e-learning
E-learning is an innovative method of enhancing the educational process by transforming it from a rote learning model to one of creativity, interaction, and skill development. E-learning combines all digital forms of education and learning, employing cutting-edge techniques in education, publishing, and entertainment, and relies on computers, storage media, and networks. Rapid technological advancements have resulted in the introduction of new learning patterns, increasing the concept of self-directed learning, in which the learner pursues their education at their own speed, aptitude, and previous experiences E-learning is one of the most modern kinds of remote learning, relying heavily on computers and networks to impart knowledge and skills. Its applications include: online learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital collaboration. Lesson information is given online, via audiotapes, DVDs, and CDs. Definition of E-Learning: E-learning is an interactive system that teaches students how to communicate and use information technology. It is based on an integrated digital electronic environment that delivers study courses via electronic networks, provides guidance and direction, organises assessments, and maintains and assesses resources and processes. The significance of e-learning is evident in addressing the problem of knowledge explosion, growing educational demand, and expanding admission prospects furthermore, it enable workers to be trained and educated without having to leave their jobs, contributes to break down psychological barriers between teachers and learners, and addresses learners' requirements while enhancing the return on investment by reducing education costs
Characteristics of e-learning
The characteristics of e-learning can be summarised as the provision of multimedia digital content (written or spoken texts, audio effects, graphics, still or animated images, video clips) via computers and their networks, so that these media integrate to achieve specific educational objectives. This learning is managed electronically, providing a range of services and tasks related to the management of education and learning, and it is less costly compared to traditional education. It also enhances the learner's ability to acquire knowledge independently, thereby achieving interactivity in the educational process (the interaction of the learner with the teacher, the content, peers, the educational institution, programmes, and applications) as it is available at any time and from any place. Synchronous e-learning: Synchronous e-Learning is education that takes place in real-time, requiring learners to be present at the same time in front of computers to engage in discussions and conversations among themselves and with the teacher, using e-learning tools such as: whiteboards, virtual classrooms, video and audio conferences, and chat rooms. Its positives: The learner receives immediate feedback. Cost reduction. Dispensing with the need to go to the study location. Its disadvantages: The need for modern devices and a good communication network. Asynchronous e-learning: Asynchronous e-Learning is a form of indirect education that does not require learners to be present at the same time. Learners can study at times that are convenient for them and put in the effort they wish to contribute. It uses tools such as email, the web, mailing lists, discussion groups, and File Transfer Protocol. Its positives: The learner's access to study at times that are suitable for them. Receiving education according to the effort that the learner wishes to put in. The possibility of reviewing the material and accessing it electronically as needed. Its negatives The learner not receiving immediate feedback from the teacher. leads to introversion in education because it isolates him Conditions for the success of e-learning: In order to succeed in this type of education, there are several conditions that must be met, including defining the educational objectives to be achieved, as well as accepting diverse answers, ideas, and results. Additionally, presenting knowledge instead of merely conveying and transferring it, along with assessing the educational task rather than evaluating the level of knowledge, represents the most important condition, along with encouraging distant groups rather than local ones. Software Quality Standards: To provide higher quality e-learning programmes, the following elements must be considered and achieved The educational objectives are defined at the beginning of the work and formulated in a clear and measurable manner, selecting the teaching strategy that helps achieve the educational objectives. The lesson interface is characterised by ease of use, assisting the teacher in diagnosing and eliminating errors, the content of the page is simple, precise, and unpretentious, organising the scientific material with its various elements in an appropriate format, placing the main ideas at the top of the page, and including individual and group activities carried out by the learners. The shape and appearance of the navigation tools are clear and easily recognisable, with links or connections distinguished (for example, in a uniform blue colour). The text does not cover more than a third of the screen, it is preferable to use a background with harmonious colours without text, with only one or two types of fonts, and not to use more than seven colours on each screen, while using video only when necessary. Utilisation of e-learning in teaching: The benefits of e-learning in teaching are utilised in various ways. The supplementary model uses some e-learning techniques to support traditional education, both inside and outside the classroom. Examples of its applications include the teacher directing the student to review a specific lesson on the internet or on a CD-ROM before teaching, and the teacher assigning students to search for specific information on the internet. The blended model involves the integration of traditional and electronic education, within the classroom or spaces equipped with electronic learning technologies. It is characterised by combining the advantages of both traditional and electronic education; however, the teacher's role in this case is to guide and manage the educational situation, while the learner's