Have you seen the students who study through digital/online platforms, not the face-to-face way that we usually know? You could say Yes. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, many aspects of learning/courses have changed. Before COVID-19, we usually went to school and took classes face-to-face with teachers. But, after that, we started taking classes through digital/online platforms, often called online courses. This change in digital/online education is very noteworthy. Because it brought new, more comprehensive forms of learning, the pros and cons of this digital/online education can be briefly explained here to show how it is a new trend in current and future education.
There are some disadvantages. Besides, it is very hard for learners to learn or experience various outdoor activities, and it is hard to check if they fully pay attention. It is very hard to collect information for the class or make a handout for students in an online space because of copyright. Copyright law strictly regulates the spread of information, especially on the internet.
To improve these disadvantages, real-time interactive classes, mainly one-way classes for review, should be needed to make the students concentrate more. Also, it would be better if we created some online spaces where teachers could download or gather information for the online class so that teachers feel free to collect and spread the information online for the class and students.
Besides these general disadvantages and the solutions of digital/online education, there are some significant advantages and visions of digital/online education. This is going to be the main content. Do you know the word ‘edu tech’? It is a compound word with ‘education’ and ‘technology.’ We can call digital/online education ‘Edu Tech.’ It is still education, but with modern technology, such as digital/online platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, Digital/online education is just an example of the ‘edu tech.’ Still, there are many other examples.
First, VR, or AR technology, can be used in medicine. If there is any medical technique we can’t directly apply to a natural person, we can use VR technology as if we operate in real life. It can be a substitute for repeatedly teaching medical techniques to students. It would be impossible to apply and practice this technique on a natural person multiple times because the human body would be impaired once touched. So, this VR and AR technology would enable the teaching of the technique over and over again until the students fully understand it. We could only imagine this technology after digital technology developed.
Next is A.I.-based education. In traditional face-to-face school, many people would have noticed that every student has a different level of understanding or grade but takes the same courses in the same class. But, using the A.I. technology, it can automatically select each level of the students and suggest the proper level of courses for each student. For example, a website called ‘Elihigh’ helps students study online in Korea. Students can get an A.I.-based diagnostic evaluation for each level and take an adequate course. Yes, we can call it personal education customizing.
As digital technology develops, there will be more fields in which we can apply this technology, and there will be many more options for learning. It is also helpful for disabled people to learn without any limitations. When I think of the circumstances for the disabled students in my school in Korea, where I live, there aren’t enough spaces or equipment for those students. Of course, it is very important to make an environment that disabled students can use in school, but if we form both face-to-face and ㅍonline spaces as much as disabled students can utilize, then we can indeed create more opportunities for those students. Because there would be some students with severe disabilities who can’t get out of the house without a caregiver, it would be very important to improve the digital/online spaces, not only just face-to-face school. There has been home-schooling, but I’m saying that now we need to make more advanced and more specialized spaces so that all the students, including disabled students, can study and learn much more easily beyond time and space.
Also, as I mentioned, ‘beyond time and space,’ digital/online education would enable people who want to learn but can’t go to high school or college because of their jobs to get a chance to learn over a limitation. The Korea National Open University offers online courses and gives a university degree. This online university provides ample opportunities, especially for older people who don’t have the chance to study. So, this online university offers a broader range of knowledge.
So, without a doubt, digital/online education is not just a tool for substitute schools during the pandemic. Still, the future of our knowledge and the key to the path of wider opportunities for learning will lead us beyond the limit. Digital/online education is becoming more common and a new trend in education. We could utilize these techniques to improve our learning. Also, one day, we can cope with the disadvantages I mentioned before and make a better way for every person who wants to get the knowledge.
By: Sehee Ju
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