Significance of Digital Connectivity in E-Learning
Abstract:
This paper studies about the impact of
digital connectivity in e-learning and how the
advancement of digital technology has
influenced our need to access more information.
Various studies have shown that digital
connectivity has had an explosive improvement
in e-learning over the last five years, and the
growth is seen to how further expansion can be
made to access more information. Although
traditional blackboard learning is still preferred
in some cases, with the advancement of
technology e-learning looks like in the nearer
future is will become extinct.
Thus various methods are being mooted
across the globe to try and improve on the
already evolving methods of learning which
include; Offering dedicated, uninterrupted and
cost-effective connectivity options to students to
help them access and exploit the global
reservoirs of information and information tools
for better learning, understanding and
experience.
Keyword: connectivity, information, e-learning,
communication, understanding, experience.
Introduction:
The use of information and internet
technologies as teaching and learning tools is
now rapidly expanding into the education
system. E-learning is any technologically
mediated learning using computers whether
from a distance or in face to face classroom
setting (computer assisted learning), it is a shift
from traditional education or training to ICT-
based personalized, flexible, individual, self-
organized, collaborative learning based on a
community of learners, teachers, facilitators,
experts.
We need to start by praising e-learning for
the vast depository of information it has been
amassed over a relatively short period of time.
This is extraordinarily incredible and
impressive. There are online courses on every
subject under the sun and ready access to the
internet with its unimaginably large database. In
fact, the database is growing so fast (it is
estimated that the information on the internet
doubles every three months) as providers rush to
offer what were previously classroom courses
and paper based materials online, the e-learning
is becoming “obese”. E-learning provides an
Aladdin’s cave stacked high with parcels of
information and “learning objects”.
Traditional system of education:
The traditional instructional delivery
system in universities for a long time has been a
classroom with a professor giving speeches to
students and the students listening and taking
notes. Interactive communication between the
professor and students has been identified to be
a critical learning component in this delivery
platform.
Emergence of technology on
learning:
The emergence of E-learning has
influenced the use of Internet technologies to
enhance knowledge and performance. E-learning
technologies offer students and learners control
over content, learning sequence, pace of
learning, time, and often medium of accessing
information, allowing them to tailor their
experiences to meet their personal learning
objectives. It also presents numerous research
opportunities for faculty, along with continuing
challenges for documenting scholarship.
Innovations in e-learning technologies point
toward a revolution in education, allowing
learning to be individualized (adaptive learning),
enhancing learners’ interactions with others
(collaborative learning), and transforming the
role of the teacher.
Review of literature:
The focus is on evidence of impact of
ICT in education sector since 2000. Literature
listed bibliography came from range of sources.
E-learning according to Markus (2008) can be
defined as a learning process created by
interaction with digitally delivered content,
network-based services and tutoring support.
According to Bouhnik and Marcos (2006) made
a research and discovered that the benefits of E-
learning to the education system.
Impact of technology on learning:
This paper hopes to look at some of the
issues raised by individual students with regard
to the use of technology in the teaching and
learning process. Rather than focusing on macro
issues, such as the political decisions behind the
integration of technology, this research aims to
examine individuals’ acceptance or rejection of
using digital connectivity. This is of importance
both to policy makers and education
technologists in the debate on the role of ICT in
education at an organizational level.
Benefits of e-learning:
Over the years, E-learning has had some
tremendous benefits to both students and
faculties alike across various fields of education.
The benefits of E-learning to students and
learners include the following:
 Freedom to decide when online lecture
will be taken or learned. An e-Learning
system’s ease of use makes it possible
for individuals to devote their attention
and decide based on convenience when
to learn the course materials instead of
spending extra effort learning the
instrument.
 Lack of dependence on the time
constraint of the lecturer or faculty.
 Freedom to express thoughts, ask
questions, without limitations.
 The accessibility to the course’s outline
materials at students own election.
