Ntmrry Issues in I: E-Learning and Online Education - Report Example

Contemporary Issues in IТ: E-Learning and Online Education Name Institution Соntеmроrаry Issues in IТ: E-Learning and Online Education Introduction Information technology has impacted many institutions significantly whether in the social, political or economic aspects, and education institutions are no exception. Businesses in the education, banking, manufacturing, communications sector among others in present days are experiencing high competition due to the globalization concepts that has seen business institutions whether small, medium and large size transcends boundaries to conduct business and explore the international market. Information technology in businesses whether involved in the production of goods or services has proved critical to enable them remain competitive in the globalized market and overcome competition, thus, enabling the businesses to realize their desired goals and objectives. Information technology has achieved increased changes and innovation in the technology and applications used for many businesses and other sectors and institutions as well that mainly have targeted improved and efficient use that enhance the objectives of the intended firms and users. The continuous use of IT not only in the education sector has experienced many issues in the contemporary times. For example, the IT has impacted the E-Learning and Online Education significantly in the present times that have resulted in many institutions embracing the concept (Mathewson, 2016). The rapid changes have thus compelled business among other organizations to research continuously on the newer technology developed and improved older technologies and, thus, change with the times to ensure they remain efficient and effective towards their desired outcomes in the business. It has compelled business institutions among others organizations that embrace Information technology to train their staff on the newer technology used to enable them to remain competitive and productive enabling the businesses institutions to realize their desired outcomes with ease. The E-Learning and Online Education issue have thus impacted the education sector largely and fill the gap that existed especially resulting from time constraints and geographical barriers that had limited many from accessing their desires of getting quality education to further their careers and professions. IT thus has affected all sectors and operational processes of the institution from planning, executing the plans and analyzing the outcomes related to goals and objectives of the organizations. Many higher institutions of learning have thus put in place infrastructure that enhances and encourages E-Learning and Online Education, an indication of the relevance and impact that the IT has had in the education sector. Other institutions and businesses such as banking, manufacturing, Insurance, hospitality industry among others have also embraced the use of IT in their production processes. Importance of the issue in higher education The E-Learning and Online Education has impacted the higher education sector significantly. The higher education sector's curriculum developers design programs and courses that intended to address the global challenges and, hence, train their students in skills, knowledge, and competencies that would enable them to become better problem-solvers after college education. In the contemporary times, e-learning, for instance, has proved to be among the fundamental and essential skills that people require to remain competitive in all sectors of the job market whether touching on the political, economic or social aspects of life. Every aspect of the contemporary society has embraced IT making learning in higher institutions of learning an essential subject taught to students. Many institutions thus have made e-learning among the common courses taught to their students despite the faculty or career path that students pursue whether in the medicine and health department, business, agriculture, communication, education among many others. Additionally, the higher institutions in many places in the world have embraced the use of e-learning technologies that they use to conduct their programs in the various institutions. It entails software’s developed purposely to facilitate the learning processes. The technologies have enabled learning processes to take place from diverse geographical positions where it is possible for professor and students to interact and learn using techniques in real-time. The online education sectors have thus led to increased enrollment in higher institutions in the world as the conventional ways of education teaching mainly using classrooms and lecture halls have changed. Many of the higher institutions have embraced both means of education delivery including online education. It has given potential clients (students) engaged in other activities such as work and career-related to enhance their education, profession and careers at their convenient time further increasing the pool of knowledge and business objectives for institutions of higher learning. Competition among higher education providers has become stiff and; hence, institutions that have embraced E-Learning and Online Education have an advantage over others. It gives them a competitive advantage besides transforming the experience and process of learning. The technology has also given students who intend to study at various higher educational institutions of their choice overcome the barriers related to geographical positions and barriers resulting from a distance. It has, therefore, created many job opportunities and employment related to IT in such institutions that have embraced E-Learning and Online Education programs. The issue related to IT has thus impacted the higher education positively that has proved important. Another critical importance that E-Learning and Online Education has brought relates to reduced costs as most online provided education program are slightly cheaper than when attended when using the standard means. Literature Study The subject of E-Learning and Online Education has dominated the current debates related to reforms in the education sectors. It has received praise and critique in the same measure related to the quality of the education offered through such programs and especially in situations where students are required to do practical applications and programs in the field of study taught. The debate thus among critiques has remained that the program is only limited to the type of courses offered and cannot be applied in all sectors of learning especially the areas related to practical skills and training that are required for one to be approved and affirmed to have qualified in the courses and fields trained. The issues of quality, therefore, have become a subject that most critiques of the E-Learning and Online Education have presented in many of the debates relating to the subject. However, on the other hand, most of the people that are pro the programs have praised for widening the pool of choices that it provides to students to receive their education goals in life, and they point out mostly the positive impact that it has had to adult education programs (Miller et al., 2014). Many conferences of both national and international levels held concerning the E-Learning and Online