Relevance of E-education for ODL system in the 21st century Shah Habibullah1,*, Sofal Firdous Ahmad2 1Directorate of Distance Education, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India 2Department of Education, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India *Email: habibkashmiruniversity@gmail.com
Abstract Information technology, an amalgam of some wonderful inventions of the 21st century in electronics and communication has acquired an important place in almost all aspects of human life and particularly in the field of education during a very short span of time. India like other developing countries has taken some bold steps to adapt and absorb the advances in information technology by constitution of national task force. At the one end, some premier institutions are having access to all facilities in terms of educational technology such as multimedia system, LAN, WAN, World Wide Web etc. and on the other hand, a large number of universities are still depending only on stereotyped lecture method in imparting knowledge. Therefore, the existence of technology gap provides an opportunity to use IT supported education technologies for better delivery of education, easier access to a number of knowledge sources, sharing through networks and quality distance learning in management education. The rapid growth of the ICT and the needs of a mobile society have made online learning environments very attractive and numerous studies have shown that they are not only feasible, but they have many advantages over traditional education, such as the convenience of asynchronous participation, a permanent record of the class, and a plethora of analysis tools (Hiltz, 1997; Kearsley, 1998). In this paper an attempt has been made by the authors to cover the scope of web based learning, Technology of delivery system, Electronic Library, IT and its various models relevant to Distance Education. This paper introduces an e-education framework with reference to three different models in order to reduce the confusion caused by the traditional distance learning framework; to map newly emerging learning modes; and to explore new and innovative education models. Design/methodology/approach The methodology for this study is a conceptual attempt to review the existing literature and present some e-learning models relevant to open and distance learning in the 21st century. Originality/value The paper represents a contribution to the debate on the development of an eeducation framework relevant and applicable to ODL system in the contemporary education system. Although distance learning has brought considerable benefits to many actors worldwide, but it has created a number of issues and challenges which needs an immediate attention from the concerned quarters. We suggest that the quality, maintenance and the services of distance education in the 21st century depends on the e-learning capability of the education system of a country and also on the institutional setup. Top Keywords Learning Technology, Open and Distance Learning, E-Learning, E-Education, Online Learning, Knowledge Society. Top |