India is a developing country with its population crossing over the billions mark. Still around 35 to 40% of the population is illiterate. Isn’t it strange? And the reason is simple- it is the inaccessibility to education because of the non-availability of schools and colleges in the respective towns and cities in all over India for the best education. In such cases, online learning programs in India becomes a lucrative solution not only for those people who cannot afford classroom education, but also for those who are unable to continue their education because of a number of reasons.

What is online learning?

Online learning is very different from traditional method of classroom learning. In India, online learning basically means out of classroom mode of study i.e. study via internet. In this, unlike classroom teaching, students are not under the direct supervision of teachers but students are engaged in self-directed and self-motivated learning. Direct interaction is possible with the teacher through the medium of internet, all your queries are solved online and your performances are also evaluated by your assignments that you send online.

Advantages of online Learning

1.    Flexible timings as per your need and requirements. You can set your own time-schedule.

2.    Easy availability of updated online materials.

3.    Your problems can be solved within few minutes by interacting with the mentors directly via online medium. In other words, you can say that it helps in saving your precious time.

4.    Moreover, as per the student’s convenience and grasping power, different courses are designed to specifically meet the desired results of improving performance.

Moreover, High quality online learning programs in India are designed not only for students but also for the employees of various reputed organizations in order to impart them effective training from time to time. However, it totally depends upon various online education institutes that whether they provide this education free of cost or charge some nominal fees. There are several institutes in India that are famous for imparting free online education.

It is a crucial fact that with the rising importance of education in India, the concept of online learning cannot be ignored. Students across India can not only save their time and money, but also procure from time to time authentic and reliable knowledge about the various topics. Therefore, it is not wrong to say that these online learning programs act like a boon for number of students residing in India.

What are the Essentials of Online Learning?

Online Learning can be broadly defined as the use of any electronic technology to create learning experiences. Online learning also known as e-learning is a learning experience delivered via a computer and the internet. However not all online learning is fully-online sometimes there is a combination of online and on-campus attendance requirement so before completing the application process make sure you have a clear understanding about how your program is being offered and if it meet your needs.

Fully-online: Fully-online means that all courses are offered online through a computer and internet connection. You will not be required to attend any on-campus class.

Combination of online and on-campus: A combination of online and on-campus class means that there are times when you will have to physically attend a class on-campus, and it is a requirement to earn a degree or certificate. A combination of online and on-campus attendance, is also referred to as blended or hybrid program.

Other terms used for Online Learning:

* E-learning
* Distance education
* Distance learning
* Online learning
* Online education
* Web-based training
* Web-based training

Is Online Learning Right For Me?

It really depends on your learning style; online learning is very different than the traditional on-site learning, however if this is your only option then you will have to adapt your learning style to fit into your online degree program. Anyone can adapt to online learning, all it takes is a little adjustment and a bit of getting used to.

Listed below are some of the attributes an online student should have or at least make an effort to have:

Self discipline: Most online learning will be around your busy schedule so you will have to apply a certain amount of discipline and set aside an appropriate amount of time for online work and studies just like you would for any traditional campus education.

Self determination and motivation: When things get rough and you feel like giving up are you able to snap out of it and stay focus? Because there will be times when you will feel tired and burned out or overwhelmed, but you will have to motivate yourself and be strong and determined to complete what you have started and keep your eyes on the prize.

Don’t be shy or intimidated: When you need help or do not understand a subject matter or class assignment it is important to let your instructor know. And since you will be in an online environment it should be a bit easier to ask for help and not feel embarrassed or intimidated in any way.

Knowledge of computers and software: Do you have some knowledge of computers, typing, word processing, downloading, installing software, email and surfing the net? If your answer is yes, then you are on your way to a good start for online learning, however if your answer is no you might want to take a few lessons in computers to learn the basics before enrolling for an online degree program.

Good reading comprehension and writing skills: You will be required to read and comprehend subject matter. Also being able to write and get your ideas across especially online is critical to your success.

Excellent time management skills: Online classes allows you the freedom and flexibility to learn at your own convenience however you still need to manage your time effectively so that you can get the most out of your online education.

The emergence of the internet and the prevalence of personal computers in almost every sphere of human activity has also made its foray into the academic sector and a new concept has been introduced, this latest innovation is referred to as online learning or e-learning and it promotes online education to all those individuals having access to a computer and it involves learning through interaction with qualified tutors online and upon the conclusion of the course, online degrees are handed over to the selected successful candidates. It is interesting to note that unlike traditional educational system by means of which knowledge is imparted to the students manually, here interaction is based on a medium which facilitates transfer of knowledge. Therefore there is required certain tools which would aid in this mode of online learning. Such tools are known as learning management systems which comprise of a set of software applications which in their turn provide certain functions which are extremely beneficial in contributing to the cause of online learning. One of the most popular among the various learning management content systems or LCMS is known as ATutor and it is also an open source application which came into being for the first time in 2002 and there are multifarious reasons because of which ATutor is considered to be one of the most prominent online learning management systems. ATutor is distinguished to be the first among the learning content management systems to abide by the various accessibility specifications laid down by the W3C WCAG 1.0 and XHTML 1.0. While the latter allows ATutor to be displayed in all similar technological specifications, the former enables this learning content management system to gain access to the various categories of its operation at any point of time by any user.

In terms of adaptability functions, it is to be noted that ATutor can function in any given learning or teaching environment and there are certain features which reflect its mode fo functioning. These include themes and tool modules as well as study groups and other privileges. For long, it was considered to be a shortcoming on the part of the learning management systems as they were unable to provide the benefits of online learning to the blind and disabled candidates. But applications at ATutor has enabled these disabled candidates in gaining the advantages of online learning and it also provides various professional development courses designed for the teachers and researchers as well.