INTRODUCTION
There has been an increasing internet in learning in
teaching learning and training at universities during the last ten years. With
the developing technology, educational methods have deferred as well as money
other processes. Firstly a definition on the learning as a new approach should
be given. The learning could shortly be defined as a web based educational
system on platform with internet, internet or computer access. The concept of
the learning has two main subtitles as synchronized (where a group of students
and an instructor actualized and online conference meeting in a computer
environments). Students have access to the course contents whenever they want
and communicate whenever they want and communicate with their peers or teachers
via communication tools such as e-mail and forums. In order the distance
learning system to succeed in planned as both synchronized and synchronized.
WHAT IS LEARNING?
Internet has been widely used for less than ten years;
it has changed the content of money
concepts in our lives as a modern communication tools. Many common concepts
such as government trade democracy and learning have gained new meanings by
taking the prefix “e” E-learning or web- based education, is one of the
importance concepts and opportunities provided by the internet. The concept of
distance learning actually emerged much before than the internet; actually, it
is said to be as old as education.
The distance learning models
administered via letters, press, television and CDs have ended up with
practical, and successful results. As internet is global, unlimited and open to
public, the teaching applications planned fro the internet environment has a
potential of moderating the nature of distance learning. It seems that it will
be the only distance learning, is applied via internet technologies and
involves the educational activities, which do not require the presence of the
teacher and learning at the same time and place.
FROM CLASS-ROOM EDUCATION TO E-LEARNING
When compared to the classroom education, e-learning
offers many advantages to student firstly; during the e-learning process
students have the chance to decide how long they want to be educated. All the decisions on issues such as
learning
WHAT IS E LEARNING?
Internet has been widely used for less then ten years,
how ever, it has changed the contents of money concepts in our lives as a
modern communication tool. Many common concepts such as government, trade,
democracy, and learning have gained new meanings by talking the prefix “e” E
leaning or web- based education is one of the important concepts and
opportunities provided by the internet. The concept of distance learning
actually emerged much before than the internet; actually it is said to be as
old as education.
The distance learning models administered via letters,
press, television and CDs have ended up with practical and successful results.
As internet is global, unlimited and open to public, the teaching applications
planned for the internet environment has a potential of moderating the nature
of distance learning.
It seems that it will be the only distance learning
tool of the near future. E-learning, as a new version of distance learning, is
applied via the internet technologies and involves the educational activities,
which do not require the presence of the teacher and learner at the same time
and place.
FROM THE CLASSROOM EDUCATION TO E-
LEARNING
When compared to the classroom education, e- learning
offers many advantages to students. Firstly during the e-learning process,
students have the chance to decide how log they want to be educated. All the
decisions on issues such as learning speed and the intensity of the topic
depends on the student.
Student has the right to get in contact in case of any
problems. It does not require an expenses such as transportation or
accommodation. Since e-learning process is a student centered educational
system, the learning materials could be organized according to the professional
responsibilities and qualifications of the student. An effective e- learning
system enables students to determine and process his/her learning style,
content, aim, current knowledge and individual skills.
Therefore, person-specific education could be provided
through creating individual learning styles. E-learning enables the individual
to plan and direct his/her own learning process, so each student take the
responsibility of his/her own learning.
In additional, the forums, created within the
e-learning system, provide students with a discussion environment where
problems are solved cooperatively in chat rooms. With the help of cooperation
which is the best way of effective learning, e-learning enables the user not
one-way communication as the as in the classroom education but the duplex interaction.
TYPES OF E-
LEARNING
There are many types e-learning which includes, e-examination, e-
drills, e-book and e television, e-counseling and e-sound book.
e- examination: In this application, students are
administered many proof exams in the internet environment before, the formal
exams, which enables them to determine their approximate levels. These proof
exams, which enable the students to determine their approximate readiness
levels, are the most facilitated e-learning services.
e-mills: with the internet based drill soft wares, it
is aimed to create an effective and productive studying atmosphere for
students. As students access these activities on the internet, they could study
on the units through interactive multimedia softwares and reinforce their
knowledge by examining numerous examples. Internet based drill soft wares with
animation and intensive student computer interaction could be in service within
this programme.
Students
enrolled in the distance learning system, could study on the softwares with or
without sound effects. Therefore, students of the system could study more
effectively and productively in the internet environment speed up and the
intensity of the topic depends on the students. Students has the right to get
in contact in case of any problems.
IMPORTANCE OF E-LEARNING IN THE MODERN
TIME
Knowledge is one treasure that no one can take away
from you. We go to school to learn and gain knowledge which will eventually
help us to become professionals. There are different kinds of learning
institutions and these promote, non private, religious and government owned
school. Which ever school you opt to go to, the most important thing is that
you are gaining widows. Due to rapid change in technology, learning can also be
acquired through the help of the internet and it is called e-learning.
WHAT IS E LEARNING?
