E-learning: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

education and training to the masses on gigantic scale, for economic survival and to meet the ever-changing requirements of the society and also to meet the individual's special requirements and tastes, is not possible through the conventional system of education based on brick-and-mortar schools, colleges and universities. The World Wide Web (WWW) is being used to improve communication, collaboration, sharing of resources, promoting active learning, and delivery of education in distance learning mode. Distance Education, E-learning and Virtual Universities may provide the desired solution. E-Learning may be taken as the latest form of distance learning mediated by state-of-art technologies like Internet and World-Wide-Web. In recent years, many of the universities and educational institutions worldwide offer online services such as for admissions, virtual (online) learning environments in order to facilitate the lifelong learning and to make this compatible with other educational management activities. Current e-learning research brings together pedagogical, technical and organisational concerns within a wider set of socio-cultural factors. Understanding issues &challenges in respect of e- learning is of significant importance to the research communities involved in e-learning and will have a significant role in forming future practices. In consulting the INDIA research community, a number of research issues & challenges are required to be addressed to promote more efficient learning techniques. In view of the above-mentioned challenges, for a community or nation to survive and lead, it is essential that at least, its working-age group is provided means for mass learning/education so that it is well-equipped with latest required skills for various economic and intellectual activities. Providing education and training to the masses on gigantic scale, for economic survival and to meet the ever-changing requirements of the society and also to meet the individual's special requirements and tastes, is not possible through the conventional system of education based on brick-and-mortar schools, colleges and universities. Distance Education, E- learning and Virtual Universities may provide the desired solution.