Is E-Learning the Solution and Substitute for Conventional Learning?

Amirrudin Kamsin Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: amir@um.edu.my

Abstract This study was conducted to assess whether substitution of conventional learning with e-learning can improve the education standard and knowledge of people especially in this information world. This paper was conducted mainly among students and lecturers in educational learning. It starts with a definition on e-learning and conventional learning to provide a basic knowledge about e-learning and conventional learning. It continues with the introduction, the objectives, limitations and the scope of the topic as the guidelines to guide the research to be conducted thoroughly and precisely. This is followed by explanation of opinions and comments about the topic based on some additional sources or articles. A combination of procedures such as questionnaire and interview are used as instrument tool for this survey. The data gathered from the survey were analyzed to determine that e-learning provide more benefits than conventional learning. Keywords: E-learning, Conventional learning, knowledge sharing, 1. Introduction E-Learning is becoming a recent phenomenon. Due to the vast improvement of computer technologies, more and more schools and institutions are applying this concept. It is now feasible to offer remote students full, interactive participation in a class that would previously have been restricted to students who were attending locally. These technologies include such alternatives as two-way interactive, compressed video and electronic mail. One of the advantages of these technologies is a greater ability to support collaboration among students as well as between student and professor.(Bricken, 1990; Shneiderman, 1993) It is made up of several methods of learning and use network technology to create, deliver and to enhance learning capabilities through Internet. It has been applied in school, college and business widely. This online learning enable people around the world access for information they need and this enables knowledge to be distributed widely. E-LEARNING E-Learning is an online education that is delivered in a synchronous or asynchronous format. Synchronous format is a condition where lessons are carried out in real-time and led by instructor, while asynchronous format is self-paced whereby each individual progresses according to ones pace. ELearning requires the use of a network environment, also known as cyberspace. E-Learning is meant to reach students who encounter difficulties in attending traditional classes. This may bedue to distance, personal difficulties and responsibilities, or even time constraints. Students who enroll in distance education courses tend to be aged 20-40, employed at least part-time, and sometimes unable to meet the entrance requirements to regular programs (Faibisoff & Willis, 1987).

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM The concept of Virtual Classroom is an extension from E-Learning, which occurs when there is a physical separation of instructor and student. In the near future, it will become apparent that computers and other forms of technology are heavily used in classrooms and their objectives and results of those objectives will be heavily monitored and scrutinized.(Goals 2000; Texas Education Agency 2000) Virtual Classroom makes use of live broadcast, interactive video and electronic mail (e-mail). This electronic networking provides access to various resources, and e-mail enables student to communicate with friends, instructors, and even technical experts easily. This provides student with the opportunity to personally communicate with relevant parties and exchanging ideas. To implement Virtual Classroom successfully, there are a few criteria to be followed: Appropriate to the technology Consistent with the instructors philosophy and style of teaching Convenient, accessible and relevant to students Highly interactive Well-organized and well presented. BENEFIT OF E-LEARNING 1. Convenience and Flexibility 2. Offers Individualized Instruction 3. Self-paced 4. Broader Range of Opinions 5. Greater Range of Feedback 6. More Direct Control 7. High Level of Interaction 8. High Levels of Participation, Engagement and Concentration DRAWBACK OF E-LEARNING 1. Technology Issue There are uncertainties in this subject. For instance, it is unsure that the existing technology infrastructure can accomplish the learning or training goals. 2. Inappropriate Content Though limited, there are possibilities that certain E-Learning materials might contain inappropriate content. Such contents might be materials that include sensitive issues or materials that are not suitable for students. 3. Cultural Acceptance There might be possibilities that student demographics and psychographics may predispose them against using computers. Therefore E-Learning will not be a suitable medium of education for them. CONVENTIONAL LEARNING There is an argument that conventional learning is the best way in maintaining a learning process. Other learning methods consider it to be less efficient. Universities have a proud tradition of combining learning, research, teaching, and professional development (Peter Cheese, 2003). This is caused by the reason that conventional learning is more efficient than e-learning in some aspects. Some professors and researchers believe that face-to-face instruction able to convey the meaning of the lecturer than using distance learning. Conventional learning also gives more chance to students to meet their lecturer

