, here are the methods that can be implemented to enhance the learning process in online education.

1. An efficient and effective approach

Money, time, and resources that are critical for obtaining desired results determine learning efficiency. Consequently, the learning process becomes better if fewer expenses and less time are involved. Therefore, educators need to formulate a practical approach to increase both the productivity and efficiency of the learning process.

2. Video-empowered courses

With the rise in popularity of digital videos, integrating them into the e-Learning process would bring a versatile flare to online education. Hence, videos should be considered valuable assets for teachers, students, and educational institutions. Using videos to supplement remote education have the following advantages;

Intriguing sensory experience

Go-to resources

Enhances student’s digital proficiency

3. Let the Power of Communication Work Wonders

Online education depends heavily on communication; this field has drastically improved with time. Online courses have a golden chance to tap into the potential of communication through social media channels, student chat groups, emails, and much more to give students a medium to interact with co-learners and teachers.

4. Implement VR to enhance the learning process in online education

Virtual reality (VR) is at its nascent stage but has taken over the world of online learning at a remarkable speed. The primary purpose behind VR in education is based on how the human brain functions. On average, the human brain can remember 10% of what it reads, 20% of what it hears, and almost 90% of what is being stimulated or done. Therefore, the most common ways in which VR can be incorporated into online learning are;

Special Education Opportunities

Engaging Content Creation

Plan Regular Field Trips

5. Design Flexible Lesson Plans

Where online learning allows students to study at their own pace and convenience, there are still chances that lesson plans are conventional. Educators should design flexible lesson plans and help students explore different concepts. This way, they won’t have to struggle with a complex topic for hours and can break things through to study challenging concepts with concentration.

6. Gather a Team of Skilled and Competent Teachers

Your eLearning system, no matter how advanced, is useless if it’s not backed by a group of skilled and competent educators. They are the ones who create courses according to students’ needs and requirements.

7. Make Result-Oriented Assessments

Just like traditional courses and diplomas, eCourses also assess students’ knowledge through assessments, and via these tests, students get a certificate of recognition. But what if someone fails to achieve the expected scores on the test? It’s where result-oriented assessments play an essential role. These assessments basically analyze the fields where students score less and need help. It then provides them with simple step-by-step learning programs followed by assessments to assist them in performing better.

8. Translate Methods into Actions

What makes an eLearning system successful is the modules and the amount of money you are willing to put in to make it worthwhile. If you are short on financial resources to develop an exceptional online course, the good practice would be to seek funds from reliable lenders.

Final Thoughts!

Every innovative approach requires funds to translate methods into actions. So, check your sources for loanable funds to make your online learning venture a reality. Also, when designing a successful online course, consider the practices mentioned above and methods to make a difference.

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Importance of AR and VR in Online Learning

Technology is taking the world by storm! With new technological advancements every day, everyone is wondering about the next big idea and the upcoming evolutionary step. These questions spark conversations, extensive research, discussions, and consequent technological upgrades. Also, in recent years, the world has witnessed an emergence of cutting mobile technology and the evolution of AR and VR in online learning. Thus, this evolution in augmented and virtual reality tools made them available to larger audiences and paved the way for engaging learning experiences using VR in education.

Benefits of AR and VR in Online Learning

Augmented and virtual reality for classroom learning has a great scope, and to put them to the correct use, it is vital to understand how AR and VR in online learning can be part of education. AR & VR offer a lot of benefits in online education. Some of them are described here.

Enhanced Simulations

One of the privileges of using a VR headset is that it instantly blocks away any distractions, leading to enhanced learning. Therefore, VR in education can produce enhanced simulations that take students into a virtual world, where interactions with peers and fellow students can give immediate feedback allowing students to learn through experimenting, aided by audio inputs to improve the experience.

Offers Real-Time Learning

In continuation of the abovementioned point, AR and VR can provide opportunities for real-time learning. It can be achieved through real interactions with experts and educators in different fields, e.g., through virtual conferencing.

Immersive Personalized Learning

Gaming in the world of VR is highly advanced, giving its users personalized avatars and interactions. eLearning can take a leaf out of the gaming book and carry out a similar approach in its sphere to allow students to experience learning that is personalized to individuals’ skills and interests and addresses specific skill gaps.

Evaluations with Visual Feedback

The advantage of AR and VR in online learning and education is that it showcases students' results immediately. Hence, based on the connectivity, available knowledge pool, etc., remedial measures to improve learning can also be applied swiftly. In addition, educators can use simulations, branching scenarios, and other qualitative assessments for AR or VR-based online learning. Here are distance learning strategies for teachers to be successful.

Abundant Gaming Options

Integrating AR and VR in online learning has created a more immersive and interactive gaming experience for learners. From students interacting with the leaderboard to watching their reward points accumulate on completing the tasks, AR and VR take the whole gaming experience to another level.

Advanced Analytics

From tracking interactions to assessing interest levels, incorporating AR and VR with data analytics proves to be a holistic approach. Hence, this comprehensive outlook can be called 360-degree learning. Along with the passive attention, devices require for AR and VR in online learning, the active involvement of students in interaction and decision-making allows educators to assess their memory capacity as well as motor and spatial learning abilities.

Final Thoughts!

The use of AR and VR in remote learning has many benefits, including online socialization with peers, knowledge exploration and experimentation, knowledge-triggered discussions, and the quest for new learning options through enhanced interactions. But, it’s just the beginning, there’s much more to come in the world of AR and VR technology in education.

