The Emergence of Online Education in the wake of COVID-19

The outbreak of Covid -19 pandemic has paved way for online education in Sri Lanka as well as in the world. The term online and online education is not a familiar term to everyone in the country. Since we mostly involve with traditional or face to face classroom teaching we are not much accustomed with the online education. Butit is the term which should be known by everyone in this modern and sophisticated world. Online education means a form of education where students use their home computers through the internet and it is also electronically supported learning that relies on the internet for teacher student interaction and distribution of materials.

With online education students can turn anywhere with internet access and electricity into a classroom. The Online education is delivered in the form of audio, video, zoom meeting, text, animations,virtual training environmentsand live chats with teachers and lecturers. Online education also goes by many names and comes in a variety of styles under the names of computer-mediated learning, web-based learning, internet based learning, online learning, blended learning, e-learning ( electronic learning), m-learning ( mobile learning), computer aided distance learning. The present situation in the country compels us to impart knowledge via online teaching and learning process. Of course people nowadays do shopping, reservation and bookings, money transfer, paying utility bills, carrying out business transactions through online and one step further to this the Justice Minister has informed that the court cases will be continuing via online mode of communications during this pandemic atmosphere. So online transaction is no more an option but it is now a necessity.

The Covid-19 has resulted in schools shut all across the world. Globally over 1.2 billion children are out of the classroom. There are around ten thousand schools and 4.5 million students at home without access to education in our country and also there are 15 Universities and many more state and private Higher Education Institutes are closed in the country due to the serious outbreak of Covid-19. We are not supposed to put off our teaching and learning activities until the present pandemic returns to normalcy and we have to find some alternative means to impart knowledge in a new normal situation. For that this online option is a better for many reasons. This is basically more convenient for both the parties I mean for students and teachers. Online education provides opportunities for both the parties to work on their own learning pace and there is an added flexibility of setting a schedule that fits everyone’s agenda. It is more importantly in the prevailing situation where going out for schools and classes are completely banned and it is an ideal option to be at home and continue our education.

Even the government conducted lessons through television and radio for (O/L) and (A/L) students a couple of months ago. This distance mode of teaching and learning only the ideal solution for students to gain knowledge and skills in the existing situation but the government will have to overcome many challenges in the process of implementing the online classes across the Island. Basically the majority of students do not possess computer devices and otherrelated equipment and also many remote area students face challenges withconnectivity and coverage for them to access to the internet. Besides, some of the students are lacking technological knowledge to fulfil the basic requirements to make the link to the online classes.

Another practical problem arises out of this distance mode of teaching is students are used to learn in the conventional type of classes where the students used to ask questions to clarify their doubts during the lessons were on but in the online classes students rarely get a chance to ask questions from a teacher to clarify their doubts this will affect the slow learners or less skilful students very much. Apart from the network and technological barriers recharging net cards is a preeminent and prominent problem for the unfortunate and under-privileged children in village area where their parents lost the avenues of income during this pandemic. Moreover, the teachers are also facing problems in delivering the lessons effectively because the teachers did not use technology in delivering lessons in the past so they now feel discomfort in delivering lessons with technology. Whatsoever, if the situation and circumstances does not permit the Ministry of Education to reopen the schools for academic activities in the near future, they will have to find alternatives to continue with the academic activities of students in the country. BY: M.JALALDEEN ISFAN