and discuss with them directly. Distance learning through Internet widens the gap between lecturers and students and this may lead to message being interpreted wrongly by students. A second reason higher education resists e-learning is the absence of many of the technical skills needed as well as the experience in marketing and customer service necessary to support and develop this new market (Peter Cheese, 2003). From this field, can see that e-learning only provide the learning skills but do not provide the technical skills. Students can learn many from the e-learning but they dont know basic knowledge for the technical skills. Technical skills only can develop when student involves themselves and take experience from it. Besides that, many universities are attempting some e-learning initiatives, but on a very limited scale (Peter Cheese, 2003). This happens because funding for such initiatives at the university level is another challenge and need right base of the skills. University also needs to deliberate the outcome for establish and introducing the e-learning direct to the students. To make the e-learning successful introduce in the universities area needed a great deal of time and resources to become sustainable. E-learning is still not used widely in education as many universities are resisting to apply elearning as their learning method. This is because many professors insist that e-learning is ineffective and reluctant to accept e-learning. They are usually afraid to use computer and do not have enough experience in high technology. They may need a long time in training sessions if e-learning is applied and this may waste their time as they felt. This makes them decide that online learning wasnt the way to go not as effective as classroom (George Siemens, 2002). Some professors afraid of their role as main instructor have been replaced by computer. This condition made them feel that they are not needed anymore in university. The other challenge that is faced by universities is the cost involved. Views that e-learning reduces the expense of delivering learning are false (George Siemens, 2002). Cost that involved in developing e-learning is enormous that many universities cannot afford it. This is because e-learning is an Internet enabled learning that uses a wide range of network technology to design, deliver and administer it. Also, university may need high technical skill of personnel in providing training to lecturers and the salary involved to hire a group experienced personnel is extremely high. This way has increased the burden of the university. However, it has been found that the use of technology in learning give a positive effect to the learning process as committed by students. There are a few ways that may be applied to solve the problems that faced by universities. Government support is very important in education. The great benefit of governmental support is that it can provide sponsorship and commitment (Peter Cheese, 2003). We need government sponsorship as a mean to sponsor the cost in introducing e-learning into universities. Universities need a development model that provides a common capability backed by government, allowing universities to exploit e-learning and focus on content and teaching. Within the sponsor from government, the universities can provide an inclusive e-learning platform for the students. Besides that, the universities also can support e-learning-based degree courses and modules for the entire student around the world. Government also can encourage other private companies to participate and support for the funding needed by universities. These private companies may able to hire for personnel that specific technical skills and technical infrastructure that needed in bringing e-learning into universities. Collaboration with other university also can develop a strong and skillful management team that can design an effective and compelling plan in managing the process of e-learning efficiently. The greatest asset to e-learning is its ability to allow the student to control the learning process by offering the student an immediate, action oriented, practical learning experience (Vernon Pursley, 2002). The most important for the e-learning process is the flexibility. This mean that students are free to skip the material which they already familiar with and focus on the other new material. Students are also able to review the information as often as they want, depend to their interest, needs and skill level. However, the conventional learning make the progress learning too slow or too fast, this make the student loss interest to learn it. Besides that, e-learning is convenience. Students are free to set their own schedules and not bound by time. It makes the process learning can happen at anywhere, anytime and save much of the time. But for conventional learning, the students cant set the schedules by

themselves. The timetable is fit by lecturer or teacher. The student must follow the timetable to gain the knowledge. It also wastes the time for the student who stays far from school because they need to travel to and from class. Besides that, e-learning also provides some advantages which are not found in traditional learning. The benefits that held in e-learning can be a competitive advantage for a higher education against other private education. In e-learning, all the notes and tutorials are updated online, online courses are offered and this enables knowledge to be spread widely to students around the world. Learning design expertise (Peter Cheese, 2003). Various multimedia tools and software are used in administrating the elearning like video conferencing, collaboration, online discussion forums and authoring tools. With web based learning, communication among learners from remote place are enhanced, knowledge being acquired and transferred among the learners, the ability to conduct an open discussion and students can learn based on their own schedule. All this facilities create creative abilities that can not be seen in conventional learning. 2.0 METHODOLOGY PARTICIPANTS Participants were 78 students, 1 female lecturer from the University of Malaya and 1 male High School teacher from Catholic High School, Petaling Jaya. Majority of the student participants are from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology while the rest were from Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Science , Faculty of Business and Faculty of Science. Most of the student participants are currently or previously involved in some sort of eLearning, therefore are capable of understanding the concepts of e-Learning and most of all suitable for our research. DATA COLLECTION A survey was conducted for the students. Survey questions were distributed to them while they are hanging around in the lobby or in the studying room. Each piece of survey question was given out one by one to avoid duplication of the results collected. This is because if there were a whole lot of students doing the survey questions together, the possibility of getting the same answers from them are quite high due to their peer influence and this will affect our research very much. The survey consisted of 16 short questions which took the students the fastest 10 minutes and the slowest 20 minutes to complete. Before the survey questions were given to the students, we had make sure the student taking part in the survey has a personal computer and somehow or other been involved in e-Learning before. This is to make sure that they comprehend fully what e-Learning is about and its pros and cons. Participants were informed that the content of the survey question would not be disclosed to the public in any manner. Other than conducting a survey for the students, we have also conducted interviews with a lecturer of University of Malaya and an experience High School teacher. The experience of both would be of the best interest of us and by sharing them with us, would enlighten us about the view of e-Learning from a teacher or a lecturers point of view. As we have planned, both the candidates represent some contrasts with regard to background and demographic characteristics. As mentioned above, the female lecturer is in a position which has a high degree of exposure in e-Learning. In contrast, the male teacher has been teaching his classes for over ten years with limited experience in e-Learning. The design of the questions was as open-ended and non-directive as possible. Overall, the questions provided some consistency of structure in each interview while also allowing the participants to add their opinion whatever they felt was worthy data to the study. Below are some examples of the interview questions: What is lecturers opinion about E-learning? Have you been involved in any type of e-learning before? (If yes, for how long? if not, why not?) In your opinion, by implementing e-Learning, does or would it affect the outcome of the classes conducted? (In a positive way or negative way?) Would you suggest substituting e-Learning for conventional learning? (Why do you think so? Please explain.)

