3 ways e-learning is helping students of the 21st century

After more than a year of e-learning, it’s now less “new normal” and more, just, normal. In fact, the forecasted size of the e-learning market in 2027 is a whopping 1 trillion dollars, according to new research by Global Market Insights!

That’s hardly surprising, considering that e-learning can be made relevant, mobile, self-paced, and personalized, allowing students to learn at their own comfort and requirement. The task ahead is now to find ways to integrate purposeful technology into the lives of students to make their learning a more wholesome experience.

So, here is a more in-depth look at three of the key advantages of e-learning for students.

1. E-learning encourages higher-order thinking skills (HOTS)

Unlike a traditional classroom, a virtual classroom uses ‘student-centered instruction’ where learners interact, thereby sharing and evaluating their understanding of the topic and then applying it in their context.

This encourages learners to practice what Bloom’s Taxonomy describes as ‘higher-order thinking’ skills or HOTS, which involves developing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Online learning can be used to create a consistent, dynamic, and customized experience that learners can access 24×7. By using methods like realistic scenarios, case studies, game-based learning, gamification, e-learning can be used to drive higher-order thinking as well as nurture imagination, creative problem solving, communication, and critical thinking. Effective soft skills too can be imparted online using the right digital training modules.

Edtech embraces newer formats like podcasts, video essays, even memes to encourage students’ interests and fuel their passions within the framework of the module. Digital skills are after all essential life skills in the 21st century and can be organically inculcated through the use of edtech.

2. E-learning fosters more meaningful student engagement

Student engagement refers to the attention, curiosity, interest, and passion students show when they are learning. Engagement increases when students feel like they ‘belong’ and are ‘part of something’ and that is what the right digital learning module does.

In essence, e-learning puts students at the heart of learning. Education technology has overhauled the ‘one size fits all’ approach to education and shown that creating multiple learning paths to keep pace with every kind of learner is the most effective approach.

Some students may prefer recordings, for instance, others may grasp better through images or games. To increase student engagement it is important for the digital learning module to take student input on the course and syllabus as well and be willing to adapt.

Unlike traditional classroom teaching, the digital mode also allows one to access content an unlimited number of times, which helps students learn at their own pace.

3. Improved learning outcomes thanks to great content quality

With the effective use of technology in learning, content can be personalized for each individual as well as used to give instantaneous feedback to improve the learning curve. But remember that with e-learning, content is king. The better the content quality, the better the learning outcomes.

E-learning allows one to create multiple learning paths that are paced for all kinds of learners as well as design course content in collaboration with students and teachers, allowing it to evolve based on continuous feedback.

Several online education modules include improved technological tools and immersive features such as augmented reality, virtual reality, interactive quizzes and games, and so on, which not only makes the learning more fun, but more effective too.

An added advantage to e-learning is having quantifiable consequences and monitoring, which helps to make the learning more efficient.

Also, in the e-mode, learners can access courses anytime, anywhere, eliminating the need for strict schedules. This saves a lot of time as learners can work around their schedules, thereby learning at their own pace, which is less stressful and more empowering.

With the range of benefits it offers to students, e-learning has democratized learning on account of its flexibility, scalability, and customized educating patterns. Delivering interesting and engaging e-learning content that holds your learners’ attention and helps improve learning outcomes is what we do at Hornbill FX. Contact us today to know how we can add value to your learning modules.