Introduction:

The educational system across the world has been immensely affected due to the outbreak of COVID-19; it forced the shut down of educational institutions, which adversely affected student fraternity across the globe. Due to its contagious nature, COVID-19 demanded containment and enforced isolation that tremendously affected the personal interaction of teachers and students. In the absence of traditional classroom teaching and one-to-one interaction, computer-based learning has emerged as the closest substitute for offline teaching. Against such a backdrop, it is pertinent to examine the students’ perception and readiness about the online-learning system adopted at the university level during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. One research study was conducted during June–August 2020. The findings of the study reveal students’ positive perception towards e-learning and thus acceptance of this new learning system. It has also empirically demonstrated the significance of e-learning in the time of the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, e-learning has emerged as a new way of enhancing the learning process where social media may further improve the learning output. The findings of the study will facilitate educational institutions and policymakers to take this online learning process to the next level in a better way.

Educational institutions and students across the world have accepted and appreciated the online platform of learning.

What is e-learning?

• E-learning, also referred to as online learning or electronic learning, is the acquisition of knowledge which takes place through electronic technologies and media. In simple language, e-learning is defined as “learning that is enabled electronically”. Typically, e-learning is conducted on the Internet, where students can access their learning materials online at any place and time.
• E-learning is a structured course or learning experience delivered electronically; it can also include performance support content. There are also many different elements that can make up an e-learning program, such as live or pre-recorded lecture content, video, quizzes, simulations, games, activities, and other interactive elements

The term “e-learning” has only been in existence since 1999 when the word was first utilized at a CBT systems seminar. Other words also began to spring up in search of an accurate description such as “online learning” and “virtual learning”. However, the principles behind e-learning have been well documented throughout history, and there is even evidence that suggests that early forms of e-learning existed as far back as the 19th century.

• By the early 90s, several schools had been set up that delivered courses online only, making the most of the internet and bringing education to people who wouldn’t previously have been able to attend a college due to geographical or time constraints. Technological advancements also helped educational establishments reduce the costs of distance learning, a saving that would also be passed on to the students – helping bring education to a wider audience.
• In the 2000′s, businesses began using e-learning to train their employees. New and experienced workers alike now had the opportunity to improve upon their industry knowledge base and expand their skill sets. At home, individuals were granted access to programs that offered them the ability to earn online degrees and enrich their lives through expanded knowledge.

Perception of students towards e-learning

E-learning has become very popular in higher education institutions. Various educational technologies are being used to deliver courses and one of the most popular is e-learning. It is thus imperative that educators research the perception of students toward e-learning in order to study the effectiveness of such offerings. The objective of the paper is to highlight research carried out in a private university in Indonesia where students were exposed to e-learning from the beginning of their studies. It was believed that a study of students’ perceptions towards e-learning was necessary so as to evaluate the receptiveness towards e-learning. The study was conducted after two semesters of use of e-learning. There were three main research questions: (1) What are the benefits and drawbacks of e-learning, (2) What did students liked or disliked about e-learning, (3) What other features should be included in e-learning. Among the findings include students reporting that the most useful feature of e-learning was that it enabled increased access opportunities to the course materials irrespective of where they were (on or off campus). Students also found that it was easier to submit their assignments via e-learning. They also suggested additional features, that were, interestingly, were associated with those of social media.

Online learning has features that cater to these modern learner preferences – hence its rise in popularity. Here are the top five advantages of e-learning.

1. E-learning saves time and money.

With online learning, your learners can access content anywhere and anytime. They don’t need to take time out from their jobs to attend classes. E-learning is also cost-effective; companies save a substantial amount on the travel and accommodation costs of both learners and instructors, as well as the venue and materials. No printing helps reduce your carbon footprint, too.

2. E-learning leads to better retention.

Modern learners prefer bite-sized, interactive content. They would rather watch a video or listen to a podcast than read through pages of a manual. E-learning tools enable learning designers to make content interactive. The more engaging the content is, the better the learners remember information. If they enjoy learning, they can able to recall and apply the concepts at work.

3. E-learning is consistent.

In face-to-face sessions, every instructor has his or her own method of teaching. Each varies in approach and style and is susceptible to mistakes. You can eliminate these issues with e-learning. Online learning provides consistent and standardized training every time. Each learner goes through the same experience regardless of when and where he or she takes the course.

4. E-learning is scalable.

Online learning is scalable. You can roll it out to as many employees as you need and is a one-time investment. The more learners take the course, the faster you can write off the expense.

5. E-learning offers personalization.

Each learner has unique preferences and learning goals. E-learning makes it possible to cater to individual needs. It allows learners to choose their learning path and navigate at their own pace. When they decide what to learn and when they remain invested in the course.

• Conclusion

Thus, we see how e-learning is helping the world to continue taking and giving education, getting and imparting knowledge, even in the face of such a deadly crisis as this pandemic, Covid-19. If you are searching for any e-learning platform then Multibhashi is an excellent solution. It is an ed-tech platform that facilitates online learning in an effective and innovative manner through the medium of audio-visual training sessions and app-based learning.