 Could you visualize our countrys education system in 5 years time based on the changes made recently? Follow-up questions were used when applicable to probe the participant for more than a yes or no answer and to elaborate on a particular theme when it arose. Questions were asked for the individual to explain why the feelings accompanied the circumstance. In all, interviewees were asked more of their personal opinions, knowledge and experience rather than the technical view of e-Learning. DATA ANALYSIS Survey questions were collected on the spot and checked for completeness. If there were any unfilled questions, further approach was done to make sure the particular candidate could complete the survey questions. There were some survey questions which we overlooked when collecting and therefore resulted the particular survey question to be voided from our result. Other than completeness, we also carried out analysis on each survey question collected. We were very caution about the attitude of the candidates while they were filling in the survey questions. This to prevent them to simply fill in the questions provided. Secondly, we also analyzed the answers answered to prevent any contradicting answers from them. For example: 1. e-Learning is better than conventional learning methods. (Answer: Strongly agrees.) 2. In your opinion, e-Learning has the below mentioned benefits: (Answer: None). There were amazingly high number of cases similar to the above mentioned situation occurred. There was nothing we could do but to void their answers from out research. As for the interviews, reports of the interview were generated and were checked by the interviewee for validity and reliability of the report prior to be analyzed by us. 3. RESULTS QUESTIONNAIRE For the survey, our group has chosen forty members (students) from around University Malaya. The survey samples are taken from six different faculties, ranging from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, which made up the largest number of students being surveyed here, at 63% or 41 students out of sixty five, the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Faculty of Business and Faculty of Education, with 6 students each, the Faculty of Engineering with 3 students and the Faculty of Science, with only 2 representative. More samples had been taken from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology because assumptions are made that their degree are more related to the e-learning system. KNOWLEDGE OF E-LEARNING From the survey, we found that 73.8% of those surveyed, or 48 out of the 65 students, have heard and proclaimed to have a clear idea of the e-learning concepts, while 26.5%, or the remaining 17 students, stated not sure. None of them stated having no idea. Therefore, it can be concluded that elearning is no longer something foreign or new to the community nowadays. At the survey form we also added a definition for e-learning as a short briefing about it. Thus, they can keeps on answering the remaining questions. PEOPLES EXPERIENCED IN E-LEARNING From the 65 students who filled the survey form, 36 students or 55.4% of them admitted to not having any first hand experience on any kind of e-learning methods before. The rest, 29 students said that they did have experienced at least one time with e-learning methods such as reading e-book, CCNA text and etc. Most of them who did experience it are the FSKTM students. It is because they had attended a course called Network Technology which needs all the students to do every chapter and tests on-line based on the CCNA qualification. PEOPLES OPINION OF E-LEARNING CAN ENHANCE LEARNING SKILL When they were questioned on whether they think that the e-learning system could enhance their

learning skills better compared to the conventional way, 40% or 26 of them stated yes. Meanwhile, 39 of them said no. From the 39 students who said no, related to the question before this, we can conclude that 10 students were spoke from assumption, remain 29 of them were spoke from experience. PEOPLE AGREEABLENESS OF E-LEARNING BENEFIT 60% of them agreed that e-learning system saves money. 95.4% or majority of them choose the paperless environment as a benefit, while 61.5% are looking forward to enjoy the interactive that elearning provides for its participants. 36.9% think that mobility is a benefit, a 29.2% think e- learning would be easier to understand, with 41.5% presuming e-learning lessons are easier to store. The lowest is 10% who pick high availability as a benefit while the 21% stated other benefits. PEOPLES OPINION OF E-LEARNING CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MALAYSIA When they were asked to state their opinion on the possibility of e-learning making any contribution to the national education systems growth, 55.4% or 36 students, answered no. Meanwhile, 26.1% or 17 students are claiming that they are not sure and 18.5% or 12 persons saying. PEOPLE AGREEABLENESS OF E-LEARNING SHORT COMING After a more in depth analysis, we found that highest percentage of the students which are 45 persons of them or 69.2%, think that e-learning is only available to personal computer owners, and 36 persons out of those surveyed, or 55.4% of the total, agreed that there are other short comings in the elearning system. Apart from that, 40 students or 61.5% did not acknowledge that poor interactivity among the participants is an e-learning turnoff. Meanwhile, the lowest percentage is 35.4% out of the grand total had claimed the e-learning is more expensive than the conventional education system. PEOPLE RECOMMEND THE E-LEARNING AS A PART OF COUNTRY EDUCATION SYSTEM From the survey, we found that a huge majority or 87.5% of the students supported the motion of implementing e-learning into our countrys education system, while 5 of the respondents disagreed. This means that more people are viewing e-learning as beneficiary than not. One of the reason why such results can be occurs is the impact of continues improving of ICT in our country. COMPARISON OF E-LEARNING AND CONVENTIONAL LEARNING A comparison was made between e- learning and the conventional learning method and it was found that the conventional system held an edge over the e-learning method; with 67.5% of them preferring conventional learning and 60% think conventional learning is better. However, there are 65% think e-learning is more interesting. PEOPLES OPINION OF E-LEARNING CAN SUBSTITUTE CONVENTIONAL LEARNING Regarding the future of e- learning, the respondents were asked if they think e- learning would one day being able to substitute the conventional way of learning in schools in the future, 57% think it would not and remaining 43% who do not. Therefore, from this survey we ca concluded that conventional learning is being more accepted than not, even though a higher sum of people agreeing that e-learning provides more advantages over the conventional learning method. 4. DISCUSSION What degree of e-learning can deliver benefits for student? What is the short coming of eLearning? Can e-learning be a substitute for conventional learning? These are the major questions asked in the research. THE BENEFITS OF E-LEARNING There are a lot of benefits for e-learning. According to our research, e-learning have the following benefits: o E-learning can save money