Accessibility and flexibility result in
opportunities for students to study and
share learning resources, regardless of
time, space, and place, but also mean
that the specific needs of students with
various disabilities, such as dyslexia,
can be met. Flexibility of an e-Learning
course is a strong indication of student
satisfaction
 Any place i.e. the participants do not
have to meet at a specific place. It is
reasonable to claim that the technologies
used in e-Learning environments are
fairly up to date. Most e-Learning
systems are constructed in a high-speed
network environment where software
and hardware are superior to those of
non-e-Learning environment for parallel
 processing of multimedia streaming data
and access from any part of the world.
 Asynchronous interactivity: Interactions
can be more succinct and discussion are
more on-track. Interactivity between
various parties can also include the
interaction with materials and course
resources, the interaction between
fellow students, and also the interaction
between students and teachers. Through
various mediums mentioned above.
 Group collaboration: Electronic
messaging creates new opportunities for
groups to work together by creating
shared electronic conversations and
discussions.
 New educational approaches: Many new
options and learning strategies become
economically feasible through online
courses. Online courses can provide
unique opportunities for teachers and
students to share innovations in their
own works with the immediate support
of electronic groups.
Demerits of e-learning:
Despite the perceived benefits of e-learning
mentioned above, and notwithstanding the
growth of the e-learning market in recent years,
research has found that a high rate of students
who commence e-learning courses do not finish
them (Dutton & Perry 2002). This suggests that
something is not working properly in the e-
learning system. By considering the responses of
students who participated in e-learning courses it
is possible to better understand the reasons why
students are often dissatisfied with the e-learning
experience. Bouhnik and Marcos (2006) stated
that student’s e-learning dissatisfaction was
based on the following disadvantages:
 Lack of firm framework to encourage
students to join.
 A high level of self-disciple or self-
direct is required.
 Absence of a learning atmosphere in e-
learning systems.
 The distance-learning format minimizes
the level of contact, as well as the level
of discussion, among student. In other
words, e-learning lacks interpersonal
and direct interactions between students
and teachers.
 The learning process is less efficient.
When compared to the face-to-face
learning format, e-learning requires the
student to dedicate more time to the
subject matter.
Suggestions for future research:
The present study concentrated only on the
secondary level, the same aspects can be
investigated at primary level and higher level
also. Following are the areas related to present
research were studies are less and research may
be added to existing system of knowledge
 Perception of undergraduate students on
relationship between information
literacy and institutional environment
 Impact of education and ICT on gender
relations with respect particular region.
 Relative effectiveness of computer
based multimedia learning packages are
performance and behavior outcomes of
students of different age groups.
 Factors influencing integration of ICT in
teaching process at tertiary level.
 Role of ICT in effective implementation
of Right to Education.
 Profession competency and ICT in
education at higher education levels.
Conclusion:
Online e-Learning is an alternative to
traditional face-to-face education. Many
institutions implement e-Learning to meet
students’ needs, especially those of non-
traditional students with full time jobs. Since e-
Learning is conducted using the Internet and
World Wide Web, the learning environment
becomes more complicated. Students’ initial
perceived satisfaction with technology-based e-
Learning will determine whether they will use
the system continually.
Course quality is the most important
concern in this e-Learning environment. Course
content should be carefully designed and
presented sparingly. Technological designs plays
important roles in students’ perceived usefulness
and ease of use of a course and will have an
impact on students’ satisfaction. Although it is
appropriate to adopt formative evaluation as
assessment criteria in e-Learning, courses must
be designed in coordination with assessment to
achieve the best results.
Furthermore, we need to examine the role
that educators expect ICT to play in the
educational process. It is clear from this research
that students consider it a valuable support to the
learning process. They see it as an additional
reinforcement to the traditional face-to-face
delivery mediums, and they make regular use of
the medium’s flexible access, and the incentive
it provides for ongoing study and continuous
assessment, in preparation for the final exams.
Whilst there is room for technical improvements
such as customizing feedback and adapting the
material to the learner’s profile, the e-learning
component is a welcome and expected
improvement, particularly for large class groups
such as higher and tertiary institutions.
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