The epidemic of COVID-19 has hit the world hard and has forced people to rethink their priorities. Regular lives changed overnight, and many activities that seemed essential do not seem significant anymore. Health experts commented that the vaccine is the only cure, and its discovery took several months. Governments had no choice but to administer lockdown, which brought everyday lives to a sudden halt. Businesses closed down, schools and universities shut overnight, and people had to stay homebound for months. The COVID-19 continues to evolve the situation by the day. While regular life may have resumed, educational institutes in many countries have not reopened despite new norms.
Online education was already gaining immense momentum, and many people worldwide were adopting e-education as it suited their lifestyles. When the outbreak of COVID-19 led to schools, colleges, and universities’ closure, they turned to digital tools to continue teaching and learning. It helped them in having some semblance of normalcy. The sudden shift from traditional classrooms to online education was not easy. Students took time to adjust to the routine. Still, it has helped them in continuing with their education.
Gone are the days when educators shunned students using technical devices; today, they encourage them to do so. Be it elementary or secondary; the COVID-19 has forced the educational institutes to turn toward online learning. E-education has helped people of all ages. Still, higher education students can get more benefits as online education has paved various ways to improve their understanding. The following are some ways in while online education is assisting higher education during these unfortunate times:
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OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS
The education sector has evolved significantly with time, and today, it provides a wide variety of degree programs. High school students get an opportunity to enroll in the plan of their interest. Owing to the epidemic COVID-19, prestigious universities offer online education Masters Programs in a wide array of fields. The world is different now, and new areas of education are continually emerging. Online education has opened ways for high school students to enroll in the newly launched fields. Acquiring a degree in the latest fields raises the chances of landing a job, and students are learning the latest professional skills.
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FLEXIBLE
High education students generally have many duties to fulfill, and they look after many other aspects. Conventional education requires regular attendance of classes and students to follow a proper schedule. Online education offers students flexibility in terms of submitting assignments and quizzes. Several universities announce a deadline and give students a choice of doing them as per their feasibility.
The pandemic COVID-19 has changed the course of lives and added more to people’s responsibilities. Many have lost jobs due to companies’ closure and are adopting new ways of earning a living. E-learning helps them carry both sides by side as it is adaptable, and everyone can set his/her schedule.
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QUALITY EDUCATION
Online education has not only assisted students; it has also helped educators prepare their lesson plans and deliver them. Professors do not have to carry and leaf through thick books to extract meaningful information. The Internet has given them a platform to take out essential excerpts and prepare their sessions easily. E-learning may have removed the essence of face-to-face learning. Still, professors are taking advantage of technical tools and software and are preparing useful lesson videos. These videos provide quality education, which was missing in conventional classroom learning.
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MAKES STUDENTS TECH-SAVVY
Advancement in technology has transformed the world in almost every aspect. Experts predict that technology will seep more into our daily lives in the upcoming years. Online education is making students tech-savvy, and students are learning the use of advanced technical devices. E-learning requires students to use technology to interact with their counterparts. They need gadgets to submit assignments, attempt quizzes and exams. The upcoming era will be more digitized. Students who will have better technical skills are more likely to succeed in the corporate world. E-education during COVID-19 has given students a chance to explore technology and learn technical skills. When they finish their degrees, they will become pro in technology and easily land jobs.
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REMOVE GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERS
Studying in a foreign university under the supervision of qualified professors is a dream for many people. Still, they cannot afford to live in another country. The most significant advantage of e-learning is that it allows students to enroll in foreign universities. Online education has removed the terrestrial border, and amid COVID-19, students are looking at the brighter side and enrolling in foreign universities. Through technical tools, students can communicate with their professors, and it can enhance their learning.
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COST-EFFECTIVE
One of the advantages of pursuing education online is that it is reasonable as compared to conventional learning. Moreover, it saves the cost of a daily commute, and students do not have to spend money on other academic stuff, such as textbooks or notes. Most institutes prefer sending electronic lectures, which students can access from anywhere. The epidemic COVID-19 has put many people in financial crisis, and several had to withdraw from their institutes. E-learning is economical. In this era, when the cost of living is on the constant rise, higher education students find it convenient to afford
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MORE EXPOSURE
Students grasp more with exposure than they learn through lectures and notes. E-learning has allowed them to study with people from different backgrounds and learn from foreign educators. It has expanded their exposure, and from their counterparts, they get to know different perspectives on one topic. Technology has enhanced communication, and students broaden their horizons by establishing contact with their batch mates. Additionally, online education gives students access to experts from another side of borders, which widens their perspectives. During COVID-19, most students do not have other engagements, as many activities have come to a halt. They can use their time and enhance their learning.
CONCLUSION
The pandemic COVID-19 has changed lives globally. Although the world is gradually reopening, most educational institutes are still relying on digital tools to continue with their teaching and learning. Higher education is a crucial aspect of students’ life as they decide their career path and choose an educational field for themselves. Higher education students are mature and can learn the effective use of technical tools quickly. Online education is accessible from almost anywhere and is comparatively reasonable. E-learning is helping the education sector continue most educational activities with technological devices.