Education in many places in the world to address the concerns raised relating from the programs as well as build and expand the programs to newer heights. The concerns have affected many stakeholders involved in the education sectors such as researchers, educators, curriculum developers and politician among others who have tried to address and raise the concerns related to the programs such as issues of accreditation, quality standards, learner motivation and attrition, and innovative assessments among other issue of fears in the E-Learning and Online Education. The questions raised related to the program has formed the main critical aspects for researchers interested in the subject that has developed the primary thesis in their studies where key findings and practical solutions to concerns have been recommended in most of the results of research (Bonk, 2015). The E-Learning and Online Education has experienced challenges related to cultural differences. Since the program embraces people from all backgrounds, in some instances it has experienced cultural challenges related to not only language but also other cultural aspects and meanings given to various phenomenon’s that happen in the world. However, many institutions that engage in the programs have set up measures to counter such challenges related to cultural issues by providing alternatives sources of information delivery such as language and using local examples specific to related clients or students (Edmundson, 2006). Most of the challenges experienced by the higher institutions related to culture mostly occur in less developed countries whereby they record the lowest number of users of IT related technology such as computers and cybercafés among others. They lack the IT ‘culture’ attributed to many factors such as poverty and lower levels of developments. However, in the contemporary times, many developing countries have embraced the IT culture and related concepts and have posted growing and expanding markets enabling the E-Learning and Online Education programs to develop rapidly in such areas contrary to many expectations. The challenges and drawback that the program had encountered from lack of proper and direct communication from learners and instructors that many agree is an important aspect of learning processes as the non-verbal communication aspects contribute to a great extent to effective communication and learning, they have developed tools and technologies that enable real-time delivery of information and interaction processes where learners and instructors can see each other and interact actively as would be the case in the customary classrooms and lecture halls. The number of institutions of higher learning has increased that offer E-Learning and Online Education programs, an indication of the impact that IT continues to have not only in the education sector but also other areas in the business world. Technology and Tools The execution of E-Learning and Online Education requires technology and tools that support the varied programs used by learners and professors. Incorporation of mobile devices in teaching and learning has enabled both Synchronous and asynchronous learning technologies employed in the E-Learning and Online Education. The Synchronous learning technologies enable learners to learn face-to-face similar to traditional classrooms. All students engage and participate through collaboration, sharing and asking questions in real-time. The technology used includes webcasts, telephone conferences, video conferencing and interactive learning models among others. Virtual worlds and chat rooms are also used to support synchronous learning techniques. On the other hand, asynchronous learning enables students to interact and learn in their own time interacting with other peers and learners and at the same time reflecting on their personal outcomes and goals in the learning process. It provides students with more time and is the most popular as most of the materials are acquired free of charge requiring minimum hardware. The tools used include access to computer, internet, communication gadgets with earphones and mouth pieces, mobile phone applications among others. Teacher’s and instructors have also embraced the use of videos, games, slideshows and interactive group activities that have resulted in increased use of E-Learning and Online Education. Technology developers companies that make both hardware’s and software’s have further made the programs easier and more efficient as they have developed software’s that have enabled access to online components of blended/ hybrid courses from mobile devices such as cell phone and computers such as udutu, Turnitin, and Smartbuilder among many others software applications that users can download and use on their devices. Electronic books among other sites that enhance E-Learning and Online Education are familiar phenomena that have contributed significantly to the idea and programs that support the concept. Some program and software developed have enabled learners to assess and analyze their progress by providing on-line options that can examine their development towards the materials learned. Conclusion In conclusion, E-Learning and Online Education is among the many issues related to IT that has impacted the education sector in many positive ways. Other issues have also played a great role in administering the education sectors and institutions involved enabling the management and leadership to meet their goals and objectives with ease. The same impact realized in the education sector has also been felt in other industries resulting from IT such as banking, manufacturing, public administration, hospitality industry among many others. It indicates that the contemporary business environment has embraced the culture and use of IT to remain competitive in the business. IT is adopted in all stages and processes of operations in the varied sectors and in specified issues as noted in the E-Learning and Online Education in the education sector. The subject has its challenges that have contributed significantly to debates and literature that scholars and other stakeholders interested in the subject have actively got involved. Such discussion and forums have attracted a broad interest among researchers that have studied the concerns and produced findings as noted in the many international conferences held related to the E-Learning and Online Education. Such findings have also led to the development of technology and tools that support the issue as an affirmation that E-Learning and Online Education is here to stay and a way of acquiring education and training now and in the future. References Bonk, C. J. (2015). Moocs and Open Education around the World. Routledge, New York Edmundson, A. (2006). Globalized E-Learning, Cultural Challenges. Hershey, PA [u.a.: Information Science Publ. Mathewson, T. G. (2016, January 13). ‘What are Educause's top 10 IT issues and technologies of 2016? The leading higher ed technology association urges institutions to divest, reinvest, differentiate.’ EDUCATIONDIVE. Miller, G. E., Benke, M., Chaloux, B. N., Ragan, L. C., Schroeder, R., Smutz, W., & Swan, K. (2014). Leading the E-Learning Transformation of Higher Education: Meeting the Challenges of Technology and Distance Education. Stylus Publishing, LLC: in association with the Sloan Consortium, Inc.: Sterling, Virginia Read More