Online Learning & Independent Learning

Online Education is a melting pot for educators
According to Wisegeek (2012), online learning will rapidly become one of the most cost-effective ways to educate the world’s expanding workforce.Online education is an approach to teaching and learning that utilizes Internet technologies to communicate and collaborate in an educational context (wisegeek, 2012).  This includes technology that supply traditional classroom training with web-based components and learning environments where the educational process is experienced online (wisegeek, 2012).Course work is conducted through electronic forums, discussion groups, external resources, quizzes, social rooms, and online submitted assignments (wisegeek, 2012). Learning activities also include small group work and project work and throughout the course you have the guidance of one of our professional online tutors (wisegeek, 2012).

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31-03-2012
Why do students like online learning?
If there are geographical, transportation issues students are unable to attend to the classes on time. But from this online learning students are happy that they can avoid the issues for their studies. From this there are many benefits for a student to achieve in the life as follows.

• Students can attend the program/class anytime from any location. Even the student is not well the parents/ friend can attend to the class with a internet access.
• Enables student centered teaching approaches. Student can use any method for learning by doing something.
• Course materials are accessible in 24/7. Students can have a look for those and can conduct discussions too.

Scciowa (2012)

• Online instructors come with practical knowledge and may be from any location across the globe. This allows students to be exposed to knowledge that can't be learned in books and see how class concepts are applied in real business situations.
• Because online institutions often offer "chat rooms" for informal conversation between students, where student bios and non class discussions can take place, there appears to be a increased bonding over traditional class environments.
• The online environment makes instructors more approachable. Students can talk openly with their teachers through online chats, email and in newsgroup discussions, without waiting for office hours that may not be convenient. This option for communication provides enhanced contact between instructors and students.

Node (2012)

According to Slideshare (2012), Naline Abeyasekara has pointed out that, Open Universty Sri Lanka has introduced 1 fullly online course from engneering and science, Now there are 3289 students learning online this course in sri lanka. Students can access to the course materials from National Online Distance Eduation Access Centers which is shown in the map in the right side.

While reading this post everybody can get a fun by watching this video on the online learning.
                       PearsonFdtn (2012)
01-04-2012
Online Learning Set for Explosive Growth as Traditional Classrooms Decline

According to Campustechnology (2011), Nagel has expressed that;By 2015, 25 million post-secondary students in the US will be taking classes online. And as that happens, the number of students who take classes fully on physical campuses will drop, from 14.4 million in 2010 to just 4.1 million five years later.

More than six million college and university students took at least one online course during the fall 2010 term, an increase of 560,000 students over the previous year.  This almost 10% growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the less-than-1% growth in the overall higher education student population nationwide. 

Independent Learning

Newsomehigh.kirklees (2012)

This is referred as self-directed learning (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010). This involves students taking initiative in recognizing learning requirements to meet them. This is a form of education offered by high schools, colleges, other educational institutions around the world (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010). A  course of study that a student does according to a plan a course of study in cooperation with a willing tutor or instructor (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010).


Why independent learning?

• In the changing world people need to learn new things to do. 
• Universities use this method mostly than teaching the students.
•  IT strategies encourage students to learn actively                     (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010)

Nature of Independent learning

• Students take more responsibility for their learning. 
• Students need to approach work in the questioning manner.            (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010)

Library.bishopluffa (2012)

Characteristics of independent learners 

1. Curiosity - Independent learners want to find out more advanced things about the world. They seek out, ways to explore. They learn from various formats and technologies in the modern world.
2. Self-motivation - Forget bribery. Independent learners are motivated by setting the own internal goals to achieve. They are driven by the own personal achievements.
3. Self-examination - Independent learners know how to evaluate themselves. They can see their strengths and weaknesses. 
4. Accountability - Responsibility means knowing what you have to do and doing it without anyone telling you to. 
5. Critical thinking - Independent learners think critically of a situation. 
6. Comprehension with little  - Independent learners have ability to read, visualize themselves. 
7. Persistence - Independent learners don't give up. 

(Aoacademy, 2012)

How can teachers promote independent learning in classrooms? 
According to ilearn.20m (2012), there are many ways that learner training can be merge into regular classroom activities in order to promote more independence in learners .

1.  Give choices
Giving students standard chance to make choices will encourage them to reveal on their own interests and preferences.  It will also make them start to take responsibility for learning. 

2.  Encourage group work
Group work is helpful to provides learners with an opportunity to learn from each other in an active.

3.  Encourage learners to forecast how well they did on tests
Before teachers return a test paper to their students, they could encourage the students to consider how well they did. This will start them mirroring about their strengths and weaknesses and the progress they are making. 

4.  Set some learning goals
The students may have never had the opportunity to set learning goals. Initially setting learning goals will require a lot of help from teachers

5.  Use valid texts
Authentic texts are materials which were not originally designed for learning purposes.  They might include newspaper or magazine articles, TV, radio recordings and so on. 

6. Involve learners in lesson planning
Teachers could invite their students to help plan the lesson from time to time. This will ensure that the lesson is interesting and relevant for them.                                                                                 (ilearn.20m, 2012)

Muhsd.k12.ca(2012)

According to authors experience the independent learning is is possible to increase graduation as well as passing rate of the exams of the universities and institutions. So that in the independent learning student are able to do  the research while following the lectures and refresh the mind by adding additional knowledge. This helps mainly for the students to be bright in some fields. The independent learning is always funny and here pupils can do the own way of practices for the studies to gain better grades. When i met a graduate in an university he said he only did the independent studies to pass the exams well and now he is proud of that.. 

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