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A Guide To Succeeding With Distance Learning: Strategies For Teachers

Covid-19 transformed our traditional classrooms into virtual ones almost overnight. So, it might seem that distance learning in education appeared out of nowhere. But, the reality is that this shift toward distance learning has been steadily growing long before the pandemic happened, and it’s here to stay.

Distance Learning is the New Normal

While distance learning is not the solution to all educational problems, it does meet various needs that traditional classrooms cannot.

Many virtual courses have been sprouting up and are growing in popularity. Although some learners have recognized that full-time distance learning doesn’t suit their personal needs or lifestyles, for others, it’s critical. For example, distance learning in education is the answer for students with mental or physical ailments, student-athletes with rigorous training schedules, and others who just prefer flexibility.

In this article, we will discuss practical tips and effective distance learning strategies for teachers to help them better the art of online teaching.

3 Key Strategies for Teaching

Every instructor has a unique teaching style, but successful ones all follow the same best practices in virtual learning. These three principles are the framework for the best online learning strategies.

1. Clear Communication

Students and their parents want to hear from you regularly and often because if not, it’s easy for them to feel disconnected. So, ensure you are there and keep your “virtual door” open. Also, share your email and contact information early and often. Clear, direct, and respectable communication is key to building relationships and a sense of community in online classes.

2. Vary Lesson Types

You should be willing to use both synchronous (happening in real-time) and asynchronous (self-paced and unscheduled) types of distance education. For example, synchronous methods of teaching utilizing video conferencing, phone calls, or live chats enable students to ask questions and build a learning community with you and your fellow students. At the same time, asynchronous activities such as pre-recorded lectures and discussion boards allow your students to accomplish assigned tasks at their own pace and time.

3. Choose the Best Tools

Your institution’s Learning Management System (LMS) is the primary tool you will use to post assignments and for direct communication. Therefore, getting a hand of it earlier is necessary, and don’t hesitate to ask your tech-savvy colleagues some exciting questions. Teachers will also require tools like Zoom, Google Voice, phone calls, live lessons, or video chatting.

A Brief Overview of Distance Learning Strategies for Teachers

Encouraging students to participate and ensuring they master their lessons can be challenging. But don’t worry, we are here to help! We outline vital online teaching ideas on making course content more engaging and fostering active learning.

Adapt Your Lessons

Educators need to revamp their face-to-face lessons for the online environment, planning more engaging discussions, screen recordings, and other interactive edTech tools.

Set Clear Expectations

Putting forth your expectations and deadlines earlier and often is vital to preparing students and parents for a successful academic experience.

Build An Online Community

The way in-person classes have a sense of community, virtual environments also need these doses of belonging. Hence, teachers can cultivate these feelings through video chats, class message boards, and purposeful free time to help students collaborate and interact.

Keep Parents Involved

Keep parents in the loop through frequent and engaging communications such as weekly newsletters and phone calls throughout the student’s school year.

Find the Right EdTech Tools

Teachers should collaborate with fellow educators to identify specific student needs and find and implement the most effective and suitable tools for their online classrooms.

Detailed Strategies Guide for Teachers

We have put together a detailed guide to implementing distance learning strategies for teachers successfully.

Personalizing Lesson Plans to Individual Learner Needs

Educators are putting endless hours into their lesson plans to make them perfect. However, all their work isn’t going to waste. They just need a bunch of online learning techniques to adapt their lesson plans to virtual settings. A bit of creativity and the right tools go a long way!

Add Discussions to Enhance Engagement

Flipgrid is an unbeatable tool for asynchronous discussions. Students record their responses to your posted questions instead of typing them. In addition, it can help them view and respond to each other’s videos. Thus, it boosts engagement and enhances active learning among students who are reluctant to write.

For synchronous discussions, there are tools like SimpliTaught’s chat feature and YO Teach, which allow students to chat in real-time.

Use Screen Recordings to Pre-record Lessons

To take your PowerPoint one step further, a screen recording software, Loom or Screencastify, enables you to record presentations on-screen and click through the slides as you speak. It offers an option to incorporate a little window with your face on the screen, so learners can still see you. Additionally, you can download or share these videos via weblink.

Make Learning Interactive and Engrossing

Different online tools are available for making your lessons more interactive. The dynamic tools, such as Nearpod, lets your students follow along and participate in your classes through their own devices. All you need to do is import pre-existing lesson pdfs or ppts. Then, you can add places for learners to interact.

Setting Clear Expectations with Students

Classroom management is essential for effective online environments. Although educators won’t be physically present to see students every day, they can still use the following online teaching methods to hold them accountable.

Post Behavioral Expectations Before Every Live Lesson

The expectations and rules of your classroom and live discussions must be crystal clear from the start. It will help you encourage even the quieter students to type in the chat, which is incredible when the conversation is positive and does not get off-topic or inappropriate.

Enforce the Consequences of These Expectations

Just as you have made the expectations clear in a classroom, ensure you set and enforce the consequences of these expectations in your live discussions. If a learner is negatively participating in a lesson, you have the right to mute or remove them from the classroom. Afterward, follow up with a home phone call to discuss the situation.

Use Positive Reinforcement

While it is challenging to translate physical rewards into online classes, educators can still use some ideas to reinforce positive behavior among students. Some of these methods include; allowing your students to make seemingly small choices, which will motivate them to participate. For example, let your student choose a fun image for your virtual Zoom background or decide on the music to play before the start of the lesson.