o E-learning can provide a paperless environment. o E-learning has more mobility and portable. o The teaching materials of e-learning are easy to be store. o The contents of e-learning are easier to understand. o There is higher accessibility of e-learning contents. Does e-learning really save money? According to our research, there were 39 students disagreed and 26 students agreed for this statement. Before our group members start this survey, we expect that students mostly will agree that elearning can save money for the process of teaching and learning. The survey result showed an opposite way that e-learning cant save money. Our group thought that this is not a successive survey because the sample of this survey are too small, in additional, the students are mostly from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology (FSKTM). Therefore, the result from this survey maybe bias and are not accurate. Even though this survey may not be accurate in some way, this survey is still considered to be able to provide some guide line for us to gain more understanding of students view of e-learning. According to Kevin Kruse (2002), e-learning could actually reduce overall cost. It is because elearning can eliminate the cost of instructors salaries, meeting room and class room rentals, the travel fees, lodging, and meals are directly quantifiable. But in other perspective, the cost of implementing and monitoring an e-learning environment is also expensive. The fees of yearly licensing, hardware maintenance and purchases also will burden the budget of e-learning. As a conclusion, we need to do further research if we want to know whether elearning can save money if compare with conventional learning. Does e-learning provide a paperless environment? According to our survey, it is clearly showed that e-learning can provide a paperless environment. The benefits are also related with the first benefits that we have discussed. Students and teachers need not spend money to photocopy notes and buy books to study or reference. Again, all the material can be store automatically and systematically. But there are still weaknesses, even though there are a lot of study resources available in the Internet, sometimes, it is not as good as a printed notes and book, which we can simply write down our comments and important point at the page of the book. E-learning is more convenient than conventional learning because it is portable. According to our survey, there are 55% of students agree that e-learning is mobility which students can use their PDA , notebook when they are traveling everywhere. According to a sample survey of University of Edinburgh, Student Views of E-Learning-WebCT user 2004, a similar question had been asked, it goes Do students view ICT as a benefits for their study. The table below shows a very large majority stating that ICT is a benefit to their studies, and remarkably few seeing it as a distraction. This emphasizes the degree to which students have. Total Percent (%) Female a very considerable benefit 78.9 78. 4 Male 79.4

something of a benefit something of a distraction a very considerable distraction

19.3 1.6 0.2

19. 2 2.1 0.3

19.7 0.9 0.0

(Depicted from a survey from University of Edinburgh WebCT users 2004) This table of survey shows that e-learning has a very considerable benefit and it is not a distraction. From this table, we can conclude that the existing e-learning can give more benefits to students. E-LEARNING DISADVANTAGE E-learning also has some short coming, among them are: o E-learning has poor interactivity between students and teacher or lecturer compare with conventional learning. o E-learning is only available to PC users. o E-learning is more expensive. According to our study, there are 38% of students who disagree that e-learning has poor interactivity if compared with conventional learning. The communication level of e-learning also can be enhanced with the advanced technology, for example, the using the application of video camera, multimedia and sound. The only short coming of e-learning is lacking of human touch. For example, students can only see an online course mates through a video camera or some through texts at one time and the lacking of eye-contact and touches between them are crucial in building a humane society. If compared with conventional learning, students can share their emotion, have human contacts, smile and even cry together. These kinds of life experience can only be acquired from conventional learning. Can E-Learning Substitute Conventional Learning? According to our survey analysis, there are 57% of the students accepted that e-learning can substitute conventional learning. There are still 43% of students who does not agree that e-learning can substitute conventional learning. Meanwhile, Kevin Kruse (2002) also stated that: e-learning does have its limitations, among them are: o Technology issues of the learners: most commonly technophobia and the unavailability of required technologies. o Reduced social and cultural interaction can be a drawback. The impersonality, suppression of communication mechanisms such as body language, and elimination of peer-to-peer learning that are part of this potential disadvantage are lessening with advances in communications technologies. For the overall conclusion, the existing of e-learning is really good to improve current education culture, but it is still lacking some features to substitute conventional learning. It will be a problem for our society if the students graduate from schools and universities lacking in communication techniques and most important of all being humane, and producing uneducated experts in the future. Imagine if the future of our education is fully based on e-Learning, what would be of our society? No doubt, because of the rapid advancement of our technology, e-Learning will gain more acceptances from the public. But we have to be very careful in adopting the correct methodology. E-learning is better to be as a supplement for a real class room and the degree of e-learning as a supplement of real class room can be determined according to the abilities of the institutes and developer and the users ability to adapt.

