Revolutionizing Higher Education Through eLearning

eLearning To Transform Higher Education

Within the last few years, the idea of traditional education has undergone a significant change. With the development of the internet and advanced technologies, being physically present in a classroom isn’t the only way to learn any longer. Now, with the help of the internet, one can get quality education from any part of the world. A new era has begun with the revolution in online learning.

eLearning has grown to be a significant component of higher education. It increases pedagogical resources, aids students in their learning, enhances knowledge, skills, and motivation in learners, and positions them to be successful in the workplaces of today’s society. According to the most recent Babson Survey Research Group survey, more than 30% of higher education students in the United States are enrolled in at least one distance course. This is an effective method for students to enhance their skills in a difficult subject or learn a new skill.

Then COVID-19 compelled higher education institutions (HEI) worldwide to switch to digital distance learning. Over 1.5 billion students were affected by the temporary closure of the educational institutions in 194 countries and regions as a result of the pandemic, according to UNESCO. However, the process was difficult because of several problems, including IT issues, limited internet access, and ignorance of digital teaching resources. However, with thorough planning and implementation, online learning can improve the cost, accessibility, interactivity, and student-centeredness of higher education.

Role Of COVID-19 In Shaping Online Education

Lecturers encountered a challenging learning curve while adjusting to new teaching technologies at the pandemic’s beginning. They were suddenly required to create learning resources, set up online classrooms, record lectures, and conduct live sessions. Online learning is an effective method for students as it helps them manage their financial and maintenance costs.

Breaking up teaching into numerous small learning activities, like mini-lectures, group discussions, class polls, and pop-up quizzes proved to be more effective for professors during the pandemic. Traditional classrooms were transformed into hybrid ones using new digital technology and skills. However, these blended teaching techniques led to longer working hours and higher levels of stress among the teaching staff.

Disruption In Education

The pandemic undoubtedly disrupted the entire education industry, forcing academic staff and students to alter living and working arrangements. Furthermore, there is concern that the digital divide among university students has grown due to varying access to online platforms and services. The disruption has also caused a possible financial impact. By 2040, the cost of pandemic-related learning delays could be $1.6 trillion annually, or 0.9% of the global GDP, according to McKinsey & Company.

Technology Revolutionizing Education

The pandemic demonstrated ways in which students could be more creative, and how a creative exam assessment could replace a conventional one. Moodle, Microsoft, Google Education, Screencast-O-Matic, Miro, Zoom, and H5P are just a few of the tools used in classes since COVID-19 to implement the best pedagogical practices.

According to the “Online College Students 2022” report, 87% of graduate and undergraduate online students strongly agreed that the cost of online education was worth it. 73% of students were considered online or partially online in 2020, most likely due to COVID-19, compared to 33% in 2017. Various new technologies are being implemented to make online learning a great experience for students pursuing higher education; one example is the metaverse.

Need For The Metaverse In The Sector

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted all industries. Academic institutions and all businesses now use virtual communication. Students’ academic achievement and willingness to study may suffer from a lack of face-to-face communication and experiential learning. While using the metaverse, students can fully immerse themselves in a virtual classroom. As a result, students gain from a practical learning experience and interact with their teachers in person. The market size for the metaverse in 2022 was $47.48 billion and it will reach $678.80 billion by 2030, at a 39.44% CAGR during 2022–2030.

Virtual Reality (VR) lessons in the classroom are a fantastic way to teach students models and theories. Virtual Reality is used to bring an abstract issue to life. When students participate actively in the metaverse classroom, enhancing their operational skills and offering an immersive learning experience, learning becomes more enjoyable and interesting.

Impact Of The Metaverse On Online Education

The metaverse could revolutionize education. Virtual Reality is gaining popularity among educators and students alike, but implementing technology in the metaverse classroom takes time and patience. To make the best use of these resources, teachers must receive metaverse-related training and access the most up-to-date tools and methodologies.

The metaverse also enables students from various backgrounds to form communities and collaborate on educational activities. As a result, if implemented properly, this concept could revolutionize how students are taught in classrooms. As eLearning has grown in popularity, researchers are looking for the best ways to make it more engaging and interactive.

Some Examples Of How The Metaverse Might Enhance Education

1. Usage Of Augmented Reality In The Metaverse Classroom

With Augmented Reality (AR) technology’s aid, digital projections are done over actual objects to create the illusion of depth. Augmented Reality is utilized for a wide range of educational applications. For example, Augmented Reality can make it easier to see intangible elements and solve problems quickly.

2. Use Of Lifelogging In The Classroom

A great way to record daily thoughts and activities is through lifelogging. Focusing on self-learning experiences can promote the use of the metaverse in education. The metaverse is used to demonstrate and implement real-world feedback.

3. Enhancing Interaction

Teachers can use metaverse to create rooms where they can hold meetings with their students to resolve differences and promote collaboration. Meanwhile, students can set up study areas to collaborate, share information, and have fun while learning. All users can connect, exchange data, interact with similar items, and play games using their avatars. These tools give students more opportunities to interact with one another and their professors.

4. Incorporating Virtual Reality Into The Classroom

The use of Virtual Reality to simulate practical realities in digital contexts may be a defining feature of the education sector’s growth. For example, firefighting training is an expensive endeavor in the real world. A VR simulation of firefighting drills could be a more cost-effective alternative.

Conclusion

Online education has the potential to be more effective than traditional classroom education for those with access to the right tools. Students retain 25–60% more material when learning online. Face-to-face training has much lower information retention rates, ranging from 8–10%. Students can also learn more quickly online than in a traditional classroom. Learning through eLearning takes 40–60% less time than learning in a traditional classroom. Higher education institutions must adopt emerging trends to appeal to students and recognize the opportunity to utilize EdTech to deepen the learning process, as most countries are returning to business as usual and resuming in-classroom studies.

Sources:

• How Online Learning Is Reshaping Higher Education
• Metaverse Market By Components (Hardware, Software, Services), By Platform (Desktop, Mobile, Headsets), By Technology (Blockchain, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), Internet of Things (IoT), Others), By Offering, By Application, By End-Use, By Geography, Size, Share, Global Industry Analysis Report, Forecast, 2022-2030
• Setting a new bar for online higher education
• Online learning: What next for higher education after COVID-19?
• 50 Online Education Statistics: 2021/2022 Data on Higher Learning & Corporate Training