It is an education in which there is a learning environment where teacher and student are separated by time, space or both or we can say that it is a method of learning that is conducted online. Before Virtual Education, students used to learn in classrooms. With the advancements in IT, Virtual Education was widely spread. It is becoming more actual face then class rooms.
It was introduced for the students who couldn’t come to the educational institution for many reasons. Now it is becoming more popular and the students who attend classes are also learning online education. The teacher provides all its course contents through communication mode like multimedia resources, the internet, video conferencing etc.They communicate with each other and learn their education.
Modes for Virtual Education:
Now days there are wide spectrum of instruction modes available for example:
· Virtual Classroom
· Video Based Courses
· Hypertext Courses
· Animated Courses
· Audio Courses
· Peer to Peer Courses
· Web Supported Textbook Courses
Pros and Cons of Virtual Education:
Of course online education has its pros. One of the most important pro of Virtual Education is the flexibility and convenience. You can do your ease and make your own schedule of work and learning. Second pro is the availability of credible courses. You can earn your entire degree online.
Thirdly the most important pro is the cost factor. As you have to learn at one place so there are no living and traveling charges. It is always lower than attending classes in colleges and universities. It is very beneficial for independent learners. Students learning online have very much improved technological skills as they have to navigate programs for classes. This factor is extremely valuable to future employers.
Where there are many pros in getting online education there are also cons associated with this learning method. Firstly the main disadvantage is hiring he compatible teachers. As online teachers don’t have the technological skills as compared to traditional class teachers to make the class effective. The second con is that there is no competition between the students as there is no social interaction between them.
The other con is testing and work credibility. As in online education no one knows who is sitting on the other end. There is a much chance of cheating and so strength and weakness of student can’t be examined. Procrastination can ruin virtual education. The flexibility in an online education can become the biggest con.
Conclusion:
Increased interaction between learning and technology is inevitable. As the distance learning has many benefits and in few years many universities would be launching online courses.