Our earliest instincts around education are based on storytelling. We know this from archeological data – people telling other people stories. It’s how we learned and communicated. Fast-forward 40,000 years, now we have beautiful scalable mobile devices that we can use to teach people on opposite ends of the world. Because of online learning, we can reach millions at the same time. The main question arises: what is online learning?
Online learning is an education process that happens via the Net. It’s often referred to as “e-learning” and “distance learning.” Yet, “distance learning” is a much broader term. It defines any learning process that happens across distance.
Even before COVID-19, education technology enjoyed great popularity. People invested $18.66 billion in the education industry in 2019. Even though most people adapted to such unforeseen circumstances as the global pandemic, there are still 216,293,544 affected learners worldwide.
The online education industry is said to reach $350 billion by 2025, as more people realize the effectiveness of it. Whether it’s virtual tutoring, language learning applications, video conferencing tools, or online learning platforms, there has been a remarkable demand in usage since the pandemic.
Before the digital revolution, education meant sitting in the classroom, using expensive paper textbooks, and watching teachers writing with chalk. Fortunately, now we have digital tools that range from smart devices to online courses and digital textbooks.
People worldwide have shown willingness to support digital education models. According to Statista, about 65% of academic staff supported the use of open educational resources in teaching.
Why is online learning so popular, and should you consider it at all? Let’s find out together!
4 Main Reasons to Start Online Learning Today
Here are 4 main reasons why online learning proves to be beneficial:
It Can Save Costs
Everyone knows for a fact that education requires huge financial and time investments. Because of that, many students and organizations lean towards online learning. Offline learning is quite expensive because it requires a professional trainer. On the other hand, online education needs comparatively cheap training software. Employees can undergo professional training at home, hence saving time and money.
It’s super easy to learn these days because you can find everything online. According to SmallBizTrends, 90% of students prefer online education to face-to-face learning. With specialized apps, you can gain knowledge and communicate with others the same way but only virtually.
Here are some of the most popular e-learning apps:
Application | Ratings on the Play Store | Ratings on the App Store |
Google Classroom | 1,549,988 | 7,100 |
Kahoot | 322,48 | 230 |
Zoom Education | 2,411,987 | 24,000 |
Class Dojo | 245,347 | 983 |
Photomath | 2,195,873 | 17,000 |
Quizlet | 409,053 | 10,000 |
It’s Easier to Assess
One of the greatest things about e-learning is that tests can become less time-consuming and more regulated. Online testing eliminates all the external distractions and allows you to concentrate.
Short but more frequent tests prove to be a more reliable and productive way to assess students’ progress. Research from Harvard displayed that giving students regular short tests increased their attention and memory performance and tripled note-taking.
More frequent tests mean that tutors can have a better understanding of their students’ skills. With online learning, tutors can also adjust faster to students’ specific needs. Online education is a win-win situation for both teachers and students.
It’s Environmentally-Friendly
Online learning reduces energy consumption by 90% and decreases carbon dioxide emissions by 85%. There are many reasons why online learning is eco-friendly. For example, one big advantage is that it requires absolutely no textbooks. You can find, share, and update online materials in a matter of seconds. You don’t have to worry about them being stolen or torn apart. Everything can be stored in a cloud and downloaded anytime.
In 2019, the total value of the textbook industry amounted to $8.38 billion. On average, students spent close to $1,200 on paper books alone. Many students purchased their textbooks from their student loans. Students who graduate with student loans have higher chances to experience stress and depression. That is why digitalization is not only ecologically-friendly but beneficial for mental health.
It’s Productive
First, you learn, then you earn. There is a bunch of online applications that can increase your productivity. Here some of them:
· Organize your tasks and stay productive – Todoist
· Track your productivity – RescueTime
· Track your time – Toggl
· Plan your work on a virtual bulletin board – Trello
People who invest in lifelong learning and development will improve their productivity. You can find multiple courses online that will help you gain more professional and personal skills.
Create Your Own Solution With Diversido
Nowadays, apps represent a cornerstone of any great idea. Companies invest funds into the creation of their applications. The most successful ones look fancy, are convenient to access, and easy to use. They work efficiently because of app development companies like Diversido.
Diversido specializes in app creation. It works on various kinds of mobile and desktop applications, including categories like:
· Education (eTutorCloud, Diversido LMS)
· Health & Wellness (Bodies Done Right, Visual Gains)
· Services (WizFix, Kiwi)
· Entertainment (Insiders, Power Velocity)
· Games (Legend of Tapatan, Cat Carnage)
People at Diversido are experts in the development of useful educational applications. Games like Battle of Wits are perfect for kids. They expand their knowledge about the outside world and develop their cognitive skills. eTutorCloud and ClassTag platforms are perfect for daily communication between students, parents, and teachers. You can find more info on those and other apps at Diversido.
Contact them to arrange a 30-minute consultation on your future project for free. Start your journey towards a better future with Diversido!
Apart from that if you want to know about online english learning and speaking course then please visit our Education category.