As with many aspects of modern life, technology has transformed the way we teach and learn. The old model of students sitting in desks with the teacher busy scribbling on the chalkboard at the front of the room is over, and it’s being replaced by a sleeker, leaner approach to learning that’s called e-learning. E-learning is becoming more and more common as an alternative to more traditional models of education where the instructor and students are all present in a single physical location. Here are four of the biggest reasons to integrate e-learning into your curriculum.
E-Learning Increases Access to Education
Time constraints, as well as challenges physically making it to class, mean that potentially good students who could be an asset to the institution and larger society might miss out on their chance to learn because of logistical challenges. E-learning eliminates much of those, connecting more students to educational opportunities, boosting enrollment numbers for schools, and ultimately bringing more students into the fold by getting rid of unnecessary hurdles.
Able to Scale
Grade scaling refers to adjusting the percentage of letter grade awarded for assignments and tests depending on the overall skill level of the class or individual students. Because e-learning utilizes online grade books, assessing the performance of your students and making statistical adjustments to grades is easier than ever—eliminating the time-consuming task of manually recording and compiling grades in a physical grade book. This can also help the students and their parents to keep track of their grades and progress more easily.
Allows Students to Work at Their Own Pace
In a traditional classroom, students are confined oftentimes to a set schedule. However, this might not be the best model for all students and their needs. E-learning can provide the ease and flexibility for students that they need to succeed. It provides all the stability of a traditional teacher-to-student relationship while allowing the student to find his or her “comfort zone” in terms of how quickly they complete assigned work. This can be especially helpful for college students who are working and going to school simultaneously. It can also be helpful for those who need extra help with certain subjects and need to go at a slower pace than other students to gain maximum understanding.
E-Learning Cuts Administrative Costs
Without the need for a physical classroom, including all the materials, equipment and furniture it requires, institutions can save a lot of money. This can allow them to direct resources to more critical areas, like improving the quality of the curriculum and student outreach. So if you’re struggling to fund these other areas, implementing some sort of e-learning model might be the best option for your organization.
Implementing e-learning into your organization clearly has many benefits. Moving forward, we’ll likely see more and more schools switching to e-learning because of these benefits. Technology will enable even more efficient learning environments in the future.