E-learning: prospects and challenges.

Chidindu Ejika.

In the 18th century, long before the Internet came into existence, people improvised several means of educating others. The likes of Isaac Pitman, through correspondence taught his students short-hand. This process of distance leading was done through mails. He would send mails containing corrections or previous works done by his students and also new works to these students, and they would reply same way with finished works.

Over time, people continued to devise other means to satiate their curiosity in different fields and impacting knowledge into others. Fast-forward to the invention of computers in the 20th century, learning took a distinctive turn. With different institutions and countries adopting the use of computers in learning, which has, no gainsaying invariably aggrandized teaching and learning processes. The Western countries have long adopted, implemented and has since steadily bolstered the use of computers in learning, which includes the use of the Internet and other Information and communications technology, ICT.

Today, not only have educational institutions appropriated the use of the Internet in learning, business enterprises, government organisations and several others have taken the advantage of this tool to further disseminate and acquire information and knowledge. Distance learning has become among the fastest growing sectors, estimated to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. Educational institutions across the world have invested in distance learning, offering certifications on certificate courses in countless fields and areas of study. Interested participants could, from the convenience of their homes and or their offices access these facilities through their computers and or mobile devices.

The success of e-learning in developing countries has been grappled with the lackadaisical approach and diminutive interestedness of both government and individuals, despite the growing concern over the use of ICT resources in the educational sector. Thus, has led to the dearth of the basic technological tools and participation. Most students in secondary schools and other institutions of higher education in Nigeria do not have full access to use of computers; this has resentfully set back computer literacy across the country. Furthermore, evident in the measly 7% of the Nation’s budget allocated to education.

In Nigeria, the attention to educational technology has been glaringly infinitesimal, despite the well-established and wide-ranging mobile and satellite phone network, especially when in comparison with other countries in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.

With a mobile phone penetration rate at barely below 40%, it’s evident that the accessing of educational facilities through the Internet from communities in Nigeria would be a poor stride, in defiance of the approximated increase to 23 million users by 2019. Regardless of these snags, several Nigerians have shown dire interests in e-learning, hence, leading towards the development of local e-learning facilities. With the likes of tutor.ng, vocabularyachool.ng, prepclass.com.ng and others, who have shone a light on the need and success of e-learning in Nigeria.

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Souce: http://easternreporter.com/2018/04/06/e-learning-prospects-and-challenges/