Online education in India has picked up rapidly in the recent times, making it one of the most talked about concepts in the education sector. Due to the challenges of the current education system, there is a growing realisation that problems like delivery, assessments and general consumption of information can be addressed by leveraging technology.
Different schools of thought co-exist in this regard; one possesses the view that online education is growing but cannot match the importance of offline learning, while the other is appreciating and accepting the newer trends emerging in the space. This acceptance alone is changing people’s outlook of our education system.
The advancement in the education system is not only restricted to the mode of providing education; it also includes the latest out-of-the-box career options that are now gaining popularity. To tackle this popular demand, online education is emerging as one of the preferred modes of education among students and working professionals considering its ease of access, affordability as well as industry relevance.
As a working professional, up-skilling oneself seems as a challenge because one does not really want to stop working and get back to studying. And it is because of this need that online education works wonders; it gives enough flexibility to professionals to enhance their skills while pursuing their full time job. This keeps professionals abreast with the latest information of their respective industries as well as updated with ongoing advancements. Also, the process of shifting from one industry to another becomes easier as one can easily gain industry relevant knowledge while working and shift immediately after they have gained the relevant know-how of the newer industry. This is a more time saving and cost effective approach to one’s career prospects.
Online education has become a fantastic alternative and the growing awareness of various online courses is enticing more and more students to opt for this mode of study. The reason behind pursuing education through an online medium is different for each one; some do it to up-skill themselves while others do it to gain accreditation from renowned universities worldwide in order to build better qualifications from the convenience of their home. It is also a more cost effective and faster form of learning.
It has been observed that earlier there was not much appreciation or value being given to online degrees and instead, there was a lot of scepticism and doubt around the authenticity of the course. However, this perception is now changing as students who have undergone some sort of education online, have gone into the industry and proven their skill set. Now, students are opting for online learning as a preferred medium to educating themselves. The online education enrolment rate is growing rapidly and the reason for this tremendous rise can be attributed to the technological advancements in terms of internet services, software and devices for information viewing and consumption. The technology boom is seen in terms of the latest tools being used to impart education - digital whiteboards, virtual classrooms, text chats, animation and the like are some popular tools of this generation.
Though online education is at its nascent stage in India as compared with other countries, there is indeed an immense potential for this industry to grow. The best part about the e-learning domain is that it is not restrictive; students from all walks of life can pursue online courses. Studies show that students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are responding immensely well to the online education scenario and are taking sincere initiatives to enhance their skills by undertaking relevant courses.
Another reason mounting to the success of online education is the preference of the students to learn at their own pace. Additionally, for people who have erratic working hours, the preference for the online medium of education rises as they feel comfortable in pursuing a degree of their own choice at their own pace.
Nonetheless, education players in the market are not only offering interesting courses, but also provide unique services like telephonic support, online chat, networking forums and communication platforms to enhance the level of learning. Such innovative services are leveraging technology and pushing the scope of online education amongst potential audiences.
Today, a lot of youngsters possess sound knowledge about social media and this enables them to maintain an active social life beyond the classroom. This aspect in a way assists students to easily adapt to the culture of virtual learning and also pursue it naturally, as a part of their lifestyle. There are times when a student faces hesitation in asking their doubts in the classroom, but with the online support of experts, a student is made to feel more comfortable.
Online education already seems to be penetrating the Indian culture as many students and professionals enjoy the benefits of learning at their own pace. This creates less stress and less comparison in their minds thereby keeping their confidence levels intact. The flexibility which this mode offers makes it almost incomparable to the traditional ways of learning.
Many education players have understood the scope of this growing industry and are therefore venturing into the online education space. They sincerely believe that education can no more be confined to the four walls of the classroom; rather it is beyond this clichéd system. The education parameters and standards have advanced to great heights and are all set to bring about a radical change in the ideologies and acceptance levels of the people.
To sum it up, it can be aptly said that no module of learning can ever be labelled as “perfect”. Rather it is the changing times that dictate the new patterns of learning. At this juncture, it is online education that is galloping effectively and is all set to change the education scenario.
