By Santosh, Business Head for the Learning Solutions Business Unit at Edutech India D2L
Technology has revolutionised almost all aspects of our lives and it has the capacity to do so in the education sector as well. Global education technology leaders like D2L see the potential in online learning and how it can reshape education in India. Their Brightspace LMS, which is one of the world’s leading learning management systems, is now available through Edutech to Indian schools, colleges and institutions looking to future-proof the way of education.
However, before deciding on taking this next step, let us first understand why online learning is crucial for the overall success of a student.
Anytime, anywhere access
With eLearning, learners can access any class, from any part of the world, at any time. They can record classes, pause and replay them at their own convenience. They can go back and review the study material, which allows them to retain the information better.
Additionally, each child has individual access to their course area, which enables them to work on individual projects or collaborate with peers as appropriate. The mobility and portability of their singular devices allow them easy access, enabling them to stay connected to their classroom resources and personal learning networks.
No child left behind: learn at your own pace
In traditional classrooms, learners of different capabilities perform differently and slow learners can get left behind. This is where eLearning steps in and takes different approaches for overall educational enrichment for all types of learners. Online learning offers students the freedom to be able to learn independently, customising a curriculum to accommodate individual learning styles.
In its most basic sense, online learning offers a more tailored approach as it gives each student the ability to take control of their learning timeline, actively practice their style of learning within the guidelines of the curriculum and keep track of their proficiency.
Game-based learning: increases engagement
Paying attention is harder than ever now, thanks to the constant deluge of information and the plethora of distractions that surround us every day. So much so that instructors agree that keeping learners engaged is one of the key challenges that they face every day. Learners have become accustomed to technology in their daily lives and have started to expect a degree of interactivity and engagement in their learning journey.
It is in this context that game-based learning plays an important role. Studies have highlighted that game-based learning incites passion, builds an emotional connect and improves learning outcomes. D2L’s Brightspace LMS allows instructors to incorporate game-based learning pedagogy in their courses. Through the use of avatars, badges, leader boards and other gamification elements, the courses can be made highly interactive and engaging.
Personalised, instantaneous feedback
Feedback can be a powerful force in classrooms. Personalised, targeted feedback creates a strong rapport between students and teachers. Being seen as an individual helps students to build trust with their teachers and creates a fulfilling and working relationship.
Immediate feedback is a pedagogical methodology that believes feedback is most effective when it is provided right after the completion of an assignment or assessment. The Brightspace platform allows instructors to provide personalised feedback via text, audio or video means in a time-bound manner.
Structured learning
A structured learning environment ensures better learning outcomes by eliminating distractions. This is applicable to both self-paced and blended learning models. The Brightspace LMS facilitates this by enabling educators to structure their course. Submodules or chapters within a course, learning activities or additional courses can be made available to learners based on the learner’s activities, such as securing a required minimum score, achieving a competency or completing a task.
This ensures that learners acquire knowledge in a sequential and structured manner. The resources are developed to match defined learning objectives, which the learners are able to use as a checklist or guide. Furthermore, it also allows for structured feedback to be given periodically. As such, conceptual errors can be easily corrected, preventing the repetition of the mistakes.
Optimising teacher efficiency
The primary job of an instructor is to facilitate learning, but instructors worldwide will agree that they are tied up with numerous administrative and repetitive tasks. Platforms such as Brightspace can play an important role to boost the efficiency of teachers by automating some of these tasks and allowing educators to best utilise their time and resources. The platform allows teachers to spend more time teaching and less time managing administrative tasks.
Standardised teaching & assessment quality
Adopting a campus-wide learning platform allows institutions to glean the best resources possible and standardise the quality of learning experience. When an institution adopts a campus-wide learning platform such as the Brightspace LMS, it is able to offer access to the best resources to all students. It is common to find students across different batches in the same academic programme being taught by different teachers. If one of the teachers is a better educator, then this would result in one batch getting an extra edge over the other.
Similarly, an assessment or an assignment submitted by a student may be graded differently by different teachers. Brightspace eliminates such inequalities through the use of video-based lectures and rubrics-based assessments. The latter enables students to benchmark their work, with the requirements to work on the exact areas of improvement.
Peer learning
Educators agree that peer learning fosters a deeper understanding of concepts. Students learn from one another through group activities and support groups. In other words, peer learning helps students consider themselves and their peers as valuable members of the educational environment, as opposed to relying solely on the academic material for guidance, affirmation and feedback.
It also enables students to work cooperatively, rather than competitively. This essentially creates a cohesive environment which increases overall productivity. Brightspace supports peer learning through the use of discussion forums, instant messengers and other collaboration tools.
Better visibility for parents
With online learning, parents are able to better monitor their child’s progress and note their specific areas of improvement. Unlike during the traditional classroom curriculum, where parents are able to only work with the limited information their child brings back home, LMS platforms keep track of the exact learning progress of each individual student.
With Brightspace LMS’s parent portal, parents can supervise their children at their own convenience, an option most stay-at-home parents and work-from-home professionals are readily warming up to.
eLearning is the future of education
D2L together with Edutech India understand the challenges that students face during the course of their traditional education across schools and colleges in India. While it is imperative to their development, not all students can utilise creativity, passion for learning and their unique abilities within a classroom setting. Ranked number one for both Higher Ed and Adaptive Learning, the Brightspace LMS can also be used seamlessly across all mobile devices, making eLearning much more convenient and accessible to all.
Tap into all the personalised eLearning benefits and use an LMS that helps give learners a much higher chance of success in the attainment of their educational goals.