5. CONCLUSION It clearly shows that e-learning has more benefit than conventional learning. Problems that exist within conventional learning can be solved partly through e-learning. By utilizing e-learning effectively, universitys ability to transfer knowledge and expertise to society can be enhanced. Also we are able to predict the future of learning in order to meet the needs of the changing world through continuous e-Learning activities. Before that, we must understand the problems that may happen within e-learning. Integration of high technology with multimedia tools must be emphasized because elearning relies heavily on technologies. Also, collaboration with government, private organizations and other universities is important to overcome the high cost involved in develop e-learning. We also need to provide experienced personnel with technical skill needed to implement e-learning. So, we could say that e-learning is a good solution to conventional learning as it is able to solve most of the problems that exist in conventional learning. However, e-learning has its own disadvantages and problems that needs to be solved before it can be implemented successfully. So e-learning can not substitute conventional learning wholly as there are still many aspects that must be considered before e-learning can replace conventional learning. 6. REFERENCES
[1] Bricken, W. (1990). Training in virtual reality. Unpublished paper. Retrieved July 29, 2004, from anonymous ftp archive ftp.u.washington.edu . [2] Deborah Barreau, Cheryl Eslinger, Kim Mcgoff, Cynthia Tonnesen. Group Collaboration in the virtual classroom: an evaluation of collaboration learning in the virtual classroom of CMSC 818s and the technology that supports it. [3] Dori Digenti, (2000), Building a Learning Strategy for Leaders Retrieved August 10, 2004 from http://www.linezine.com/7.2/ articles/ddbls4l.htm [4] Faibisoff, S.G. and Willis, D.J. (1987). Distance education: definition and overview. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 27, 223-232. [5] Ferdinand Kraus, (2004) IDEAS: Instructional Design for Elearning Approaches, Retrieved April 29, 2004 from http://ideas.blogs.com/lo/ [6] George Siemens, (2002) elearnspace. everything elearning, Retrieved August 25, 2004 from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/Week1_Elearningvs.Classrooms.htm [7] Giuseppe Chiazzese, Claudia Cortopassi, Maria Rita Lagan, Virtual secondary school classroom Retrieved August 21, 2004 from http://www.lmu.ac.uk/ies/conferences/Chiazzese.html [8] Hsinchu, Starr Roxanne Hiltz, (1995), Designing a Virtual Classroom Retrieved July 23, 2004 from http://www.njit.edu/ old/CCCC/VC/Papers/Teaching.html [9]Jeff Haywood, Hamish Macleod, Denise Haywood, Nora Mogey, Wilma Alexander. (2004). A Survey of University of Edinburgh WedCT Users 2004: Student View of E-learning. Online resource. www.flp.ed.ac.uk/ ALTC2004/studentviews.pdf [10]Kevin Kruse. (2002-2004). The benefits and drawbacks of e-learning. Online article. [11] Marcia Conner, (2002) Global Implications of eLearning, Retrieved August 10, 2004 from http://www.linezine.com/7.2/articles/ mcgie.htm [12] Mark Cavender, (2000) eLearning ShmeeLearning, Retrieved August 10, 2004 from http://www.linezine.com/7.2/articles/ mces.htm [13] Peter Cheese, (2003) What Keeps Universities from Embracing e-Learning? Retrieved August 24, 2004 from http://www.elearningmag.com/ltimagazine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=74867 [14] Seo Jee-yeon, (2004). E-Learning to Become Strategic Industry, Retrieved July 30 from http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200407/kt2004072918404411790.htm

[15] Shneiderman, B. (1993). Education by engagement and construction: experiences in the AT&T teaching theater. Keynote speech for ED-MEDIA '93, June 1993,Orlando, Florida. [16] "Student Views of E-Learning: A Survey of University of Edinburgh WebCT Users 2004", Jeff Haywood, Hamish Macleod, Denise Haywood, Nora Mogey & Wilma Alexander

Texas Education Agency. (2000). Ch.126 texas essential knowledge skills for technology (prek-12). Austin, TX. TEA: Author. [17] Vernon Pursley (2002) E-learning Courses - Self Investment Retrieved August 24, 2004 from http://www.pcjournal.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=212

Points to remember before you participate in this disuccsion:

Assume, you one of the member of a real group discussion. Take the initiative to participate and contribute your thoughts. Express your positive attitude towards providing the solution.

