Online learning (sometimes called eLearning) is the educational experience that delivers class materials, support, and assessments via the Internet. Students study at home, in the office, or wherever they choose to be – all while gaining valuable knowledge and preparing for future career success.
In the past, universities used telegrams and postal mail to deliver education to remote learners; however, the development of the Internet and other electronic communication platforms has led to online learning becoming more and more common. Today, the most advanced online learning platforms combine a variety of features to create engaging and interactive educational experiences that have been proven to increase student success and retention rates.
Unlike traditional in-person university courses, online learning is flexible and allows students to complete assignments at their own pace. This gives students more control over their learning and allows them to develop the time-management skills necessary for academic success. Furthermore, asynchronous discussions enable learners to read and reflect on comments from classmates before responding – thus allowing students to actively participate in only those parts of the discussion that speak directly to their interests.
Additionally, asynchronous interactions through virtual classrooms and group project spaces help students develop a sense of community in their online courses. These platforms also allow instructors to provide students with real-time feedback and answer questions – an invaluable aspect for students with complex course material or who have a lot of questions about the subject matter.
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