Latest Tools that Heighten the Effects of Learning

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Learning and teaching can be made much more enjoyable with the employment of the latest technologies in the process. And, in an age when in-person classrooms are mostly replaced by virtual learning environment, use of technological marvels has become somewhat essential to have the latest educational trends perfectly matched up with the modern ways of lifestyle.

This is the reason why more educational institutions are transforming their curriculum solely based on online learning opportunities. Because of the wide usage of smartphones, tablets, netbooks and similar mobile devices among young people, they prefer a learning process via digital technology, rather than sitting in front of their instructor and following a boring session of lecture.

There are many learning devices available these days, making education a new-generation affair. Let’s have a look at them.

Various Learning Management Systems

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With different variety of learning management systems like Blackboard, Haiku etc educators can design their assignments in more organised ways, and get to instant access to the learners profile. At the same time, students get the quickest and easiest way to share learning information, interact with their teachers as well as peers, and collaborate on their projects.

Features like peer instant messaging, Google Apps integration, Android and iOS compatibility, web conferencing, voice authoring etc are some of the most incredible in today’s student-centred Learning Management Systems.

Video Conferencing

According to modern educators, learning tools that combine both audio and video are the ‘ultimate means to encourage interaction and collaboration’. Using webcams, remote teaching sessions can be conducted, and far distant guest lecturers can be brought to address a classroom remotely. Through this technique many learning activities like virtual field trips, math panel contests can be conducted with ease, which otherwise are very time and effort-consuming processes.

Discussion Forums

A great learning tool that often comes with a learning management system, discussion forum is very effective way for students to have live interactions with their peers as well as teachers. Educators view this learning tool as a user-friendly as well as quick way to set up a public or private classroom discussion session. Various discussion on topical interest and activities on homework assignments can be taken shape with this magnificent tool.

Social Media Platforms

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Inclusion of different social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc into learning as well as teaching activities are already in vogue, and they show great potential to combine teachers and learners in a seamless progress of education. Through these platforms students can conduct a discussion process among their peers, as well as with their instructors.

Student Blogs

Blogs are perceived nowadays as an effective way of sharing one’s thoughts, feelings and expertise on a specific topic in a fast and easy-to-access way. This feature of blog gives it a great potentiality to address a collaborative classroom. Through individual as well as collaborative blogs such as Edublogs, Kidblogs etc, teachers, students as well as parents can constantly share news on learning developments and related activities.

These learning tools have been already taken as the effective learning components of modern education systems. Employed effectively, these tools can elevate education to a greater level.

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Online Learning – A Trend that Journeyed with New Innovations for Career Builders

Since classroom learning dominated for generations, the majority of students, educators and even employers had a belief that there cannot be any other reliable mode of obtaining education. But later when the World Wide Web started easing lives of people, the concept of online education popularised. Despite, a lot of critics had their brows raised in regard to the implementation of such courses into schools, colleges and universities. However, the factors that led people to take up online learning strategies were temperament and self-realisation.

From postal orders to BYOD

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Earlier, distance learning courses were conducted through postal orders and students used to receive their study materials on their personal addresses. Later, the major factor that made online education globally popular was the rapid growth in technology. With the launch of a wide range of digital learning tools, students realised the worth of choosing such a learning mode that can let them study at their own convenience and save a good deal of money.

Although the idea of using digital learning tools and apps for studies came later, there were those dial-up connections that used to be the initial source of connecting students to the virtual platforms. Even the blackboards today have been replaced with new electronic whiteboards that make online learners take more interest in their studies. In fact, the concept of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) learning is slowly grabbing attention of school and university administrators, and experts have even predicted that there will be a time when students would be entering classrooms with their own kindles and tablets instead of books.

As per recent reports:

In the United States, over 2 million undergraduates and 650,000 graduates were reported to be studying at distance

The majority of these students were found to be either over 20s or were balancing their professional and personal duties

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The fact that online education is growing in popularity with the passage of time has been proved with the worldwide acceptance of the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Moreover, reports said that 6 universities were added to edX, one of the world’s renowned online learning platforms. As per the researchers, MOOCs have already created hype on a global basis and now they are aiming to enable students and working professionals obtain quality education.

As per the Online College Students 2012: Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences:

Around 14% of the students were found to enrol in full-time online courses for completing higher studies

31% of the students were found to enrol in at least one online course

Even countries in Africa are now making smarter moves in implementing online courses for remote students. Nigeria was recently declared to be the only African nation with the highest population of internet users and the Iranian government has also taken the initiative to get scholarship programme for the Nigerian students.

So, online education can be called a future resolution for new age learners who would be rather exposed to new opportunities and high career prospects. What we need to find out now are the new innovations and implementations that would give virtual learners a new set of expectations to meet their career goals with ease.

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