The digital world has created different learning possibilities. It has also changed how we approach education and training since we can now learn anywhere, anytime, and at a suitable pace; thanks to new technologies.
Most educational institutions have changed their approaches to suit the expectations of their students by incorporating digital learning into their teaching methods and offering campuses that are dedicated to digital learning.
In this article, I will discuss what digital learning is and how it enhances the learning process.
What is Digital Learning?
Digital learning refers to the form of learning that involves the use of electronic media. The information and instructions that are created with modern-day computers and electronics are known as digital information.
The form of learning that makes use of digital information is referred to as digital learning. In a nutshell, digital learning refers to the type of learning that involves the use of electronic devices.
It is facilitated by technology and gives students control over time, the path of learning, place, or pace.
As digital learning platforms become more popular, more industry-leading platforms emerge, thereby enabling effective, engaging, and results-driven learning.
Benefits of Digital Learning
1. It Helps in Creating Personalized Learning
Digital learning enables teachers to create a curriculum that caters to the individual needs of the student. The teacher can consider the student’s ability and progress.
The teacher can then use this to make changes that will enhance the progress of the student. Students have different needs, so the way they learn shouldn’t be the same.
Although the traditional style of education worked for us for some time, many factors determine the success of a student while learning.
In the traditional face-to-face learning method, the students in the middle determine the pace of the class. Advanced students will need to wait for others to catch up.
Those that are struggling may be left behind because the time is usually not enough to wait for them to catch up.
In the case of digital learning, the course provider can format their curriculum to meet the needs of the student. This enables them to provide feedback that is specific to each student. This form of learning helps to provide a more holistic approach to learning.
The use of technology plays a major role in improving students’ performance and also helping them to attain their full potential.
2. It Gives Students Access to a Large Amount of Information
The internet keeps increasing daily with free information. Tens of thousands of searches are carried out on Google every second. Most of these searches are done by people who either want to settle an argument or get more information about a concept.
The main thing here is that the information is free, ready, and updated. Think of a time you checked something on Wikipedia, then you clicked on a relevant link, and about 30 minutes later, you are learning about a new thing.
It was not possible to have access to knowledge in this way before the internet. You would have had to spend hours in the library just to get some amount of information.
Digital learning gives learners easy access to information. It also helps students to effectively use the information.
This form of learning provides students with relevant material across a wide range of topics. This goes a long way in facilitating the best results in the learning process.
3. It Gives Students Access to Engaging Lessons
The traditional style of learning involves a classroom, paper, books, a teacher, and students. During the traditional era of learning, we had a blackboard and chalk, now we have a whiteboard and pens.
Although we are used to the traditional style of learning, it wasn’t the most engaging form of learning. Digital learning provides different methods of learning. For instance, the teacher can easily integrate imagery, video, and audio content into a lesson.
Also, some teachers can find software that helps students to learn the topic they are teaching by presenting such topics as games. This helps to make learning fun and also helps students to retain more of the content in the lessons.
4. It Helps Students to Be Accountable
Due to the engaging nature of digital learning, students don’t usually realize that they are learning. They will be encouraged to learn more because they are satisfied with the desire to know more.
Digital learning is interactive and this stimulates the scenes required to develop good habits.
This path of learning helps young students to experience problem-solving, storytelling, concept maps, role-playing, gamification, and peer education, and a higher frequency than those exposed to the traditional form of learning.
Also, it helps students to have a sense of ownership over their education. If they don’t understand a particular aspect, they have access to technology that they can use to know more about the concept by themselves.
So the next time your child asks you a strange question, you can just ask him or her to find out and teach you.
5. It Makes Learning Flexible
As I stated earlier, digital learning helps teachers to focus more on the specific needs of the student. This implies that there is more flexibility in delivering the lessons. This may involve the use of a different type of software that students are more familiar with.
Also, it may imply the ability to consider factors that can affect how a student learns. Now we have more knowledge about ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Digital learning makes it possible for students with these conditions to learn.
6. It Gives Access to Recorded Content
Those that have undergone online lessons testify to how valuable it is for some lessons to be recorded. This is because if you miss a part of the lesson, you can easily rewind it and understand the point that was raised.
Also, it helps you study more in your spare time. Let’s assume you did not understand a point that the teacher was discussing but you need to understand that point before you can understand the whole lesson.
If the lesson is recorded, you will be able to learn more on your own by revisiting the lesson and learning more about what you missed. This is beneficial to students of all ages, most especially kids. Children usually learn from repetition.
