Are We Ignoring The Difference Online Education Can Make

f technology could bring education for free to all students, it would be a game changer for the world. Education is a great leveler, and it has the power to transform lives. It can open up opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable, and provide people with the skills they need to succeed in life.

With technology becoming more and more advanced, it is possible to envisage a future where education is available to everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. This would be a huge step forward for equality and social mobility and would allow people from all walks of life to access the same opportunities.

There are already many initiatives that are using technology to provide education for free or at a very low cost. For example, the Khan Academy is an online resource that offers free educational resources to people all over the world. Several charities provide tablets and laptops to children in developing countries so that they can access educational materials online.

So I was watching this talk by Daphne Koller (founder of Coursera), she presents some amazing data from the Course Era in her talk. She presents how the idea of scaling up courses that were available to only universities so that they could be used by anyone across the world having a gadget and an internet connection is revolutionary. A student's disability or situation is not a hindrance to education anymore.

Course Era created a similar pattern of learning as a university does - having weekly sessions, deadline submissions, and certificates at the end, but what was different is that it was not bound by geographical limits. It was not necessary to commute or stay in a hostel - one could learn from anywhere.

According to Daphne, Here is what makes online learning different:

1. In the break from one-hour lectures- online content is divided into 5-10 minute videos. It is more engaging as the students get to see different concepts being applied in real life. The professors become more like guides on the side and the focus is on the learner's journey.
2. It helps students choose what they want to learn hence it is not a size-fit model The content is updated constantly, so it always reflects the latest changes in the field.
3. Videos are not just watching -they are made interactive with quizzes and other tools to make sure the learner is engaged.
4. Students can be graded by technology so it is more objective,
5. An assignment that are critical thinking based can be assessed by peers
6. The content is flexible- students can learn at their own pace, and revisit concepts as many times as they need to
7. The possibility of students asking questions and then being answered by students who have already learned the concept is very powerful.
8. The data that technology produces can tell a lot about human learning techniques, and this can be used to improve the content. Students can see their data and understand their pattern of working and studying, Teachers can see the areas where most students struggle, and content can be adapted accordingly.
9. The ability to give feedback to the learners in real time is very useful. Students can get personalized feedback easily, and this can help them improve their learning.
10. It makes individualized tutoring instruction possible, which has been proven as a powerful learning technique.
11. Online teaching is much more than just giving lecture notes. It is important to engage with the learner and make sure that they are getting the most out of the content.
12. Technology makes it possible for anybody with the motivation to learn, to have access to the best educational resources in the world.
13. There is a shift in the mindset where students become lifelong learners because the content is always being updated. They are not just learning for exams, but for understanding and application in real life.
14. There is diversity among the learners - in terms of age, location, background, etc. which leads to a richer learning experience.
15. the best thing is learning from the best in the field, regardless of where they are in the world. Students are learning from authors, data scientists, engineers, etc. who are working in the field and have first-hand experience.
16. The instructors can teach many students at a time, without compromising on quality. It is more cost-effective- there are no travel costs, and the course fees are much lower than traditional universities. The content is available 24/7, so students can learn at their own pace and time. The learning is not just limited to the classroom - it includes research, projects, internships, etc. which gives the learner a well-rounded education.

This brings me to the question of all the schools that went online during COVID,

1) were they able to collect data on students who performed better online than they did in traditional classrooms?

2) Did the efficiency of teachers increase as they were teaching from home?

3) What were the educational apps that were used a lot and the schools should still consider using?

4) How was the overall feedback from students and parents?

5) What were some subjects that were easy to teach in online sessions?

6) Did the corrections and attendance become smooth in the online arrangement?

I taught Global Perspective two years back when the school went online and I felt it was great that I was able to share the forms and the questions on one platform. It was easy to check the assignments and monitor the student's performance in one place for the entire year. The students had their gadgets so it was easy for me to share the materials online.

I think some of these changes should be made permanent even when we go back to traditional classrooms. I do not see any reasons why we should not have more online classes for students who want to learn in that way, and teachers should be given the option to teach from home or the classroom.

This would lead to more efficient use of time and resources, and it would allow teachers to focus on teaching, rather than on other administrative tasks. It would also allow students to learn at their own pace, and revisit concepts as many times as they need to.

The data that technology produces can tell a lot about human learning techniques, and this can be used to improve the content. Students can see their data and understand their pattern of working and studying, Teachers can see the areas where most students struggle, and content can be adapted accordingly.

Education is not impossible if one has the right mindset and the will to learn.