Gaurav Shakyamuni said: (Thu, Feb 9, 2012 11:53:53 PM)

Dear friends learning means not only the knowledge that you obtain or you have, but it is how to delivers to others as well. Ofcourse e-learning can show you a vast meaning but it rarely provide you a vast explaination with appropriate example. Teacher may say, for more points refer the website in net and say it by next day, it happens in world upto 70%but at the same time he also say if you have any problem you can ask me and this happen in almost 100% of the world. Classroom refers not only the room with bench, chalk, board, teacher and students but also with descipline, rules which is basic for every students. Therefore in my opinion e-learning could hardly be a substitute for classroom learning.

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Lovey said: (Wed, Feb 8, 2012 01:14:45 AM)

Hello friends. Its nice talking to you all. In my opinion e-learning is a good use of technology for education. But the main problem with e-learning is that it reduces the interaction. And more importantly in the e -learning procedure there is no discussion or cross questioning. We just have to read and study. Though using e-learning procedure wwe can get more information but the process of learning becomes boring and less interactive. So according to me I would prefer classroom teaching as more better tha e-learning.

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Kartika.L said: (Tue, Jan 31, 2012 07:18:03 PM)

In my humble perception. , E-Learning is certainly a welcoming educational practice that saves time and helps an individual to work independently. What is the point in being confined in a room for more than 8 hours sitting idle. Right from the morning. ? Will that help an individual personally. ? more than 40 members are handled by a single staff and to whom they care a lot. Most probably first bench students or students off their interest. How is that going to help young minds. ? Its mere waste of time. Moreover in e-Learning one can clarify the doubts immediately. Students bear more responsibilities and is out off their interest and not in compulsion. So. , what do you guys vote for. ?

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Kushal Gujral said: (Mon, Jan 23, 2012 03:57:03 PM)

I do not agree for E-learning is best because we can do it with the use of technology but in my opinion in India not be used because by using this country use less man power and how much we are?If it is in used than no. Of people become unemployed and it effect our GDP growth. But we have to use technology to reach the zenith so used it in a nice which do not effect anything. We also not use it for children because of they have no much understanding. The students who not know A B C correctly how they should use technology well. So classroom learning is the best for indians if student do not understand about the topic then how he solve the problem only teachers have lots of examples to clear the dout of students who knows the mantality of their students. If you say e-learning is better than classroom learning then there is no need for any educational institutions!

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Janaki said: (Sun, Jan 8, 2012 10:48:54 PM)

I can agree with all students who expressed thr motivtion on learning in classroom, but the only thing I want to implement is sometimes lecturer's itself would say to students when teching the lesson to thm. "students have you understood wt I thought now please just 'IMAGINE' it what and all I explined now". For more points refer the websites in net and say by next day! its happening in world upto 70%. So my suggestions is both are the good knowledge for us, better utilize in the proper way.

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Shubham Patil said: (Wed, Dec 21, 2011 12:09:52 PM)

E-learnine is good for the increase the knowlade of student. when you see the film /an vedio you do not forgate they but when you only listen the story of film/any vedio you do not understand. This is important for student.

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Lesa said: (Mon, Dec 5, 2011 01:02:47 PM)

Yes! It is a substitute of class room learning. In class room learning, you can't visualize and understand the concepts. Rather you will be byhearting. Education is not only to get a degree rather to understand what is around you and how to face things around you. In today's world technology plays a role. Some many creative ideas booming in our world. In Elearning, various parts are there to fetch you knowledge. To understand the concepts there is interactive multimedia. Just imagine when you study a concept of digestive system you will study the system parts and how it works. When you visualize in multimedia, you will get to know job of mouth parts during intake of food and enzymes' role for digestion in interactive way which will surely make you think, when you eat something. You will definitely feel in that way the digestion occurs for me too. Like wise visualization helps to understand. You can't experience this fun-filled education when you see a teacher's lecture. In my point, Class room training will fetch you marks. Elearning will give you knowledge.

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Kaviarasi said: (Wed, Oct 19, 2011 03:34:12 PM)

According to me, Machines cannot be a substitute for humans. A Teacher can understand the mentality of a student and explain them in a clear, expressive way but, do you think that machine can understand the mentality of a student or can it explain in a way which a student can understand? If you say e-learning is better than classroom learning then there is no need for any educational institutions! But, its a good idea for UG, PG graduates but, not for school going kids or adultts. As, said by someone it can be used visualize our imaginations but, a Teacher is definetly needed for explaining it. If all the students are good their won't create a problem the problem arises when a student is not able to understand it.

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Latchumi.S said: (Wed, Sep 28, 2011 05:55:30 PM)

Hi friends.The E-learing is the method in which one can learn through computers. That's one can visualize the objects. For example incase of working principle of any machine, the theory format is difficult to understand, while this e-learning will project us the working function of the machine which can be understand by everyone easily. Visualization of anything will be in our memory for long period of time.Its better to use E-learning. But it can't be a mere substitute for classroom learning.Since the classroom exposture not only teaching the children about education, but also about behaviour,general manus,obedience, etc. So we can have classroom learning to improve our humanity and e-learning for improve our knowledge technically.