Repetition helps children to progress faster in their learning process.
7. It Makes Students Employable
The job market has changed ever since we started teaching using traditional methods. We are currently in the digital and technological era; an era that is changing everything. It is important to train students that will be prepared for the job market.
Giving students access to digital learning platforms is the most effective way of preparing students for the job market. This is because they will be familiar with new technologies that they can use in the future.
8. It Gives Students 24-Hour Access to Resources
All students are not productive at the same time. Some are more productive in the morning while others are productive late at night.
The traditional style of learning does not give room for these differences. In the traditional method of learning, you must be attentive while the lesson is going on. If you are not attentive, you will be left behind.
Digital learning, on the other hand, helps students to learn at their own pace. Although there are times when students need to present, this is just part of life.
However, students can still catch up at their own pace since they can have access to the resources they need anytime they want to.
9. It Promotes Connectivity Among Students
We are all comfortable with developing relationships with those that are going through the same situations as us. This is what motivates us to form friends in school.
One of the most difficult things to overcome in learning environments is the fact everyone is not gifted in terms of opening up to strangers.
Transferring some of the connections developed with their colleagues promotes connectivity and also enables students to form friendships that they would have been unable to pursue in the traditional model of learning.
A study revealed that about 33 percent of teenagers were more comfortable sharing information online than sharing such information in person.
When students take part in digital learning, they quickly become a member of a community of people that share the same experience as they are.
10. It Makes it Easy to Track Students’ Progress
Digital learning makes it easier for teachers to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their students. It also makes it easier for teachers to track the general progress of students.
An online record of the work that has been completed coupled with attendance and results of tests and exams make it easy for teachers to track students’ progress.
In a digital environment, it is easy to access students’ information. Teachers can easily see how far their students have come, what they need to improve on, and how well they understand a particular concept.
It is also possible for the teacher to identify the area where a student needs help even before the parent.
11. It Improves Students’ Written Communication Skills
Online learning involves a lot of written communication. Although there will be some video conferencing elements, most of the communication will be done through messaging apps.
A lot of learning comes from communicating through media where there is no spoken word, hand gestures, or facial expression. There are a series of grammar and punctuation and you can only use them effectively by practicing.
Although this may not be good news to some people, the era of pen and paper is over. Students that are brought up via a digital learning system will have a better chance of developing skills required in the job markets of the future.
Digital Learning Platforms
Digital learning platforms are platforms that allow students to learn through digital, distance, and e-learning models. Some of these platforms include:
- EdApp
- Dokeos
- BlackBoard
- Opigno
- OpenELMS
What is the Difference Between Digital Learning and E-Learning?
Due to the way these two terms have been abused, there is a tendency to see digital learning as a form of enhanced e-learning. However, e-learning comprises all digital learning methods and techniques.
In a nutshell, digital learning involves digitalizing the whole learning experience (i.e. virtual meetings with experts, social learning, workshops, networking with alumni, online exams, and lots more).
Why is Digital Learning Important?
Digital learning is important because it allows learners and teachers to have access to courses wherever they have an electronic device.
Also, it is more interactive to use electronic devices for learning and interactive learning is more effective than the techniques used in traditional learning.
This advantage is beneficial for adults where employees are not used to learning new concepts. They can even be rebellious if they feel like they are being forced to learn new things.
FAQs
What are examples of digital learning?
Some examples of digital learning include online games, mobile phones, and social media. Digital learning is any type of learning that involves the use of technology. This type of learning can occur across all learning areas.
How effective is digital learning?
Digital learning is as effective as the classroom style of learning. The expectations of the student, coupled with how motivated the students are, play a key role in completing a digital course.
Other factors that influence the successful completion of a digital course are the student’s age and maturity.
Why do we need digital learning?
In digital learning, course materials are shared with others in the cloud. Digital instructions help students to learn at the early stage of their lives to be responsible. It also improves their communication and teamwork skills.
How can you make learning easier online?
The following tips will help you get results from digital learning:
- Consider an online course as a ‘real’ course.
- Be accountable and develop good time management skills.
- Be organized and have a regular study space.
- Understand the methods that enhance your learning.
- Be active in online classes and take advantage of your network.
Conclusion
Digital learning goes beyond the mere provision of students with a laptop. It also requires the use of technology, digital content, and digital instruction.
The internet has changed the way we learn. The most important aspect of these changes is that students can now approach the future with open minds and can also leverage the numerous possibilities that surround them.
Check out this guide to learn more about digital learning.
Thanks for reading.