online learning- a new perspective

                                                           

                        The education system we have today was created in the 19^th century to serve a different time with different needs. Educators borrowed the concept of uniformity and processed students in batches. The teachers could teach "the same subjects, in the same way, and at the same pace" to all students in the classroom. When most jobs required so-called knowledge workers this standardized student treatment was successful. Now that we ask more students to master higher-order knowledge and skills, this arrangement falls short. If the goal is to educate every student to the highest potential, the education system needs to be transformed from the present-day model where time is fixed and learning is variable into a student-centric model with a modular design that enables affordable mass customization so that time becomes the variable and learning can be the constant. In a time of budget cuts to do better with fewer resources the way to accomplish lies in the power of disruptive innovation. Community colleges and online universities have progressively made education more convenient and affordable. Online degree programs have created incredible opportunities beyond geographic and time constraints. Internet supported distance courses form a critical pressure point for challenging the characteristics of the existing traditionally organized Universities. With education taking place online, students could learn "any time, any place, any path, any pace". Online education is not without pitfalls. Impersonal Communication, Time and Energy Drain, Technology, Learning Style, Financial Cost are some of the challenges faced by online learners. Since most communication take place via written messages,  writing skills and the ability to put thoughts into words are paramount. Without this competence, the students experience significant frustration. On the other hand online learning allows flexibility which is important for students with other commitments in pursuing university course work. We will examine the promises, problems, and the future possibilities in modern distance learning, particularly online learning.