RESPECTED ALL,

THIS IS DR.ANUPAMA .M.G (ACME 2017)

HERE IS MY ANSWER TO THREAD 1.2 (Q 2)

2. e-learning is the need of the Hour/ e-learning is a waste of time and resources – DEBATE

Disadvantages and risks of e-learning may include the following:

• It requires new skills in content producers, and still must clearly demonstrate a return on investment. Additionally, related technology may be intimidating, confusing or simply frustrating, lacking part of the informal social interaction and face-to-face contact of traditional classroom training.

• Expensive: start-up cost of an elearning service is expensive and the cost of production of online training materials is very high. Teachers must be confident that the extra costs are balance with the benefits of delivering a course online. Significant time needs to be invested in course set-up and in ongoing maintenance (checking links, updating course content etc.). Enabling technology might also be costly in case of advanced technology. Moreover, e-learning requires more responsibility and self-discipline for the learner to keep up with a more free and unconstrained learning process and schedule.

• The distant teacher has no visual cues: without the use of a real-time visual medium the teacher receives no visual information from the distant sites. In any case, even if accessible, these cues are filtered by technology and it may be difficult to carry on a teacher–class discussion effectively when spontaneity is altered by technical requirements and distance

• Separation by distance also affects the class environment: living in different communities deprives the teacher and students of a common community link.

• Technology dependent: learners will need access to a machine of minimum specification as dictated by the e learning supplier or access to a service with a high bandwidth to transfer the course materials in a timely way.

• Material Incompatibility: some materials designed for one particular system will not function properly on another (for example, the Apple Macintosh and the Windows PC). Standards will help in the area.

• Unsuitable for Certain Types of Training: any skill that relies heavily on inter-personal contact although these courses could be supplemented by e learning.

• Unsuitable for Certain Types of Learners: e learning requires a high-level of self-discipline and personal time management. E Learners need to be highly self-motivated to take full advantage of the medium as often the online learning experience can be impersonal. Working through 'packaged' programmes can be irritating.

• Reliant of the Quality of the Content: it is too easy for some institutions to defer the photocopying costs onto the learner by placing all lecture notes and course handouts online. Such practices often mean that the course materials are in an inappropriate format for online learning. Course providers need to develop new technical skills and course design skills to suit the new medium.

• Social/economic disadvantage: can limit or prevent access by some student groups (for example, cost of equipment, online access and printing).

• No Match for Face-to-Face Teaching: Electronic communication does not necessarily provide a good match for face-to-face communication and is more linear than face-to-face discussion.

• Disabilities: Students with visual or physical impairments may be disadvantaged.

• Inflexible: Flexibility may be lost as adjustments to the course in response to student reaction are not easy to make once the course is underway.

• Pedagogically Unsound: The electronic environment does not per se offer a pedagogically enhancing learning environment

Thank you

Regards

Dr.Anupama.M.G

ACME 2017