10 Factors That Make eLearning The Future Of American Education

Technology has a massive sway over present educational trends with eLearning having the lion’s share in the scenario. Students of future America are sure to be tech savvy in their learning methods with more technological competence in educational and career prospects. Factors like increased computer applications, ease of learning, growth of MOOCs, productive learning atmosphere, and more employability chances attribute to eLearning being the future of American education.

Why eLearning Is The Future Of American Education 

As technology has grown by leaps and bounds, educational modes also have seen a sea change in their trends with eLearning peeping into the scene. With for-profit organizations dominating the online educational scenario especially in higher educational courses in the USA, the growth of this kind of education is very rapid. The adding feature in the future of American education scenario is the advent of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), allowing education to shed off its time restrictions and geological boundaries. MOOCs highlight the fact that any person can gain education from anywhere through virtual medium and he has equal learning opportunity like any other person in the world. This trend is strikingly felt by the students of the USA for the benefits they reap out of eLearning methods. And, North America has been the topping eLearning market for years, with Asia and Western Europe staying a bit behind.

So, what are the factors that made eLearning the future of American education?

1. Increase in the use of computer applications.Every American household uses tablets apart from laptops and desktops. Increase in mobile use is an adding factor to this scenario setting the ground for eLearning. In the USA, students who have matriculated with a tablet are more in number than their traditionally schooled peers. They believe that digital formats for reading and tablets will change their way of learning.
2. Exciting learning opportunities through eLearning methods.With latest developments in online learning tools, students expect exciting learning opportunities with scope for improving their learning skills through innovative techniques and gamified learning. eLearning individualizes learning and gives the confidence that everyone can gain equal education.
3. Alertness in the eLearning process-more productivity.More productivity is assured in eLearning process with touch screens and individual tables for the ease of student learning. Further, students are curious about their learning tools and want to use them for their advantage. Interactive methods and games make classroom atmosphere fun and lively producing more positive results in the learning aspects of students.
4. Increase in MOOCs.With more MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses) in the pipeline, learning advanced courses and college courses is not difficult for students. They can spend less time on learning and reduce their cost of education as well by choosing free courses.
5. Increase in virtual tutoring centers.With the advent of internet, online tutoring has emerged as a powerful medium of education with its multifold benefits for students. Online tutoring centers use eLearning as a powerful tool for offering solutions to students who struggle in their homework, assignment writing, and test preparation. There are sites like Tutor Pace offering quality service through custom made courseware for the advantage of students.
   

Read full blog: http://elearningindustry.com/10-factors-make-elearning-future-american-education

The Future of America's Schools of Education: Repair or Replace?

Nearly a decade ago, as president of Teachers College at Columbia University, I led a national study of the state of education schools in America, which produced reports on the education of school teachers, school leaders, and education researchers. While strong programs were identified in each area, the reports were critical of current practices regarding program quality and admission standards.

I came to the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation believing it is easy to throw bricks; the real challenge is to improve policy and practice. The situation of America's education schools is not unique. The United States is making a transition from a national, analog, industrial economy to a global, digital, information one. All of our social institutions -- government, media, healthcare, education, and the rest -- were created for the former. They work less well today than they once did and appear to be broken. They need to be refitted for this new era.

There are two ways to accomplish this -- repairing/reforming the existing institutions or replacing them, creating new versions that fit the times. Both are essential today for education schools. It is a mistake to do one and not the other. Here's why.

The Case for Repair

I can't count the number of times I have heard critics say we just need to blow up our education schools. Beyond disliking the expression, it would be a terrible error. More than 90 percent of school teachers and leaders are currently prepared by education schools. We need these schools to continue to prepare them if we are to have teachers in our classrooms and principals to lead our schools.The immediate need is to repair them, strengthen their programs, and raise admission and graduation standards while closing the poorest of the breed and investing in the best.

For the past eight years, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation has focused its efforts on repairing schools of education. Through our Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships, we partner with 28 universities in five states - Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio - to create model STEM (science-technology-engineering-mathematics) graduate teacher education programs designed to meet the needs of the 21st century. Through a state-based strategy, we recruited high-ability students with STEM undergraduate degrees to enroll in those programs and become career STEM teachers in high-need urban and rural schools.

The Woodrow Wilson Foundation created a similar Fellowship for school and district leaders, now partnering with business schools and education schools in three states - Indiana, New Mexico, and Wisconsin - to provide an MBA program for aspiring education leaders. This clinically intensive MBA not only provides leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to be both school managers and instructional leaders, but it is done in collaboration with local school districts to ensure a leadership pipeline that meets their real-time needs

Read Full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-future-of-americas-sc_b_8071012.html?section=india