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Yahoo! said: (Sun, Sep 25, 2011 10:25:05 PM)

What ever it may be, "One can never substitute the other." In classrooms we are monitored by the lecturers, we inculcate discipline along with learning in classrooms, we get the opportunity to ask the doubts then and there it self thereby getting exposure to talk in the general public without any fear.We get along with many persons and can discuss on the subject without and can extract as much knowledge as possible from the faculty.We put our hundred percent effort in listening to the lecture.More over we can get detached to attachment and pay much heed to the lecture.We can reduce time in discussions either with faculty or with anyone. In E-learning we can save time to a maximum possible extent, and can learn whenever we are free, we can discuss in forums, can be listened as many times as possible and can get command over the subject.As it is computer based everything will be in 3-D form through which it is easy to remember.For overseas learning it plays a vital role.It is not always possible to go to other country to listen to a lecture and come, so this is a substitute to that problem. So depending upon the situation one chooses form the above two.But none can replace the other

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Kuldeep Chandola said: (Sat, Aug 20, 2011 07:31:59 PM)

I think E-Learning is never a Substitution for Classroom Learning because if student do not understand about the topic then how he solve the problem this is very dangerous situation. In classroom student is in under the Experienced Teachers or professors who has the Brilliant knowledge of subject and teachers use examples and tell him by easy method according to student.

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Sai Krishna said: (Sun, Jul 17, 2011 04:23:12 AM)

E-Learning should be used as an assisting tool to classroom learning but not as an substitute. E-learning can provide bookish knowledge, but it does nothing to develop the character of the young students. Communication skills, discipline, relationship management etc can only be learnt through classroom experiences.

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Cheriyan Philip said: (Fri, Jul 8, 2011 07:01:03 AM)

Dear friends I would like the classroom teaching because teaching is not mere the teaching of the things in the textbooks, its he devolopment of a good person who has a commitment to our country. E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. It does not gives any mind feelings to him or her. But through this I did not say that e learning is a bad thig. It should go with the classroom teaching.

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Karamchand Chudhary said: (Wed, Jul 6, 2011 11:56:46 PM)

In my point of view e-learning is better in some places and classroom is better on another places according to situation.If e-learning will be converted into online video calling with the teacher or the arrangement like people learning online projector in a classroom while teacher is teaching in another classroom apart.in this programe only teacher is absent but he is representing lecture on projecter.this is beneficial for the teacher who wants to spread knowledge by saving time.

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Asha said: (Mon, May 16, 2011 01:57:33 AM)

Hello friends, as here for gd our topic is weather e - learning can be a substitute for class room teaching my answer can not be yes or no as there are many constraints associated with both. As far as class room teaching is concerned the kind of human touch or practical experience associated with it has no alternate in the life of a young child but as we grow up our knowledge increases manifold and no one class room can suffice our needs so e learning where we are exposed to ideas of many people and allrelated researchs it becomes indispensable.

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Sundar said: (Sun, Apr 24, 2011 08:46:44 AM)

[Please read this fully] Replacing class room learning by E-learning is not suitable to children, youngsters. Because, In a class room, students not only learning the subjects. They are also learning the attitude, discipline, body-language, leadership, managing, friendship, how-to-speak infront of a group of people/boys/girls etc etc. Sitting infornt of a computer and learn everything is never possible especially for young minds. Decide yourself which is better to understand an object "Cricket Ball" among the 2 methods given below: 1. You should - see it, touch it, throw-and-see-how-it-jumps, hear it, play with it. Then finally you will understand and realize that object.(same like Class Room Training) 2. Sit infront of a computer and watching the demo video about cricket ball. (e-learning). What I would like to conclude is - E-Learning CANNOT be a Substitute for Classroom Learning, instead it can be additional facility to learn faster, time saving, real time learning etc.

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Snehasish said: (Sun, Apr 24, 2011 08:00:42 AM)

I think that e-learning can never be replaced by class learning..why e learning is not suitable. 1. E-learning is not suitable for the person who has just started to go to school as that child need to be taught from the root level by a good and experienced teacher and help the child in its learning with all his supports... 2. Although we know that a e-book is onr kind of encyclopedia and is beeter updated than a experienced teacher bt considering all the facts in class room learning a topic is clearly explained among the students with a well experienced teacher's experience plus 50-60 brain's ideas and expressions on the topic. 3. In class room learning there is chance for the students to clear their doubts from their teachers whereas in e-learning there is no such scope.. Besides all this negative aspects e-learning is suitable for the graduates or professionls in their distant education programmes or to upgrade their knowledge....