Set Clear Deadlines

Most learners struggle with time management. Without a fixed schedule, it becomes easier for students to lose track of time and fall behind on coursework. Therefore, teachers must assign deadlines for everything and send out frequent reminders.

Acknowledge Students’ Successes

Acknowledge and celebrate your student’s small and big accomplishments. We generally think that test scores make students a success or a failure, but educators need to help students understand that life isn’t made up of test scores. Also empower students in online learning to be more successful.

Rapport Building and A Sense of Belonging

Creating a pleasant and productive learning environment in an online setting is crucial to developing rapport with students based on common ground, communication, and mutual respect. The following are the best practices to build an online student community.

Utilize Interactive Discussions

Online learning platforms like flipgrid offer students to respond to topics their teachers posted with a selfie video. Learners can review each other's responses and then post a reply in the form of a video. These are not synchronous discussions, but hearing and seeing your classmates and teachers help to build a community bond.

Incorporate Valuable Free Time

Taking extra 10 minutes before a live lesson for students to enter early and chat with other learners is an excellent way to nurture informal connections. Also, if possible, educators can host half an hour of recess once a week to let students log into a live meeting just to hang out. Then, if you think that their conversations lack direction, you can moderate topics with fun icebreakers and “would you rather” questions.

Regular Show and Tell

Have a regular show and tell for your students to engage them other than their academic lessons. It infuses a sense that you care about them as a whole. You can set the topic, such as their pet, most memorable vacation, favorite food, or anything else. They can then turn on their video cameras and microphones to share in the live session.

Use Class Message Boards

Padlet is a great online tool to help create class message boards. Learners can wish each other happy birthdays, share exciting news from their lives, or just randomly encourage each other through supportive messages.

Personal Phone Call

Remember the value of a one-on-one phone call with your students as it helps develop an essential bond. However, it can be intimidating if you have a larger class, so set a target to talk to a certain number of students each week.

The Important Connection with Parents

Parent involvement strongly affects learners’ school performance. Research shows the value of educators and parents developing relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and impeccable communication.

However, parent involvement looks a lot different in online environments. As parents are now the individuals that are physically present with the students, it becomes their responsibility to ensure that their child is staying on task and logging into the computer each day to accomplish their assigned work.

Frequent Reminders

Educators can use “Remind 101,” an online collaboration tool, to send out mass and personalized messages to parents. Guardians/parents who aren’t fans of logging into their emails daily or checking their LMS account frequently benefit from receiving timely reminders on their phones.

Share Weekly Newsletters

Newsletter emails keep families informed and involved in the happenings of your classroom. Including pictures and student achievements in the newsletter would be great to keep parents involved throughout the school year.

Clearly Communicate Your Expectations

Parents always want to support their children in learning but are not usually aware of where to start. Having clear conversations about your aims and expectations for the child’s school year is vital. In the transition to distance learning in education, teachers can discuss parent expectations such as checking the posted grades for each class, checking for the due dates of the assignments, reading, actively responding to teacher’s emails and calls, and making an effort to reach out when faced with any challenges.

Suitable EdTech Tools and Curriculum Support

With various edTech tools, finding the one that works best for you and your students can be challenging. However, we have a list of strategies that you can use to make that selection process easy and effective.

Use Up-to-date Tech Tools

If you are unsure where to start, just explore the latest and up-to-date tools available for eLearning. Different online platforms meet different needs, so choosing an app that meets your students’ learning requirements and enhances their engagement is up to you. 

Collaborate with Co-educators

Even though you don't run into your coworkers every day in the hallway, they are still one of your most important resources. The feeling of isolation is prevalent when you are working at home alone. But always remember to reach out to your colleagues and ask what they are doing in their virtual classrooms.

Supplement the Curriculum Needs

When you need to supplement your lectures with ready-made online resources and videos, SimpliTaught has engaging video lectures mapped at key concepts for more than 1000 subjects. While many resources on the platform are free, we encourage students and educators to try out SimpliTaught for free.

Run a Smooth Ed-Tech Framework

Stakeholders of distance learning in education can use the “EdTech Digital Promise Framework.” It helps them select and run successful educational technology pilots. The crucial steps of the framework include identifying a need, discovering and choosing a product, training teachers, and more.

Test before Implementing

After selecting the new tool to try, create a mock class to assign tasks to. Teachers must log in and test out the activity as a student to see if it will work for the class. Moreover, it will help you troubleshoot some common problems you might have overlooked from your teacher log-in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Teaching Online

There are common mistakes that even the best teachers make when switching to online classrooms. So when you start for the first time, remember the following strategies.

Lacking Boundaries with Students and Parents

It can be tough to disconnect from your work while working from home. It gets even more challenging when teachers have families and studies reaching out to them daily. Whether it’s tempting to answer that call or give a quick reply, just resist that urge for your good. 

Not Testing New Tools before Using Them in Class

Technology is incredible when it works, but some things won’t always go as planned. Fret not! If something goes wrong, educators adapt and move on, just as in traditional classrooms. It can be daunting to try out a new tool, so we recommend that you test it in a mock class using willing colleagues and family members as your subjects before rolling it out with the students.

Too Much Information Too Soon!

