Why should there be virtual learning?

Mr Nitesh Jain, Founder & CEO, BeSingular opines that only mailing learning material and directing online tests is not enough to inculcate the new normal. Deliberate endeavors must be undertaken to make a supportable, comprehensive, and legitimate learning environment

Q. What is virtual learning?
Virtual learning is a new-age alternative to a traditional classroom setup where the educator uses a digital mode of communication to teach. The system allows students from different geographical locations to attend classes without having to travel or to be present in the same location. Even though a forced opportunity, virtual mode of learning has eliminated several shortcomings of the conventional education models, which majorly focused on rote learning.
Apart from regular curriculum, digital medium allows u se of interactive media including presentations, videos, animations, and augmented reality (AR) based lessons that are more interesting and implement in a better understanding of the concepts for children.
With the recent change of Education policy and structure in India, use of technology and teaching of technologybased curriculums will definitely see a rise in India.

Q. Why should there be virtual learning?
E-learning offers flexibility of space and time and it provides a uniform access to the learning material, enabling learning happening in any area irrespective of the geographical location of teacher or students. It brings uniformity and discipline in students, where all have an equal platform to share their views and be heard by all at the same time. An added flexibility to have such sessions recorded, brings revision and revisiting to the lesson very easy. This uniformity also enables children with relatively shy nature to have more effective communication. The virtualization of classrooms has also reduced the requirement of the physical assets that were previously required for the education.
 With the stabilization of this medium, the overheads of physical school infrastructure will be reduced, resulting in lower fee and more time availability for teachers and students.
It is a surprisingly beneficial development for students and teachers who live with disability or have disability issues that discourage them to take on the traditional form of learning. It has brought about an expansion in digital proficiency among the two major contributors, which is required to prepare them for an advanced educating framework.

 Q. Not just academic, but promotes skill-based learning as well
Unlike the traditional education system, online learning is less constrained. Students have a choice as well as an access to learning about different topics that are proposed to be included in the revised education policy. Upcoming themes such as exponential technologies that includes Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, AR/VR, Machine Learning, and Programming are the need of the hour to be included in the curriculum in order to create a non-linear education system, where students are equally equipped with the problem solving, creative and critical thinking skills. The access to such curriculum is now not dependent on the schools or teachers, as online medium provides them the access to these essential life skills.

Q. More expansive online learning is the need of the hour
 In order to make the most of this opportunity and make online learning the new normal, there is a need to consider and plan new models of approach. Online learning is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires thoughtfully designed structure, including a diversifying model, which permits collaborations with global education institutes; separate classes into focus groups; and enable students to adapt self-learning capabilities.