role is active. The pure model uses e-learning as an alternative to traditional education, allowing learners to study from anywhere and at any time. The network acts as a primary medium for delivering the entire educational process. Examples of its applications include independent self-study (where the student studies the electronic course individually). Students can also learn with a group of their peers through a lesson or by completing a project using collaborative e-learning tools such as chat rooms and forums. the electronic school: It is an electronic room for online learning, using computers and communication networks, with the aim of delivering electronic digital information to learners, whether they are inside or outside the school walls. Characteristics of the electronic school: The characteristics of an electronic school are represented in achieving education (the educational material is a means and not a goal) and transferring the center of the educational system from the teacher to the learner with continuous development in educational programs and curricula, which is one of its goals. It achieves education that depends on understanding the characteristics of students and taking into account the differences between them. Electronic school units: Its units are represented in electronic sections, which are a group of activities, similar to the activities of the traditional section, carried out by the teacher and the student together at the same time, regardless of their locations as well. The electronic course is a course that uses computer-based educational activities and materials in its design, and it is a content rich in interactive multimedia components in the form of software approved or not approved on a local network or the Internet. The process of producing electronic courses is subject to a set of standards, the most important of which is the (addie) standard, which has received great attention in the process of producing courses, as this process goes through three stages: First: development, where developers work to transform and apply the ideas set by the subject expert and content designers, in the form of an integrated educational product (resource plans and preparation of educational materials). This is done through analysis that includes the course in general and knowing the author's needs, analyzing the learner's personality, and overcoming learning obstacles, analyzing teaching based on content analysis in which the types and levels of educational objectives are determined, then design, which is represented in designing the educational content according to the specifications of interaction, flexibility and balance, then translating the educational content into a practical application (page preparation), secondly, the application, which depends on helping trainees to get to know the new electronic content, and working to train them , and to ensure their ability to use the content, thirdly, evaluation in order to verify the effectiveness and quality of the course, and this is done in two stages, firstly, formative evaluation, which includes evaluating the course, and collecting notes starting from the first stages of producing and building the course, secondly, statistical evaluation, which is after the course application stage, by conducting tests on it, the second unit of the electronic school units is electronic libraries, which is a system that contains a comprehensive database, allowing the librarian to do a complete archive of paper or electronic sources such as books, encyclopedias, and audio files, in addition to the website for borrowers to provide the search process and reserve sources using the Internet, another unit is virtual laboratories or electronic laboratories, which are simulation devices that allow students to conduct chemical and biological experiments, and it is a broad educational tool. E-school requirements: The e-school requires the school calendar, which is a monthly calendar that can be used to set dates for tests, meetings, and assignments, information about faculty members using the course, as well as a bulletin board where the teacher places written messages addressed to students related to the course, it also requires personal pages for the teacher and students where we find information about both the teacher and the learner, in addition to the mentioned requirements we add others including a list of electronic references with websites related to the course subject, a homework box where students attach their homework or take tests and questionnaires related to the course, a test preparation mechanism consisting of tools for preparing questions and determining the grades assigned to them by the teacher, a grade record where students view their results and grades with the method of distributing them, a statistical record for the course to provide statistics on the frequency of course components and to view the pages of visitors and the links they use, an e-mail center to provide the possibility of exchanging private messages or any attachments with the teacher or colleagues, shared files which are the files on the educational site that students download, a notes page that allows students to record their ideas and notes and for the teacher to set some homework, an electronic guide that provides answers to user inquiries and gives a description Detailed explanation of the course components and how to use them. Obstacles to e-learning: The rapid development of global standard criteria, which requires many modifications in electronic curricula, • The lack of sufficient awareness among members of society about this type of education, the certificates obtained through electronic education are not recognized by some official bodies, privacy and confidentiality where there is a breach of content and exams.
· The learner receives immediate feedback.
· Reduce costs.
· Dispensing with going to school.
· The need for modern equipment and a good network connection.
· The learner gets to study at the times that suit him.
· Receive education according to the effort the learner is willing to put in.
· The ability to re-study the material and refer to it electronically as needed.
· The learner does not receive immediate feedback from the teacher.
· It leads to introversion in education because it isolates it.