Do not assign complex tasks and assignments without training learners to use the technology first. Parents and students will handle these complexities once they get the hang of the new technology, especially if you build them up to it. In addition, you wouldn’t want your students to spend hours deciphering the instructions rather than the actual learning content. Higher education is reshaping due to eLearning also.

Important Takeaways!

We have shared a lot of techniques and strategies to make your online class a success. So, here are the three key takeaways to implement in your virtual classroom.

Stay communicative at all times. Share information with students and parents through emails, edTech tools, class message boards, personal phone calls, newsletters, etc., to help build a community.

Continuously adapt your classroom to the online learning environment.

Use many asynchronous and synchronous activities to keep your students hooked. Additionally, create purposeful community-building activities to foster strong student engagement and relationships.

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Incredible Ways to Empower Students During eLearning

With the arrival of eLearning on the education scene, instructors redesigned their courses and lessons to accommodate students' needs. Also, the students learned how to connect from the likes of their bedrooms, kitchens, or back porches.

However, there are many barriers to remote learning and empowering education than a well-planned lesson. Usually, many learners don’t have access to reliable technology or stable internet. Others don’t have access to adults to help them understand learning materials at home. In addition, learning management systems (LMS) overwhelm students. 

Hence, this has left many students feeling like losing control of their education and sometimes their entire world.

7 ways to empower students in online learning

So the question arises, what the stakeholders in online learning can do to empower students? Here are a few incredible ways to empower students in the education process to let them excel at their studies.

1. Let them explore

Remember the times when you walked down the toy aisle as a child? What was the first thing you did back then? Magical toys were lining the shelves with a “try me” button ingrained in them. So, of course, you went to the toy and began playing with it. You not only touched that button but also explored many other features of the toy. You understood that feature and told your parents to convince them to buy it for you.

The same goes for the technologies and learning management systems we use in remote education. We fear and are hesitant with technology we often think students will break things if they try them.

2. Let them teach

Students tend to learn better and be intuitive when it comes to technology. So, they excel when dealing with tools rather than lessons or academic content. So, let learners teach each other how to do things, share the features they have found, and discuss and problem-solve together.

It will amazingly empower students to do the teaching and motivate peers to try out things and ask questions. Make a “Check With a Classmate” policy, and when a student struggles with something, create a plan of how they can reach out to each other for help instead of asking teachers first.

3. Teaching experts

As instructors, we are usually used to being the ones to do the teaching. However, you must be ready to lose control and let students be the ones who know the most. For example, let them teach you different features of LMS or web conferencing tools.

They will figure out a way to enlarge something or submit their assignments differently. So, as an educator, you should take time to let them share and learn different concepts from them.

4. Project-Based learning

Allow students to do project-based activities and encourage them to do real-life learning.

Learners are not in classrooms; they are in their own environments. They know best what materials they have to work with. They also have creative ideas to use them. Therefore, give open-ended tasks and let them choose how to demonstrate their learning.

For instance, if you are studying a novel in your virtual classroom, ask students to bake something from a recipe a character shares, dress up like one of the characters, prepare a skit with their siblings, or use online tools at their disposal to make a funky poster. This will help them creatively express themselves.

5. DIY Educational Environment

In traditional classrooms, it’s challenging to let students customize their browser window, their desk space, and more. Now that they are at home, encourage them to create their own digital and physical learning space that suits them. Going forward, have a look at the online learning pros and cons.

From an assistive technology viewpoint, aid students in searching for browser tools that work best for them. For example, screen enlargement, font choices, alternate seating, scream brightness, standing with your computer at a counter, etc.

6. Accept Students as Whole

Pupils leave their homes every day to attend classes. Likewise, during online distance learning, they leave “home at home” to be present in virtual classrooms.

In elementary schools, educators encourage students to bring pictures or make posters during their “student of the week” turn.

And as they get older, students are asked to focus on school. However, it’s impossible in an online learning environment.

7. Teach them Grace!

Set schedules of classes and learning periods are no longer applicable. Many students are expected to help at home, watch over their siblings, deal with distractions, and do work outside the home.

Empower students in making decisions about their schedule and time. Also, teach grace to students who get overwhelmed or fall behind.

Let them realize that learning and their real-life situations can go hand-in-hand, but sometimes they need to adjust their schedules. They also need to know the higher education’s reshaping factors due to online learning so that they can plan accordingly.

Let students know they can also fall behind and miss deadlines. However, show them the importance of making a plan to fix things and move forward rather than giving up.

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The Ultimate Guide To Distance Learning: Everything You Need To Know

Online distance learning is an educational process where learners receive information related to courses through virtual classes, video recordings, video conferencing, or any other visual/audio medium. It empowers learners to receive an education without being physically present in a classroom.

Properly designed online distance learning programs can prove to be a very effective and convenient way to acquire skills and knowledge. It might seem difficult without students and teachers interacting physically, but people signing up for distance learning can learn as much as those in traditional classrooms.

Moreover, distance education is not a recent phenomenon. We can trace its origins to the advent of the modern postal system and printed publications’ mass production, which made it easy to spread information rapidly worldwide.

Distance Learning Categories

Distance learning mainly falls into two major categories, namely

Synchronous

Asynchronous.

So let us take a closer look at the difference between the two categories as most distance learning types fall into these camps.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Distance Learning

Here’s what these forms of learning have to offer:

Synchronous

Synchronous learning happens simultaneously, referring to an education delivery method that occurs in real-time. It requires live communication and uses technology such as teleconferencing.

