Technology and Education: Effects of Online Courses in Education

Technology and Education
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Technology and Education: Effects of Online Courses in Education
It is undeniable that the digital revolution has taken over the world, and the education sector is not any different. Online learning has grown to become an integral element of higher education throughout the world with millions of students taking their certificate, undergraduate, masters and doctorate levels of education through online courses (Inoue, 2007). Moreover, online courses have contributed significantly in nurturing professionals in different fields of professionalism, a factor that has consequently curbed the incompetence in the global labor markets.
Online courses have continued to gain popularity worldwide in the recent past. A majority of students prefer online courses because of their convenience and affordability. Many countries across the world have increasingly embraced online courses over the past few decades. For example, about 6.7 million students in colleges and universities in the United States have registered to at least one online course (Wang, 2014).
Through online courses, universities and colleges have provided educational services to larger populations. The courses have enabled millions of people across the world to advance their professional knowledge through the internet. Students are able to enroll for programs in different areas of specialization without necessary attending lectures in physical (Inoue, 2007). Colleges and universities across the world have embraced online courses with intentions to reduce the level of illiteracy among their citizens while simultaneously empowering the labor markets. For instance, 70% of universities in the Africa have online programs. The courses have enabled institutions of learning to admit students from all over the world; hence, providing them with an opportunity to take programs from some of the most prestigious colleges and universities across the world, without travelling to the institutions (Wang, 2014).
In addition, research suggests that many professionals prefer online courses to school-based courses (Wang, 2014). This is attributed to the convenience and affordability of the courses as compared to school-based programs. Furthermore, researches show that 85% of people with families prefer online courses to school-based courses while advancing their professional knowledge. For many families and professional persons, the enrollment in online programs is preferable because it gives them time to perform their family and professional responsibilities while simultaneously undertaking educational programs. Moreover, online courses, just like on-campus courses, are accredited at both national and international labor markets. This is because; students taking online courses use similar syllabuses as the campus-based courses.
Technological applications are the basis of online courses. Students and instructors interact through such platforms as emails, faxes, and online chats, which are entirely dependent on internet services. In online courses, students take educational programs by attending to recorded lectures. Instructors prepare lectures and post them on students’ portals from where students can access. The...