| dc.description.abstract | Though the internet wasn’t invented back then, students began learning from computer terminals that were interlinked to form a network. The first-ever completely online course was offered in 1984 by the University of Toronto. Three years later, the University of Phoenix became the first educational institution in the world to launch a wholly online collegiate institution, offering both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This was the beginning of a revolution whose potential was largely unknown to the public back then, but one that would make learning greatly accessible and within reach of what people could ever have imagined. The Open University in Britain was one of the first universities in the world to begin online distance learning, in the early 1990s. Currently, the Indira Gandhi National Open University in India is the largest university in the world with around 4 million students enrolled, most of whom currently receive education via online methods.
Online learning is no longer just limited to colleges and universities. Right since primary school, online learning is gradually being incorporated into the curriculum. The recent COVID-19 pandemic further illustrates the importance of online learning in today’s school system, as it has proven to be a boon to both students and teachers alike who are unable to attend school due to the risk of disease spread. Beyond high school, online learning is steadily increasing its market share at the pre-university level. Furthermore, e-learning is expanding in presence beyond the traditional fields as well. Online learning has evolved far beyond its original capabilities. Current advances in online learning enable the student to play an active role in the learning process, with regular feedback and assessments. This has greatly improved the effectiveness of the teaching system, bringing it on par with classroom-based learning. Less expensive than traditional teaching methods, vast variety of available courses, sharing information and ideas across the world, flexible in terms of time, money and location, less infrastructure required. Smart phones and computers have played a crucial role in making online learning viable for students. Many open online courses have been introduced for students to get education from different parts of the world. | en_US |