Hence, synchronous learning is less flexible than other forms of distance education because it requires students to meet their teachers and sometimes their peers at a pre-scheduled time. 

It, in turn, limits students’ ability to learn at their own pace. Moreover, it might frustrate students who crave asynchronous classrooms' freedom and they face a learning challenge.

Asynchronous

As far as asynchronous education is concerned, students receive clusters of weekly deadlines. Thus, they have the freedom to work at their own speed. Also, it comes with more opportunities for students to interact. For example, they can access course content beyond the classroom and interact through online conversations, video comments on their own schedule, or quizzes. 

Both learners and teachers benefit from the flexibility of asynchronous learning as it enables them to create and consume content whenever they want. You can access these learning materials at any time and anywhere.

It aids instructors in dealing with hectic and unpredictable schedules and extends lessons beyond scheduled meetings or live sessions through pre-recorded video lectures and other content. 

Instructors can leverage live recordings or videos to obtain analytics, generate captions, have discussions, assign quizzes, and integrate content into LMS. Remote learning is now becoming necessary and has to go parallel with other forms.

Additionally, asynchronous teaching methods motivate learners to review content anytime and on any device. Students can refer to the lessons, study for exams, and have discussions. Therefore, self-paced learning accommodates varied learning needs and contributes to students’ success.

Synchronous-Asynchronous Learning

While there’s always a need for virtual live sessions, an asynchronous way of communication extends this live interaction beyond a particular class. With advancements in technology, different trends of online learning are also emerging and getting attention.

For instance, instructors can do much better with recordings than having a single zoom meeting with students. Instead, they can post the Zoom session recording for rewatching, obtain analytics on participation, interact around the content, add quizzes, have discussions, generate captions for accessibility, or integrate with an LMS.

Types of Distance Learning

There are various types of distance learning. Some approaches are synchronous, some are asynchronous, while others fall into both categories. These types include;

Hybrid distance education

Video conferencing

Fixed-time online courses

Open schedule online courses

Let’s explore what each type entails.

1. Hybrid Distance Education

Hybrid distance learning combines synchronous and asynchronous approaches. Learners receive deadlines to complete assignments and exams. They then work according to their schedule.

2. Video Conferencing

Video conferencing refers to a meeting where two or more people use video to connect over the internet. It falls under the category of synchronous communication. Using tools such as Zoom, Adobe Connect, Blackboard Collaborate, or any other conferencing software, instructors and learners interact with each other no matter where they are on Earth.

3. Fixed-Time Online Courses

The most common format used for online distance learning is fixed-time online courses. Learners log in to the learning platforms at designated times. They are expected to complete pre-scheduled classroom activities and assignments at a specific pace.

4. Open Schedule Online Courses

Open schedule online instruction comes under the asynchronous form of communication. These courses provide students with a lot of freedom. Students receive online textbooks, emails, bulletin boards, and more to complete their coursework.

Teachers give students a set of deadlines and then set them free to work at their own pace. So, learners who value learning independently excel in this format. However, it requires significant motivation, self-discipline, and proper management of time.

Value of Online Distance Learning

Distance education was once considered an inferior substitute for traditional learning. However, many now believe that it performs better than traditional classroom instruction. It is because of video and technology. The use of videos makes distance learning feel personable, aiding in keeping students engaged. It contributes to students' academic success and has become a vital part of long-term educational strategies.

Benefits of Distance Learning

There are many benefits of distance learning. They may differ based on synchronous or asynchronous course structures. Here are the advantages of remote education that make it a valuable alternative to in-person learning.

Flexibility

Distance education courses offer flexibility. It may vary depending on the course structure, but mainly, students set their schedules and take classes in their preferred location.

Self-Inspiration

Students who rely on an internal source of motivation excel in distance learning courses. It encourages them to stay disciplined and take on greater responsibility. They are then required to stay well-organized and perform well in online settings.

Easy access & Adaptability

Work and home responsibilities can get in the way of attending traditional classes for some. So, for those people, education is easily accessible through online distant learning. Learners need only a computer and an internet connection.

Earn & Save

People working full-time jobs couldn’t continue their education and update their professional skills. Online distance learning allows students to meet their educational goals in the evening or on weekends.

Virtual Trips

Distance education enables students to take virtual trips. These trips allow learners to experience places related to their curriculum. Students can learn in interactive ways through such experiences.

Drawbacks of Distance Learning

The advantages of distance learning are clear, but some warning signs come with it.

Distance education poses a higher risk of online distraction; without in-person meetings, students can lose track of deadlines and motivation. Learners who work well independently can overcome these obstacles, but those who have trouble prioritizing and lack organizational and scheduling skills may stumble.

Additionally, not all students have access to a reliable computer and internet connection, putting them at a disadvantage. A slow internet connection can hamper their ability to participate online, watch videos, or teleconference.

What the future holds?

Most teachers aren’t confident they can make online courses as effective as their face-to-face classes. However, students will most likely suffer if the professors cram traditional methods into online courses.

We understand that teaching online is intimidating. But we want this process to be successful. So, engaging your students through videos is the best way to do it.

There are dozens of platforms offering video content around lectures. SimpliTaught is one of them!

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What is Remote Learning & Ways to Implement it?

Remote instruction requires clarity, review, checking for understanding, and prompt feedback to be successful. However, distance adds challenge, making instructors look for ways to implement it. So, firstly, the question arises, “what is remote learning?” But, before moving on to that, let’s look into the background of remote education.

