Transformation of Education System: Online Education is a demand for the time

 Transformation of Education System: Online Education is a demand for the time

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Not to go far away from the topic and remains concentrated on describing the transformation of the education system from Gurukul to Pitkul, (full-time guru supervision to part-time guru supervision) distance education and online education. 

In the ancient era, we were having education in Gurkul where the pupils leave the Pitakull and spend time in gurukul. Guru used to provide him gradual education which was required for a normal human being to perform the day to activity including the rule. Why did I mention the rule here because education was limited to some people not for everyone, now it is other topics of discussion why? Maybe other people were not thinking to have it because of their personal choice, necessity or was not allowed! This kind of education was provided in a very constrained manner and it has been given for centuries and centuries. It was mainly based on the heart-to-heart transfer of knowledge.

Some of the people feel the need to maintain the record of Guru’s lesson – The record was planted on bark, stone, leaves, rocks etc. It has been modified as per the development of civilization and now we have paper and soft copies on the internet, and you can say in bits and qubits.

 Then the time came when we have a lot of direct shiksha (lesson) records from famous Gurus of their time in their original form in the record system. It brings humans to leave the Gurukul slowly. So, the formation of books was begun, and the education system observed a drastic change. It was the second milestone in the education system after the first milestone of having a Guru for shiksha. The earlier system was having full-time supervision under a guru and heart-to-heart transfer of knowledge along with the practical stuff now we were having part-time supervision with books or written forms of things. The change was criticized as usual, but it was a need of the hour. It went on its own way and was accepted in society.

It was always a race among humans to have the best and more education and hence people were thirsty to take more than one guru. The possibility of attending two, three, four or five Guru in a short span of life was not viable. And then the book came into action to fill this gap, the thirst for having more and more knowledge was fulfilled by the book or the record from different Guru’s. The reason for having this thirst was to develop social and be a respected elite people. Like we same have it today.

All the education is to develop society and upgrade the standard of living with peace, harmony, and equal distribution of wealth. However, the last word equal distribution seems to be a myth since the ancient era and still has the co-status.

The combination of book and four-wall education under limited supervision from the full-time supervision of Guru went to different heights. The system did better for centuries and remains at its peak.

However, when our necessities and priority changed then we feel to add something to the system. we brought distance education where physical attendance was not required and students have to study the notes from the university and submit the assignment, however, they were still required to attend the exam physically in the university or at a designated centre. It was a cheaper education with respect to formal education because of less interaction with the university, the student was offered the degree courses at a very cheap price.

It was appreciated and criticized, it was said to have developed a society without teachers and so many things. However, distance education brought changes in human's life and acceptance was given in stages.

Now in recent times, we are witnessing another change in the forms of online education which is quite different from distance education a bit close to physical education and a bit far from distance education. This is something which is given through the internet under the virtual presence through a webcam. This can include a wide range of formats, such as video lectures, interactive quizzes, readings, and discussions. Online education can be self-paced or synchronous (real-time) and can take place in a variety of settings, including traditional colleges and universities, MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), boot camps, and professional development programs.

The certificate courses were accepted before too but the degree in online education is also accepted now after approval from the UGC (University Grant Commission).

People were not having a good feeling about online education, however, in Coivid-19 period all education went online with no other choice, and they observed the credibility and capability of online education by force. Now they started seeing it as another option.

In my view, the developing trend for job-specific skills may rise online education where many IT companies have announced to take workforce based on certification from Courser
a, google and LinkedIn etc. In fact, Coursera is offering degree programmes from many well-known universities.

Online education can offer dropouts or people who have not finished their education a second chance to continue their studies and obtain a degree or certificate.

Compared to traditional education, online learning can be more affordable because there are frequently no housing or travel expenditures, and certain online degree programs may charge reduced tuition.

online education can offer a way for people to learn and develop skills who might not have access to traditional education. It can also be a financially viable option for people who want to further their education.

Many people who might not have otherwise had the chance to seek education now have greater access to it thanks to online learning. Here are some ways that online education might help close knowledge gaps:

Access to education for rural or underserved locations: Where traditional brick-and-mortar institutions may not be available, online education can offer access to educational possibilities for persons living in remote or underserved areas.
Flexibility for non-traditional students: Online education can offer flexibility to non-traditional students who may not be able to attend traditional classes, such as working adults or those with family responsibilities.
Alternative for people with disabilities: For people with impairments who might find it challenging to attend typical classes in person, online education provides an option.

The sector has changed in several ways thanks to online education, including:

Access has increased: People who might not be able to attend conventional brick-and-mortar institutions, like those who live in remote areas, have impairments, or have employment or family commitments, are now more likely to be able to pursue an education.

Flexibility: Online learning gives students the freedom to study when and how they want, which is particularly advantageous for non-traditional students and adults who are working.

Cost Savings: Since there are frequently no housing or travel fees associated with online education, it can be more affordable than traditional schooling.

Variety of course offerings: Compared to traditional educational institutions, online educational platforms provide a broader range of courses and programs, which can be advantageous for students who want to pursue specialized or specialized fields of study.

Technology advancements: The growth of online education has sparked the creation of new tools and technologies that improve the educational process, including virtual reality, AI, and adaptive learning.

Blended learning: By promoting blended learning, which combines traditional and online education, online education has also revolutionized the sector. This approach can be advantageous for both students and teachers, resulting in the best possible learning environment.

Globalization: Online learning has made it possible for both students and teachers to access audiences throughout the world.

There are several universities in India that offer online bachelor and master courses, some of the popular universities that offer such courses are:

·         Lovely Professional University: One of the best universities in India that provides a wide range of online and distance education including bachelor's and master's degrees such as B.A, B.Com, M.A, M.Com, MBA, MCA and many more.

·         Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS): BITS offers a variety of online degree programs in fields such as Engineering, Management, and Sciences: B Tech, M Tech, MBA and many more

·         Amity Global Business School: Amity Global Business School offers a wide range of online master courses such as MBA, M.Tech, and M.Sc.

·         Sikkim Manipal University: Sikkim Manipal University offers a wide range of online bachelor and master courses such as BBA, BCA, MBA, MCA, M.Sc, and many more.

·         Bharathiar University: Bharathiar University offers a wide range of online master courses such as MBA, MCA, M.Sc, M.A and many more.

·         Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute: Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute offers a wide range of online master courses such as MBA, MCA, M.Sc, M.A and many more.

·         Alagappa University: Alagappa University offers a wide range of online bachelor and master courses such as B.A, B.Com, B.Sc, M.A, M.Com, M.Sc, MBA, MCA and many more.

·         Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU): IGNOU offers a wide range of online bachelor and master courses such as B. A, B.Com, B.Sc, M.A, M.Com, M.Sc, MBA, MCA and many more.

·         Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL): SCDL offers a wide range of online bachelor and master courses such as BBA, BCA, MBA, MCA, and PGDBA.

·         Annamalai University: Annamalai University offers a wide range of online bachelor and master courses such as B.A, B.Com, B.Sc, M.A, M.Com, M.Sc, MBA, MCA, and many more.

It should be noted that, there are many universities and institutes in India offering online bachelor and master courses, the above-mentioned are some of the most popular and well-known in the industry with a good reputation.

 

Disclaimer: To take an online degree course in India that is recognized by the UGC, you must ensure that the program is offered by a university that is accredited by the UGC or by another recognized accreditation body. You can check the list of recognized universities on the UGC website. Additionally, you should also verify that the program you are interested in has been approved by the UGC.

Please note that the regulations and rules of UGC are subject to change and it's always better to check the official website for updated information.