The Major Types of E-Learning in Education
Finding the Right Digital Education Tools for Teachers and Students
The pandemic and subsequent school closings have brought online learning into the spotlight as students worldwide have had to turn to it to continue their education. Although many students do not have a choice in the type of e-learning that their school is offering, there are additional methods that students can engage in independently, when they are not in the virtual classroom. To do this, parents, as well as students need to discover the many ways that e-learning can take place. While there is technology and connectivity involved, the many different methodologies and practices available may not always be right for your specific educational purposes. To make the right choice, we’ll outline the many different types of electronic learning.
The Different Types of e Learning in Education
The many iterations of online learning give students a lot of flexibility when it comes to their preferred method. Some are very specific and limiting so it depends on a student’s preferences and schedule as to what suits them best. All of these methods are enabled by internet connectivity and the requisite hardware like laptops, PCs, and tablets, which are essential tools for online learning.
One-on-One Tutoring
This form of electronic learning should be familiar to most as it was prevalent even before the pandemic. But even though in-person, one-on-one tutoring was the norm, it can also be done online. The technological requirements are also minimal as students and tutors need only communicate via a video-teleconferencing platform like Zoom or Skype.
Tutoring, in general, is often a supplement to a student’s central academic career. It gives students a chance to improve or, in some cases, master a particular subject matter or discipline. Tutoring is also common in the run-up to important entrance exams and other merit-based application processes.
With tutoring, however, students are largely responsible for keeping up with assignments and coursework. During online tutoring sessions, students and tutors can work through new lessons and information together, but afterward, the student must review their work independently as the tutor does not play a role in supervising their work outside of the tutoring sessions.
Asynchronous Learning
Asynchronous learning is a term that has been popping up a lot recently. The term refers to learning done outside of the fixed environment of real-time classes and lectures. Students learn on their own, offline. Asynchronous learning is common among all student types from grade-school students to university students.
It is also the most common method for online learning unrelated to formal education, such as e-learning websites like Skillshare or Udemy. These platforms offer students video-based tutorials and assignments that students complete independent of any teacher or instructor guiding them through the process.
Synchronous Learning
Another term that has been bandied about during the pandemic, synchronous learning is learning in real-time, at a fixed date and time with students actively participating in a live class or lecture. This form of e-learning aims to replicate the classroom via an online setting. Synchronous learning is enabled via many different types of software and platforms that include typical applications like Zoom or Skype.
There are, however, other types of applications configured to different grade levels and schools. Some platforms enable comments and chats during live sessions so students can better interact with their instructors, as well as other students. Others also offer teachers the ability to pause their lesson and speak directly to the online class or answer questions from individual students.
Collaborative Online Study
Students learn from each other as much as they do from their instructors and textbooks. Study groups and collaborative efforts, in general, are mainstays of education for all levels. This type of learning is made more difficult during the pandemic but there are still ways for students to connect online to help each other through challenging subject matter.
Students can connect via social media applications like Facebook, as well as message each other, share thoughts and ideas via message boards, which are usually set up between students at the outset of a new course or class. Collaborative learning is also not restricted to higher education, as more platforms aimed at elementary and secondary school students feature virtual, collaborative study times.
Data-Driven Online Learning
This type of e-learning may be known by other names but it typically involves the gathering of student data – like grades, feedback, time spent on certain subjects – to enable instructors the ability to adapt their materials to better suit either the entire class or individual learners. This type of e-learning technology is by far the most advanced of any on this list as it involves artificial intelligence in learning.
Many next-generation learning platforms have AI applications built into them that analyze important data parameters and report them to head instructors. Some platforms even go so far as to play the role of learning assistants who quiz and pose questions to students about the relevant material that they have just studied.
These types of e-learning technologies may become more dominant soon and even after the pandemic. They offer a deeper insight into a student’s proclivities and allow teachers to structure classes that are more effective at letting students absorb, retain, and analyze new information in a way that appeals to them.
Communicative Online Learning
Communication between learners and instructions is crucial to school-based learning at every level. Adapting methods of communication for the Covid-era has not been difficult given the abundance of communication-based educational and social platforms now available. However, Skype, Zoom and online chats are not the only ways for learners to communicate with their instructors and vice-versa.
When it comes to document sharing applications like Lumin PDF offer students and teachers a way to communicate with each other indirectly via the documents they share. Lumin is especially useful as it lets students and instructors make comments and annotations and highlight relevant passages.