Due to the pandemic, institutions across the globe were forced to at-home schooling. Different schools were caught at varying levels of preparedness. Some simply sent home paper packets, while others ensured students had devices, WiFi, and access to online curricula and learning materials.

Still, many experts and practicing teachers are offering pointers to help remote learning be as effective as possible.

What is Remote Learning?

Remote learning’s definition encompasses anything that is taught over the internet or something that lacks direct physical contact. But one thing it direly misses is the “interaction.” Other students and educators are in face-to-face sessions, making it a group activity. However, online learning lacks it. So, to overcome this disconnect, instructors must lean into blended learning.

Different Methods to Implement Remote Learning

There are various ways to apply remote learning, but some are more frequently employed because they are practical and produce better outcomes. Following are some of the implementation ways:

1. Provide a Blended Learning Experience

Blended learning offers the best, combining traditional training methods with modern, online techniques. Hence, educators can adapt face-to-face learning to webinars and online interactive sessions. Moreover, the educational materials can reach all remote learners while promising an interactive learning experience.

2. Develop a Participating Habit among Students

Initially, the challenge is to motivate students to show up for classes or complete assignments. Unfortunately, many instructors report that fewer than half of their students participate in remote learning. It could be partly because some students lack reliable access to the internet and other technological resources.

Emphasize how many students showed up and highlight a positive trend that more students than ever completed the assignment. It also helps students clearly plan when and where to engage with the coursework. Eventually, they will get into remote learning, but the process may take some time.

3. Make the Learning Process Interactive

Learners need the opportunity not just to read and listen but also actively engage in the process of learning and exploration. Some online platforms allow instructors to give brief quizzes to students and get immediate results. Even if teachers don’t have such an option, students can quiz themselves and periodically ask or answer questions about the study materials. This practice will help students absorb and remember information presented in the lessons.

4. Focus on Content

Once students show up for virtual lessons, the next question is what to teach. At the elementary level, some teachers stick to reading and math, leaving subjects like social studies and science optional– the same approach many schools use in face-to-face classrooms. However, if possible, instructors should resist this pressure. Time management is essential as hours spent practicing reading and comprehension skills, and strategies are wasted if they are disconnected from the content. Focusing on topics in a subject and spending at least a couple of weeks on them are much more likely to build knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension.

5. Keep Things Simple

Simple, clear directions and expectations are always vital, but they become even more critical in situations where educators cannot quickly gauge when students are confused. Some considerations are logistical; for instance, try not to use too many different apps, platforms, or classroom routines.

6. Balance Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

Virtual learning can be done synchronously, with everyone online simultaneously, or asynchronously, with students accessing recorded lectures at different times. However, synchronous lessons are harder to engineer and don’t allow students much time to practice. So, it is essential to include some time when the entire class is online simultaneously. It allows prompt teacher feedback and enables educators and students to maintain connections and feel part of a group.

Conclusion

While we looked into “what is remote learning” and how to implement it, it is vital to provide students with an environment that is conducive and engaging. And as we learn more about distance learning, we can do better to make it a success for our students, educators, and institutions.

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Pros and Cons of Online Learning

Learning is a lifelong process and key to success, especially for those students who aspire to excel personally and professionally. Most of us find adding more challenges to our busy and tight schedules difficult. For these students, online learning is the solution. Now the question arises, is online learning effective or not?

While we can learn about virtually any subject, anywhere and anytime, nothing is without flaws. So, we will delve into the importance of online learning as well as the negative aspects of online education (The pros and cons of online learning) to help you decide whether it's an option for you or not.

Pros of Online Learning

Virtual classrooms are not a second-rated alternative to in-person classes; instead, they offer their own benefits, which are not even found in traditional learning.

1. Accessibility

The first clear benefit of online learning is its accessibility and convenience. Perhaps some students are haunted by the thought of commuting to school or college after a long day. Now with eLearning, learners have the choice to take classes from the comfort of their homes.

2. Flexibility

You must be wondering why online school is better than conventional classrooms. By going online to take classes, you not only save hours by not having to travel to a physical location but also get greater flexibility in choosing the best time to study.

3. Affordability

Remote classes center around saving institutions a tremendous amount of money by no longer having to depend on reserving a physical location to teach. As a result, it adds to the importance of online learning, ultimately translating into more cost-effective classes for the students.

4. Foster More Interaction

Some might assume that learning in a physical setting is the most natural and best way to interact. However, it’s not necessarily true! In an online classroom, no learner sits in the back row as everyone is front and center! Those students who are too shy to ask a question can now initiate a live private conversation with their instructor to clarify and better understand different concepts and ideas.

Moreover, learners uncomfortable with broadcasting to the entire class can choose to mute their microphones or disable their cameras while continuing to participate in the lecture. A student’s ability to hide may seem a disadvantage, but teachers have the option to administer online quizzes to ensure that every one of them is engaged, contributing to the importance of online learning in higher education. Also, they can edit and enrich videos for a better online learning experience.

5. Unlock New Learning Opportunities

Did you ever want to learn French but couldn’t because you simply were never available? Perhaps the small amount of time you managed to carve out of your full-time job and family responsibilities to learn a new language didn’t coincide with the class hours at your nearest community college. Now with online education, the sky is the limit for new learning opportunities. Students can access a world of possibilities through their laptops or smartphones, allowing them to learn from instructors worldwide in any time zone and at any time of the day.

