Hello, my friend is teaching via Discord, but on my uni we use Microsoft Teams. Also Adobe Acrobat Connect can be used. If its online conference call, its best when students can ask questions.

Here are links, if you need:

https://discordapp.com/

https://teams.microsoft.com/downloads

https://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

Hi!

First, disregard any mysticism with ”e-learning”. It is still about human learning. Otherwise a student e-learns when reading a text on the screen and practises traditional learning when he or she instead prints the text out and reads. ””E-teaching” can however be a more meaningful word.

Use of digital teaching tools or aids are not opposed to physical meetings in any way, but now we can let more factors enable a new customised course design, for example including new groups with other time and place conditions.

”Face-to-face” teaching was not ever the most important thing in learning either, not since late medieval ages (when students had no media or even notetaking material was expensive or non-existent.

All normal serious courses build a lot on students asynchronous working, reading and processing content and solving problems and gaining understanding mostly away from the teacher. Face-to-face is, even in traditional courses, mostly for introductions, demonstration, explanation, etc - at least for the skilled teacher. To try to lecture-tell whats in the books so students don’t have to buy and read them is a bad idea and has been so all the way since the invention of print.

if you are not planning a strictly web based asynchronous course like a MOOC, just shift synchronous interactive sessions (face-to-face or online) with asynchronous assignments on an LMS and traditional text or book reading. Enable and stimulate the student-stud3nt relation by cooperation projects and forum discussion assignments. The secret is in the shifts between the synchronous and asynchronous modalities in the course drama. With digital tools we have a not of new combiation possibilities to customised, well-working Inclusive courses. But the ”e” makes no magic by itself. Perhaps the next step, learning analytics and adaptive learning, will. There you also may have assessment built into the course as formative assessment.

Article Adaptive learning with e-knowledge systems

How eLearning Can Improve The Learning

eLearning is the talk of the day for the great benefits it shows forth in the process of education. With universities in all major parts of the world conducting various online degrees, certification courses, and distance education programs in different branches of education, learning has become easier, faster and more connected.

People may wonder how eLearning improves one’s learning process. It is due to the following reasons:

1. Higher retention of the learned material.

Anything learned without pressure sticks to mind and stays there for a long time. E-Learning takes place through the most favorite medium of education that is the technology and hence it makes its fruits of learning get attached to student minds with ease. Students, when they learn with self-interest and out of their choice, find it a pleasure to learn online. The result is greater productivity through higher retention capabilities.

2. Easy storage and multiple access to collect material.

When they learn online, students are not bound by traditional classroom settings with lecture notes and instructions of teachers in a physical environment. They can go in for any number of details, sources, research material, and learning tools in the eLearning process and thus find it highly useful for improving their knowledge. They are able to collect what they wish in the subject and thus are able to move forward without struggle in their courses. This helps them get unique insights into topics and get on without hassle.

3. Any time flexibility.

Students are unbound by the restraints of time and place in the eLearning environment. They access their favorite courses at any time through 24/7 accessibility and are able to learn from any quarter of the world. The only thing needed is a good technological medium like a computer or laptop or tab to assist them in their learning process. They have further support like online tutoring centers to access more help and learn their courses in an easy manner. The very methods followed by these tutoring centers are in support of the eLearning system.

4. More of student collaboration and teacher interaction.

Since it is the technology that plays the role of a mediator, students find it easy to connect to other students online and exchange views, participate in discussions and engage in forums. Their connectivity with their teachers is also improved due to time flexibility and online support rendered by teachers. This helps them get help when they want and complete their projects or assignments or presentations on time without a ray of doubt in their courseware.

5. Self-paced learning.

Most of the eLearning courses are the selection of students and thus they choose what they want for their education. They set the courses in tune with their time requirements and job schedules. Furthermore, it is the interest of the learner that matters much in learning any course. eLearners are self-motivated with self-interest. They organize their schedules and they work accordingly. So, there is no room for clash of interests and they are able to work on their own. This definitely adds to the learning process.

6. Enhanced technological support.

Many eLearning courses are designed with multiple tools enabling the learner to use education for his benefit. It is not only the ease of access that helps the quick learning process, but students are also able to access more information and work quickly through the learning tools available to them. It is a global environment they have with more interactions, connectivity, access to research material and the finest of tech support.

7. Suitable for different types of learners.

eLearning programs are flexible in their curriculum and suit any type of learners. One can choose his degree or course according to his abilities and learning style and stick to it without having any obstacle in learning. One can adjust his learning methods as per his timings and pace his learning as per his wish and abilities. The technological medium makes it more conducive by introducing tools that make the process better and easier for self-paced and different types of learners.

eLearning has turned to be one of the best modes of education for students who show interest in continuing education despite various other commitments. It provides an extra edge for those who wish to improve their subject skills. It is also a known fact that when students are interested in what they are learning, they gain better retention capabilities and work wonders in their courses. Same way, if a student gains an opportunity to use technology to the best of his advantage, he also stands out well with his improved learning capabilities. Further, eLearning shows the gate to more student collaboration, better interface with instructors and plentiful availability of resources with more productivity in the learning process.

When everything changes in the world, it is prudent to adopt methods that prove beneficial for effective learning like eLearning in one’s education.

E-learning means first of all the same work for the respective lecturer that would otherwise have to be done: preparation. But there are other aspects to be taken into account: which platform should I use? How do I communicate effectively with students? In the preparation phase, it makes sense to consider which platform you want to use. Padlet is well suited if you want to upload flexible content and have a collaborative tool for interaction with students and learning enhancement, add map locations and link gifs from google. You can also upload recorded audio, set links and place posts. Zoom is often used for online classes but since it is currently widely used worldwide due to the Corona crisis, it is not always reliable. Microsoft Teams can also be used for video conferences, chats and so on. One should also take a close look at the possibilities offered by the respective university, as special online formats are sometimes offered here.

Tools you are using for E-learning are important. In addition, the knowledge and comfort in using of these e-learning tools both for faculty as well as students is mandatory. Than some statistical quantification may be also possible.

Diversity of sources of knowledge for students such as books, videos, PowerPoint, etc., as well as the diversity of assessment activities, including projects, tests, practical activities, etc.

Online teaching is recommended only for soft subjects or training. According to my experience in the platform of the virtual university of Tunis (MOOC), learning can be improved by the multiplication of activities and exercises, synchronous sessions (Microsoft teams) and work techniques. You have to oscillate between synchronous sessions and asynchronous sessions, leaving a period of reflection for the learner.