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Minty said: (Sun, Mar 13, 2011 10:39:36 AM)

Dear friends, As one here said, E-learning can be self-paced or instructor led. So any of your doubts can be cleared through

even with lot of experience can be a substitute of encyclopedia? The answer is No. When you have global information, you don't want to stick with local. I can see many has opposed E-learning, it can be just because we are not practiced to it. If we had brought up from kid like, A for Apple, Apple's image is shown in your computer! Nothing wrong in welcoming E-learning. Definitely it can be more than the classroom teaching. It can be innovative and so can cultivate interest in learning things practically.

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Neelima said: (Tue, Mar 1, 2011 03:32:25 AM)

If we will talk about e learning for a kid who is just starting his schooling than I don't think that e-learning would be a successfull measure. That kid needs to understand and learn the things from scratch so he would need the help of experienced teahcers who would help in understanding things better. On the contrary if we talk about a professional or a graduate who wants to do distatnt learning programmes or addition to his knowledge he can very easily use e learning. So as per my thinking netiher classrooms sessions nor e learning is bad.

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Preeti said: (Sat, Jan 22, 2011 09:57:08 AM)

e-learning can never replace classroom teaching in many countries of the world as all the countries are not well-equipped and well-aware of the technology present. We can not deny the fact that even today people in developing countries are struggling and striving for even basic necessities of living.Also there is no place for human emotions and the concept of "individual differences" in e-learning so flexibility in teaching methods can not be adopted. Practically speaking e-learning can never take place of classroom teaching.

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Niraj said: (Fri, Dec 3, 2010 12:11:27 PM)

Well friend somebody of you might be in the favor of E book and somebody in classroom. But friends tell me are you believing in theoretical learning or applying that knowledge practically. In classroom teaching a person is sharing his experience with all his expression and knowledge which is relevant to that thing and in the classroom there is a sharing of views and ideas on a particular thing between 60 to 70 brain and definitely there is more scope of learning in classroom than I reading a single E book.

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Charanya said: (Sun, Sep 5, 2010 03:18:55 AM)

Not all teachers who take up a subject to teach in a classroom are experts and expressive in their teaching. Almost every school, college, university do consist of certain dumb teachers who don't deliver the stuffs in the correct manner or they sometime jus come to class explain the outline of a few topics and leave the rest to study on our own. This would be similar to e-learning itself is'nt it? I do agree dat e-learning cannot serve as the primitive way of learning but in certain cases its much preferred to uninteractive teachers in class.

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Mani Kumar said: (Wed, Jul 14, 2010 11:23:39 PM)

Technology changes when time will change. We have to use technology to change our time in this competetive world. So E-learning also provides good environment to students to learn anywhere,anytime. If we can't able understand teacher's lecture,we can listen that lecture once again. We can clarify our doubts by sending mail or comment to teacher.Also,there is a need to provide good learning environment to student in e-learning. E-learning is compatible not only for college students,but also for outsiders. There is no doubt in "e-learing is not a substitue for classroom learning" according to present situations. In class room learning,it is compatible for every ordinary person to understand lesson by listening.And we can also clarify our doubts by asking our teachers. Thus class room learning provides user friendly learning environment to every student. Finally, my conclusion is that, e-learning may be substitue for classroom learning if it provides good learning environment to student in e-learning system.

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Kopal said: (Wed, Jul 14, 2010 01:51:50 PM)

I agree with all the points but E-Learning also have advantages....In classroom learning we learn whatever the teacher will teach but E-Learning helps you to know the subject more deeply.Internet is obviously more update than any person.... E-Learning can be self paced or instructor led.Good education is available only in cites.E-Learning can help villagers to gather proper knowledge.If we think about cyber classroom then there teaching will conducted by E-Learning but under the hands instructor..hence E-Learning is beneficial but under the supervision of good instructor it will b magic

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Thilaga said: (Sat, Jun 26, 2010 02:00:20 AM)

In my view,for talented self interested persons,E-Learning is not a matter.But for an ordinary person,it is very difficult.Because there wont be any interaction between them for doubt clearance.Also there wont be any eye contacts so there might be a chance for skiping without listening. Teachers play an important role in the student's subject interest.But here this a manless machine oriented teaching.So its very hard for all persons tohave this successfully..

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Krishna Priya said: (Fri, Jun 25, 2010 04:59:38 AM)

e- learning is never a substitue for classroom learning because classroom learning has many advantages over e-learning one of the advantage is in class room learning if we are getting a doubt there itself we can clarify and there will be close contact with the experienced persons and we can able to understand the lessons very clearly as they explain with there experiences and knowledge. in e- learning no one will be there to control us so whether we are learning or not it depends on there own interest.

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Kapil Rathore said: (Wed, Jun 16, 2010 12:02:10 AM)

Of-course not! E-Learning is never a Substitution for Classroom Learning, In classroom learning the Students learned under the Experienced Teachers or professors who has the Brilliant knowledge of subject and teaching methods, they will explain with several examples and easily understanding processes as well as a learning environment is available in classroom studies which is not possible through E-learning plus it is difficult to made a proper concentration. But some times it depends on some another factors, if any working profession wants to continue their studies then E-learning is the best option because peoples can plan their own learning schedule accordingly instead of fixed schedule of classroom learning.