Cons of Online Learning

No learning environment is perfect, and online education doesn’t work for everyone. Furthermore, like any other form of education, it has its disadvantages. Therefore, knowing the negative aspects of online education is essential so you can decide whether it is the right choice.

1. Feeling Isolated

Every individual has their own learning style. Some learners can work independently, while others are more comfortable studying on community campuses with easy access to instructors and their peers. For these students, online spaces may leave a sense of isolation in them.

2. Need for Self-Discipline

When studying at home, you need self-motivation to set your schedules and stick to them. Therefore, it becomes challenging for entirely self-paced classes. However, if we move to virtual, real-time classes instead of online ones, they foster a greater sense of accountability and help educators to keep students engaged.

3. Additional Teachers’ Training

Online classes require extra effort from teachers to make a successful course. Educators need to develop a deep understanding of different teaching and learning methods to avoid emulating the physical class environment and missing out on added benefits.

4. Technical Issues

One of the classic drawbacks of virtual learning centers around technical problems. Nothing interrupts an online session more than a connection, audio, or video issue. In the past, learners were asked to download certain apps or technology that would then deliver inconsistent performances.

5. More Screen Time

More screen time is inevitable in 2022 as we spend frightening amounts of time in front of technology and gadgets. Excessive screen time leads to physical ailments like poor posture and headaches. But it can also be a problem for students who find it challenging to learn from or focus on screens.

Final Thoughts!

There are benefits and negative aspects of online education. But since the technological advancements, many concerns of students taking online classes have been addressed, making the advantages outshine the disadvantages.

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Reshaping Reasons for Online Learning in Higher Education

As the Covid pandemic is easing, many learning institutions recognize the importance of adequately planned online platforms to serve students’ virtual learning experience better. Moreover, with the sudden shift from the traditional setup of acquiring knowledge to eLearning, the future of online education was put under the spotlight.

While some universities and colleges were able to plan robust online learning programs, many scrambled to build even a basic system for online learning in higher education demands of students. As a result, learners and faculty members often logged onto zoom for virtual classes with minimal knowledge of navigating the virtual platforms.

Now, the educational stakeholders are reassessing how they can enhance the student's experience in the virtual learning world by offering greater flexibility than in-person classes for hybrid and all-virtual instruction models. Here’s why eLearning is reshaping higher education for good.

Online Learning in Higher Education: Reshaping Reasons

Online learning in higher education becomes a necessity and now everyone has to adopt new ways for better learning. Below are some of the reasons for the reshaping of higher education

1. Increasing Educational Technologies

The advancements in digital technology are changing how new information is created and disseminated. It also affects how students interact with the study materials and how educators assess their academic achievements. It has resulted in many students' virtual learning platforms doing their best to meet their technological and educational needs. As a result of increased dependence on digital learning resources, Grand View Research indicates that the worldwide EdTech industry is estimated to be valued at USD 377.85 billion by the year 2028.

2. Augmented & Virtual Reality

Another way instructors can enhance student engagement is by including VR and AR in EdTech solutions. Learners now explore and easily connect with abstract concepts utilizing these immersive and interactive technologies, transforming their experience from passive to active participants.

3. Rise of Analytics

The rapid growth in technology makes the e-learning industry rely increasingly on machine learning and analytics to assess student performance and identify the following stages in their educational journey.

4. Mobile Learning

Technological advancements are massively changing the way we perceive the educational world. However, individuals without the appropriate tools face challenges in engaging in virtual learning. The most affected by this gap are the lower-income nations and previously underprivileged groups. Many students from such nations and groups do not have access to the internet and computer for schooling.

5. Blended Learning

This self-paced hybrid curriculum gives students more control over their learning process by integrating online learning into face-to-face training. Face-to-face engagement between students and teachers is qualitative, focusing on clarifying concerns and exploring new concepts and ideas due to access to digital learning resources, collaborative tools, and virtual classrooms.

6. Rise of Online Courses

In recent years, one aspect of remote education that has boomed is the rise of self-paced e-courses and massive open online courses. These courses are free and open to anyone, and often prestigious institutions offer them to give students opportunities to attend additional courses. But with all that students have to manage their time well to get maximum benefits.

Is Hybrid Learning The Future of Higher Education?

As online teaching proves to be a success, it’s up to universities, educators, and their students to decide what higher education’s future will look like. Some have suggested that the hybrid model is the way forward for online higher education, where students attend some lectures in person and others remotely.

Hybrid learning makes higher education more affordable for low-income families who cannot afford the traditional classroom’s high tuition fees. There is also less need to invest in high-priced supplies such as textbooks, stationery, and equipment.

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Distance Learning vs Online Learning: Real Differences

In today’s era of digital learning, educators and other stakeholders ask about the best ways to use these resources in their virtual classrooms. The buzzwords around such conversations are “what is distance learning?” and “what is online learning?”

While distance learning vs online learning, both are used interchangeably, there are specific differences between them. Even the meaning of distance learning is different from that of online learning.

So, here’s what these two forms of learning comprise and the significant differences between them.

What is Distance Learning?

Distance learning refers to the courses taught and studied without being physically present at school, college, or university. Such degrees are available at all levels of education; undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate.

The origins of distance education are college correspondence courses. Students learned these through postal correspondence with the educational institution. The first-ever course was a shorthand system, instructed over postcards. So, a distance learning system is usually used for degrees not taught on campus.

