An Investigation of the Variables Influencing Online Education: A Study Conducted in Varanasi, India

Abstract

Following the COVID-19 epidemic, which forced the closure of educational institutions, the government has backed online learning systems in an attempt to preserve academic continuity. The bulk of elite private and public institutions have moved to online platforms like Zoom, Google Classrooms, Microsoft Teams, etc. with ease, while many still consider it to be an enormous undertaking. A number of benefits and drawbacks have come with adjusting to an online learning environment. It's time for us Indians as a people to realize the opportunities that online education offers—for India, within India. Determining the advantages and disadvantages from the user's perspective was, thus, one of the main goals of this investigation. Based on a report on the topic, one may conclude that online education in India is anticipated to grow extremely quickly. Until 2024 and beyond, this trend will continue. All stakeholders in Indian education, especially in the Post-Covid Era, have chosen online learning as an ingrained, imposed system rather than a conscious strategy. This has been underlined by the benefits for all parties involved in the education industry. This study uses a poll to try to find and highlight the components that are particularly helpful to teachers and students. But this survey also reveals some interesting trends. The results of the study can be applied in different settings by carefully selecting the samples and altering the underlying conditions in an effective and sufficient manner. Online learning offers a plethora of opportunities for educators and learners alike. It could, however, further exacerbate India's socioeconomic divide. In all of our policies and activities pertaining to online education, inclusion should be our goal. India will be guided towards progress via perseverance, sincere endeavors, and a well-defined vision. One of the study's conclusions is that, while online learning has numerous advantages for students, traditional classroom instruction will not soon be replaced by it. As a next step the future studies could be conducted to further test this.