Technology has made online education more convenient, especially because of the pandemic. Some of the top tech tools that have made this possible are online learning platforms, video lectures, and social media networks. These tools allow students to access their course materials and communicate with their professors and classmates anytime, anywhere.
Proctoring Tools
With the use of proctoring tools, online tutors can monitor whether students are in front of their computer screens while taking an exam. This is made possible through webcam monitoring and remote desktop recording. Instructors can also deliver exams to students who are unable to attend classes or students who need additional preparation time before taking tests.
Teachers using online proctoring can also prevent plagiarism, as students are required to follow rules such as not bringing mobile phones or having access to study materials. You can find an online proctoring service that offers webcam monitoring and remote desktop recording for exams, or a tool used by instructors to check whether their students' work is original content.
These tools can help educators save time because it does not require them to read through every student paper they receive – it also ensures that students stick to copyright rules set by the instructor.
Social Media Networks
Social media networks have become helpful additions to online education courses because they allow instructors and students to communicate with each other whenever necessary.
For example, if a student has a question about an assignment, he/she can ask via Twitter or Facebook. Some professors even require their students to join “virtual study groups” on Google Plus so that everyone will know what lessons they have covered during class.
Social network groups are being used by instructors to post updates about the course, reminders for tests and papers, deadlines for classwork, etc. This creates an environment where everyone stays connected at all times even without meeting face-to-face.
Online Learning Platforms
Some online courses are exclusively delivered via online learning platforms which include video lectures, reading materials, interactive exercises, practice quizzes, and exams. These tools can help bring college closer to students who are working full time or have family commitments so they don't have to travel to school just to attend classes.
Another great option for high school students who want to get ahead in their studies or catch up on some classes is attending summer online schools, as they provide students with an opportunity to learn and gain credits while also allowing them to take advantage of the flexibility that comes with online courses. Since there are no set class times and students can work on the material when it's convenient for them, they can choose the speed at which they learn.
Online education has made it easier for people living in remote areas or abroad because they no longer need to commute long hours just to be back in time for class. All it takes is to be connected online and you can study anywhere, anytime. Also, instructors and students can communicate with each other as much as they want, so it's easier for them to stay on top of things.
Video Conferences
In online classes, it is not always practical to ask students to conduct video conferences with the course instructor. However, some instructors require their students to do so because they can easily tell who is genuinely participating in class discussions via chats and forums.
This saves time for both the teacher and the student because there's no need for them to read through long posts on discussion boards just to know what each person has contributed – all it takes is one quick look at the recording of a video conference.
Zoom vs Skype
Zoom is the popular choice for online learning tools because it provides high-quality video conferences, either one-on-one or to a group of students. With Zoom, users can record all their video conferences to be watched later on.
Skype is not ideal for online education courses because it does not offer recording capabilities and its low-resolution video might make it hard for teachers to read student handwriting during discussions – this may result in poor grades if students are using chat boxes instead of voice chat. Also, Skype's limited storage space makes it difficult to save recordings for future use.
Therefore, Zoom is the ideal choice for video conferencing because it offers more features than Skype.
Study Tools
Online education makes use of study tools that help students learn faster and more efficiently than ever before. For example, if you want to master math equations quickly, quiz generators can teach you how to solve problems using an equation bank or flashcards (you can also download study tools apps for your mobile device).
If you want to be fluent in a foreign language, there are online courses that let you read books, watch videos and learn the correct pronunciation of words.
Reading Tools
Online education makes use of reading tools such as eBooks and PDF files because they make it easier for students to access their course materials anytime and anywhere.
For example, iPads and other mobile devices (such as Android tablets) can help save time when looking for information during class lectures or exams – all you need is an Internet connection so you won't have to carry around heavy textbooks anymore.
E-Book Providers
Aside from online education providers that offer eBooks, there are other websites where you can get free access to textbooks, lecture notes, and other related course materials. For example, Open Culture has a list of over 800 free e-textbooks while Study Blue lets you access study guides for your tests.
Amazon Kindle
Online education has also made use of the Amazon Kindle because it makes it easier for students to carry around their textbooks and other course materials. For example, studying in a foreign language is much more fun with a Kindle DX because you can read and learn at the same time without having to worry about turning pages or carrying heavy books everywhere.
With these tools at their disposal, online education has never been more convenient than it is today. While online learning tools are usually used by students, they can also be helpful to educators when creating lesson plans and updating class schedules.
You'll be able to save time because you won't have to read through every paper submitted by your students, plagiarism will also be prevented because there are online proctoring tools that detect copied content, social media networks are being used to create an environment where everyone is more connected even without meeting face-to-face.
The world will soon realize that the “online education crisis” was merely a myth – because these top tech tools have made distance learning accessible for everyone around the globe!
