The COVID- 19 pandemic completely disrupted our normal day-to-day running - with
quarantining, wearing masks, social distancing, and more. We shut down our schools, forcing students and teachers to transition to online learning. Over 1.2 billion children lost their opportunity to learn, as their schools did not have the resources necessary to execute online schooling.
Online learning is a sector of the education industry that has been gaining traction over the last a couple of years. According to Forbes Magazine, "Even before the pandemic, research and markets forecast the online education market as $350 Billion by 2025."
This trend is due to the fact that virtual learning is easily accessible, efficient, sustainable, and more cost-efficient than in-person learning.
Online learning allows students more flexibility to learn at their own pace and choose what to learn at a cheaper cost. Students can learn various skills not taught in
traditional classrooms. When done properly, virtual education improves students' time
management and critical thinking skills.
Yet, there are difficulties that come with this transformative approach to education. For instance, students who have trouble with time management will struggle to keep up. It is easy to get distracted, and learners may feel socially isolated. The longer screen time will pose a risk to students' eyesights, and technological issues will most significantly hinder students from learning their material.
Through virtual school, students can access all sorts of information and courses from top educational institutions and sites through the click of a button. However, many have argued that the 'emergency remote teaching' has not enabled us to harvest the full benefits of online learning. Thus, the next logical question is, How can one fully take advantage of online learning?
Below are resources that will make online learning somewhat more manageable.
edX: edX just might be the largest online learning platform. Students can access courses from various top universities all over the world right from the comfort of their home. The courses are self- paced and learners are granted access to the lecturers and group chats with people who are taking the same course as them. No money? No worries! One can just audit the courses and garner the knowledge.
Khan Academy: Khan Academy provides high-quality instructional videos on a variety of subjects. From math, chemistry, physics, history, and writing. Students can learn at their own pace for free.
Coursera: Coursera offers a wide variety of free educational programs. It focuses on higher education and professional training.
TKS: TKS is a great program designed to replicate the learning environment and culture of Silicon Valley. They focus on emerging tech, real- world challenges and offer a global community, mentorship and unique opportunities for the members. The program isn't free however they offer financial aid and scholarships. The amount of exposure and mentorship one gets from this program is definitely worth the price.
My Study Life: My Study Life is a great application that helps one manage their school year by helping him or her keep track of assignments and tests. It helps students plan ahead and stay on top of their schoolwork.
App Locks: It is quite tempting to scroll through social media such as TikTok for hours and hours on end rather than to do homework. This is why it is great for students to invest in an app lock that will lock all distracting sites and applications while they study.
YouTube: YouTube contains a vast collection of videos on various topics. Students can learn coding from channels such as Freecodecamp or watch a couple of videos on all sorts of topics from Crash Course. With over 3 billion videos on the platform and thousands more being uploaded daily it is safe to say that one can get a video on almost every topic. Just be careful to stay on track while using it, or you might find yourself watching hours' worth of dog videos.
There is no doubt that online learning can be a difficult challenge. However, to make the most of the virtual learning experience and make digital learning more manageable, there are many avenues for avid students.
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