E-learning

e-learning.
something that students love, yet also hate as well.

this technology of being able to set up a virtual classroom is a very vital tool for the education system as people and students become more tech-savvy and rely a lot more on technology and computers. the ability to have a classroom virtually helps students to learn in a more interactive way, being able to use multimedia hands-on coupled with learning. having e-learning also provides another plus point - learning can be done over geographical boundaries. one example would be UB itself. some modules are totally online, and students who are not at UB itself can still be part of the class thanks to e-learning. lectures can be recorded and then uploaded, together with the notes, allow overseas students to be part of this learning experience. homework can also be handed up for teaching assistants overseas, like for NTR 109/110 where documents are uploaded by students here in Singapore for someone over at UB itself to grade.

however, students might not really like the idea of e-learning. why? because of it being so accessible, students have really no excuse of not being able to get homework or notes or instructions from teachers or lecturers. last time when i was in JC, one teacher was always able to control the class when she wasn't around due to medical reasons - by using an e-learning portal. homework was given through that, and then collected through that portal so that she could mark that at home. and to think that students could enjoy free periods just because the teacher was on sick leave.

all in all, e-learning has definitely helped in education, and one very good example was during the SARS period whereby students weren't allowed to go to school and thus schools employed the tactic of using e-learning to keep students on their toes. e-learning has certainly brought about a new dimension for education.