We need to shed prejudice against e-learning
This article explores why e-learning is not just an addition to traditional learning. Instead it transforms the way we learn
Ask any teacher/instructor, many would agree with benefits of e-learning to traditional learning. However, they place their bets on face to face instruction than remote learning. This scenario is true, but we fail to recognize that we are looking at e-learning from the coloured lens of traditional education.
E-learning is transformative, by its design e-learning breaksdown the very archaic boundaries that define institutional learning. As a e-learner can learn from anywhere and anytime, s/he is not bound by rules that characterize management of an institution.
It is essential to recognize its transformative impact, because its the very institutions that spearhead education industry that also limit entry of large pool of students who cannot afford high costs of education. These institutions have failed in democratizing education and helping societies to reap its benefits. Hence, education is still taught the same way as it was done in 19th century.
Moving forward from critical view of traditional education. Herein it is important to understand why e-learning is going to be transformative and hopeful intervention for the world.
Collaborative Learning
Apart from the cliched advantages of e-learning like self-pacing, structured instruction, reduced costs. The learning is going to be fundamentally different because of the possibility of collaboration among peers while learning.
For example, consider google docs. A group of people can collaborate and edit the document in real-time. Making people who are remotely connected to produce a collective effort, a more meaningful output than working in silos. Peter Thiel states that we as humans have gone beyond solving the easiest of problems that irk our curiosity. Solving next set of challenges cannot be a one man’s effort, it sure needs collaboration of like-minded set of people.
The analogy of google docs can be replicated in academic space, to hasten content innovation, feedback, and learning from others. The collaboration can extend to discussions, doubt solving, projects, content improvement, socializing, competing, and mastery.
Meta-Learning
Knowledge in present times is ubiquitous. Internet has brought the silent revolution in democratizing knowledge than all educational institutions put together have done. But institutions were necessary structures to impart knowledge.
The time has come however to ask ourselves this question. Have we moved into an era where we as society do not need institutions to impart education. The quick response would be no. However, with advent of e-learning and its spread there might come a time in near future where meta-cognitive ability to learn becomes the only prerequisite to learn, not your knowledge, not your background, and certainly not whether you can afford it or not.
Leaders of the past and the present have time and again highlighted the need for heart to be in right place to acquire knowledge. Martin Luther King Jr. famously remarked we have guided missiles and misguided men. Hence, character, personality, values and meta-cognition that define how we see and manage our own selves and how we relate to the world around matters more than the degrees we hold.
e-Learning can bring that meta cognitive focus to learning by removing the fear of access. By using data science, e-Learning can bring insights both to student and instructor about how they learn/teach and not just what they learn/teach. This reflective focus is missing in today’s age of unbridled information. But e-Learning can be the panacea to solving it.
Core aspects to learning
The common ruse against e-Learning is lack of rolemodel, who often defines how we approach knowledge. All of us had that one inspiring teacher who shared more than just knowledge, and helped us develop the love for the subject. This certainly is not possible in remote learning.
The answer to above criticism is that, with learning we change the way we relate with others whether it be teacher/peers. e-Learning can also impart those core aspects of learning because it opens up the possibility for people to relate with each other in a more democratic way. Because in such a world, knowledge is not limited to certain sections.
Like Internet has equalized socities, knowledge imparted via e-Learning that can reach anywhere has the similar impact of instilling values, developing character and personality of an individual.
Self-regulation is the key
e-Learning is a relatively new space especially to large sections of society who are in poor and developing countries. And not everything is rosy about it either, likes of Hilter have highlighted that knowledge can be used in convoluted ways.
Hence, access to knowledge via e-Learning has to be complemented by necessary good will and intent. This requires that we shift away from knowledge focus from early age towards shaping individual’s character and personality through sports, art, and travel.
Self-regulated individual can make a more meaningful change in society. And it starts with him/her gaining control over one thoughts, emotions, speech and actions.
To genuinely reap the benefits e-Learning can bring to society we need to prepare ourselves and our future generations to have their heart in right place and it starts by not overvaluing intellectual knowledge, e-Learning can help in the process by breaking down structures that overvalue knowledge. Hence, we should shed prejudice against e-Learning to see its full potential.