Also, all distance learning programs have an online study component, where students can access online learning resources. The significant difference between them is that distance learning often includes face-to-face workshops, summer schools, or residentials as an essential part of the degree program. Consequently, a better term for these courses is part-time, flexible learning, or blended learning degrees.

What is Online Learning?

Online learning courses provide students with unbelievable flexibility and are 100 percent online. Students can choose when, where, and how they want to learn. Also, the classes can have live online sessions, but they are never face-to-face.

Online learning courses allow learners to access Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), such as Collaborate, Moodle, SimpliTaught, or Blackboard. These platforms host recorded lectures, student resources, and e-books. Moreover, learners can utilize the university’s digital library.

The VLE is an interactive learning tool and a communication medium for students and teachers. Different group projects, quizzes, and discussion forums keep learners engaged and motivate them to interact with peers. Given that today’s working environment requires facilitation through online collaboration, VLE is an incredible way to learn vital communication skills via proxy.

Likewise, there’s a common misconception that online courses do not provide additional support or academic help to students to complete their degrees. However, this is not true, as many universities offer tutor support to students.

Distance Learning vs Online Learning: The Differences

Distance learning vs online learning, both require somewhat the same learning tools, but there are some significant differences based on location, interaction, and intention of online and distance learning systems.

Location

eLearning follows a purely online approach, where learners must attend virtual classes on a schedule. Educators oversee these classes and assist students in navigating assignments and lessons. Also, examinations and assessments are conducted virtually through Learning Management System (LMS). Therefore, online learning is not location-specific and only relies on the virtual availability of learners and instructors.

On the contrary, the distance learning system may or may not have online components. It follows a mixed approach, including print, electronic, and face-to-face interactions. Usually, learners study at home and are expected to travel to test centers for examinations. Occasionally, students also have to attend in-person classes or practicals at Learner Support Center. Hence, location does play an important role when it comes to a distance learning system.

Interaction

Like the location, the nature of student-teacher and student-student interactions also differs between online and distance education. As mentioned above, online classes operate on well-defined modules and virtual courses. This form of learning is more engaging by following an interactive pattern and a blended digital approach, whether in group activities or one-on-one assignments. Furthermore, there are discussion forums and groups where students can collaborate and learn from each other.

Interactions in distance education are minimal and only happen during face-to-face classes or practical sessions at the Learner Support Centers. Also, such interactions become sparse in remote areas due to the lack of resources and infrastructure. You may find some online forums and groups where students interact with fellows, but even they are very few and far between.

Intention

Finally, the difference between distance and online learning is the teaching strategy’s intention. Online learning is designed to replicate the experience of in-class learning in virtual settings. The teaching methods used are closely related to the ones used during in-person classes, offering much more interaction and collaboration among students.

Whereas, in the case of distance learning, the teaching methodology is very dry. The students get the study material and learn at their own pace, but the overall education is passive and less interactive.

Now that we know the differences let’s look into the advantages and disadvantages of online and distance learning.

Advantages of Distance Learning

Distance learning has its own unique set of benefits. Firstly, it can continue without disruptions in events like the global pandemic because you are already teaching remotely, so such interruptions won’t affect your classes as in the case of traditional in-person learning.

Likewise, it offers students greater flexibility as they can work whenever they like and review their work as needed.

Also, students can access course material at the times that suit them, which is essential for learners with irregular work schedules.

Disadvantages of Distance Learning

When using distance learning, students and instructors may face four main problems.

Firstly, it’s not feasible to use distance learning when your students don’t have access to the internet and devices at home, as it entirely relies on students learning remotely.

Secondly, educators may find it challenging to keep a tab on students on whether they are actually working or not.

Thirdly, distance learning can make cheating even easier than online learning as you can’t go around and check what students have on their screens.

Lastly, like online learning, distance learning also results in increased screen time for your pupils.

Advantages of Online Learning

Online learning offers three significant advantages in virtual classrooms.

It enhances student engagement using various learning and teaching tools and resources to deliver content in multiple ways.

Moreover, this type of learning helps you differentiate your instruction. Using digital curriculum tools gives you more flexibility and control to determine your lessons, saving you from putting in extra time during evenings or weekends.

eLearning is also time-efficient with planning and grading because digital learning tools do all the work by providing ready-to-use lesson plans, instructional videos, materials, and assessments. 

Most online tools automatically grade those assessments and post them to the teacher’s dashboard.

Disadvantages of Online Learning

Like any educational strategy, online and distance learning both have their flaws. As both rely on digital resources, many of their drawbacks are similar.

Here are the three major problems that can occur using eLearning.

Firstly, it relies on your students having the technology and uninterrupted internet. If the learners don’t have regular access to computers, WiFi, and other study tools, it becomes nearly impossible to implement online learning.

Secondly, there are concerns about screen time. Students will have increased screen time, affecting their emotional and physical well-being. So, instructors and learners must find the right balance to reduce screen time, even when using online education regularly. 

Finally, the use of technology makes cheating easier. Students may take advantage of digital learning tools usage and cheat. 

Distance Learning vs Online Learning

Both online and distance learning have their place in education, each having unique characteristics.

At the end of the day, choosing which system works best for you depends on the educational needs of the students.

Online learning typically works wonders for middle and high school teachers who want to help students learn in various ways. 

Distance learning is usually suited for older learners, who have consistent technology access, and can work responsibly and independently.