This is a type of teaching and learning that one can
be obtained by the means of online technology. Instead of going to school and
attend a regular class e learning is done in the comfort of your home wherein
your can also gain intellectually. This application and procedure consist of
online learning, computer support education, virtual and digital team work. The
subject matter are transported by the use of the internet, private computer
network, extranet, CD-Rom, audit and video tape, and via satellite television.
All those can be self placed and instructor led which compromises medium in the
type of book, illustration, moving pictures, flowing audio and video type.
e-learning is the most expedient way in learning and
training without having to go to school or training centers. This is
advantageous to those who have less time in going one place to another. Others
that have a day job and till want to pursue their studies can benefit from
e-learning. He can just learn at home after work at his free time and hot
thinking of the pressure that he might get late for class. However, for those
who are working and need attend trainings e-learning is also an advantage. You
can just have the training at your own office via web based learning and other
form of high technology education.
The importance of e-learning is that it is student
centered which focuses on students particular needs. It simultaneously
authorizes learners of different back drop to equally access the superlative
resources, learning and referral materials, tutoring, and teaching sessions
from knowledgeable instructors. Those
who are fasciculate in using this kind of education know the significance of an
e-learning site. Companies that offers e-learning present different learning
services like designing and structuring training program, learning training
through web based programme and online education E learning is curricula
especially for those who are sick and needs to be at home or at the hospital at
all times. With this new way of teaching, no student will be left out. All
lessons can be learned in just one click. This allows any user to be in a live
class of any subject that he wants. No matter where the professor is that
moment, students can still learn by the help of the internet. With this
arrangement, students tend to learning easily and they are permitted to down
load whenever study material they want and need.
Although some companies require fee for e-learning,
there are some corporation offers it for free take advantage of the free
e-learning courses because this will help you gain more knowledge without
spending, a single centavo for enrollment.
E books and e television: In order to enable the
students to access the books and TV program on the internet, the contents of
the course books and TV programs could be presented on the internet as a e
books and e television.
Therefore, a student of the system could easily access
the course books, Tv programs, study through the multimedia research softwares
and access him/her self through the proof tests in an internet café or at
his/her own pc at the office.
e- counseling: The one-to-one academic counseling
provided to the students could also be provided in a similar format on the
internet. Parallel to the research softwares, students are allowed to ask
questions to enable their academic counselors related to their course contents.
E, sound book- The e sound book application which enables
especially the visually restarted students to listen to the course book
contents, could be provided on the internet.
Therefore, visually retarted students and the students
with screen reading difficulties, could access their course books form their officers
or from an internet –café. They could listen to the contents of their course
book by down loading the sound files on their computers (mutln kip and kayabas)
eight criteria to be used in the evaluation of the E learning projects.
E learning pie graph is a simple tool that is used for
the evaluation of projects. These graphs involve the following questions:-
Applicability
analysis
How coherent are the aims and targets of the
organization with your e-learning? How strong is your proof for achieving the aims and targets of the
organization with e-learning and how well have you done the applicability analysis?
Culture:
what is the appropriate culture for e-learning? Does your organization have
this culture? If not, are you trying to attain something that is necessary for
your?
Content
quality: this is the knowledge provided within e-learning appropriate to the
student’s needs? Is the amount of knowledge sufficient? Is this educationally,
meaningful?
Resources: are the required financial ready for
e-learning? If not, could more financial resources found?
Speed: could your e-learning material address the
change rapidly? Would it be able to transfer the new knowledge at the address
your need to increase your capacity to move faster?
Skill: - Does your group have the required levels of
skills for applying e-learning? If not, have you been trying to attain them
within this project?
Technological change: could your organization address
the improvement in the e-learning technology? Or are you limited with the
current information technology structure, security or compatibility problems?
Have you tried to overcome these problem?
Leadership: Are the leaders supportive, logical and
ready? What could you do in order to make leaders provide significance and
expertise? In order to evaluate the e-learning project.
· The pie graph is reevaluated in order to reflect the
current problems.
· Each criterion is given values between 1 and 10.
· It is explained what the pie graph tells about e-
learning. Does the graph tell you how e-learning could be improved and how
could more pie pieces be attained? Why did some parts get higher scores than
the others? Could you learn things from pieces with high scores, which allow
you to do applications for parts with low scores?
· The relative importance given to each item in the
organization, and the questions prepared for the score sequence are evaluated.
THE
ADVANTAGES OF E-LEARNING APPLICATION
The
application scope of e-learning is rather wide. The important point in
e-learning application is its being able to educate the learner through
technological tools whereas in traditional classroom teaching, the educator.
Many e-learning application involve mutual interaction; for example, in virtual
classroom applications, students (from different places) could get education
together in a virtual classroom.
The
trainer could ask question to the classroom and the participants could respond
to question through their screen. It enables the reviewing and renewing of
educational materials in terms of accuracy and appropriate. Technological tools
not only make education more attractive through rich audio-visual presentations
but also increase the level of learning. With, the rapid attainment of
knowledge and experience, it becomes easy for the working people to keep up
with the changing business world. E-learning applications would contribute to
important development in human resources, content and technology in Nigeria. E
learning provides the learner the chance to decide when to learn as well as how
fast and how much to learn; and enables them to contact the teachers via e-mail
or forums. Since there is no need to go to a campus, they have no expenses for
accommodation or transportation.
THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF E-LEARNER
The
students, who would participate in e-learning applications need to have some
characteristics or abilities.
·
The first
condition of learning is to have the will for it. E-learners direct their own
learning. This is an advantage but sometimes problems may occur. An e-learner
should aim to keep his/her self. Motivation for learning at the highest level.
·
E-learners have
to spend certain times of the day for education. They should not make
themselves sit in front of the computer for long hours. It is a fact that the
planned educational sessions increase achievement.
·
When deciding on
the time for education, e-learners should choose less busy hours of the day
when education could be less interrupted. They should keep their attention away
from the outer factors as much as they can.
·
After completing
each course, e-learners should think about the knowledge they attained as well
as how to use it. This would increase the level of motivation.
·
E-learner should
determine daily targets for themselves.
·
E-learners should
not hesitate to get in contact with the teachers of peers via e mail or
formation case they need to reinforce or repeat a topic
LEARNER-
CONTENT INTERACTION IN LEARNING
Within
the designing process of teaching, it an important step to organize the
interaction and communication opportunities. Interaction is an important factor
especially in Open University where students teachers and teaching resources
are away from each other in terms of time and place. Learning based interaction
mainly has three types. These are learner-content, learner teacher and leaner –leaner
interaction.
Another
accepted interaction type is the learner interface interaction learner- interface
interaction emphasizes the learners interaction with technology whereas the
learner content interaction focuses on a pedagogical interaction. At Open
University system, since learner teacher and learner –learner interaction is
limited within distance learning, learning, learner-content interaction has a
critical importance in reaching the learner targets.
TYPES OF INTERACTION IN LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS
With the content provided to the open
university students and the students own ways of interaction not only case the self-learning
but also affect the learning process positively. In this system, where the
learner- content interaction is provided by books as main materials, e-learning
services such as TV programs, e-exams e drills, e books, e television and e
counseling would reinforce the interaction and increase student achievement.
In a study where the two year plice
occupational education program students e-learning records and student information
were analyzed within a couple of years, a comparison was made between the
student who belong and do not belong to the e-learning program.
According to the end of year
averages students of the e-learning program has higher achievement levels than
the others. In 2003 -2005 academic years as study was conducted in order to
determine the e- learning programs students of open university differed form
the ones who were not involved in the e-learning program. The midterm exam
results showed that the scores of the students of e-learning program were
higher than that of the ones who were not in the program.
As e-learning services varied,
learner-content interaction was observed to have improved in the open
university, which contributed tot eh increase in the student achievement
levels.
SUGGESTION FOR E LEARNING APPLICATIONS
When e-learning programs are administered as a support
or alternative for the traditional learning methods, the learning process
becomes more consistent as well as the learnt knowledge. Although the
infrastructure expenses for e-learning are high, the long term education and
service quality are more satisfactory.
The equipment for this program
should be well designed. The design team should first determine the target
audience accurately, and consider many aspects such as the type of the
education and media. The correct choice in the equipment and communication type
to be utilized would contribute to the more effective and productive use of
time as well as reducing the expenses for the communication and investment. On
the other hand, the approach of the government towards e-learning, the
awareness created in the society and socio-economical statuses are among the factors that speed up the
e-learning process. Such contributions to education could also reflect on the
development of technological infrastructure of the country.
This creates competition among the
countries in the globalizing world. Additionally, the rapid development in
technology assists in the development educational system as well as leading to
more educational models to emerge. Establishment of virtual labs provides the chance
to follow the development in education in the world, especially for the institutions,
which are the financially unavailable to purchase lab equipment.
Therefore, a competitive environment
is created in education, which leads to sustains development with e-learning
environments. Students could continue the teacher- leaner relationship from
deferent places at different times.
E-learning terminates the limitation
of time and place while providing learning environments with lower expenses. In
learning process, the relationship between teacher, learner, and peers has
great impotence. Individual learning is also important, however, the efficiency
of learning together could not be avoided. Achievement depends on support and
individuals, need assistance in learning topics. Therefore, teachers of
e-learning programs need to have a serious in service training; because many
e-learning programs require mutual interaction via technological, tools. The
word “electronic” as a prefix for e-learning does not only mean that learning
occur with technological tools but also requires the awareness in developing
technologies.
So, teachers of e-learning programs
need to be trained in information technologies and internet in order to gather
with their students in virtual classrooms. Additionally, they have to have the
ability to administer all applications successfully and to follow the
developments in pioneer countries in e-learning and distance learning.
It is also very important for
teachers to be able to provide academic counseling together with their
competence and expertise in information services.
It should be well- understood that
e-learning applications could succeed, by preferred and developed only with the
participations of the teachers with above- mentioned characteristic.