Online Learning Platforms: Experiencing MOOC

Knowledge is power but learning is super power, that's what they say these days. For someone who is eager to learn, what can be more joyful than being able to learn at the comfort of their couch. Online learning platforms are a blessing for such students. One can participate in courses of diversified disciplines taught by highly qualified instructors of the world's most prestigious universities, just by sitting at one's personal laptop at home. All one needs is good internet connectivity. The flexibility along with the quality which it provides is making distant learning very popular. Further, the online education is also very economical and in some cases the only thing for which one has to pay is the internet connection as lot of platforms are offering hundreds of free courses for marketing purposes. If you are an introverted personality and avoid learning in groups, studying online helps you to learn while maintaining your privacy and at the same time stay connected with other colleagues. There are hundreds of online learning platforms available today, each having their distinct features and options.

Following are some benefits of E Learning:

1. Flexibility: The flexibility e learning offers makes it possible for everyone to continue pursue education. You can be a housewife, have a full-time or part-time employment, a parent with young kids, a full-time student, a businessmen, someone who travels a lot for professional or personal reasons, someone who has to take of his old parents at home, no matter how much occupied you are, if you are able to spare even 30 minutes everyday, you can male progress in online study. As the content is available 24/7, so it can be accessed anytime during the day.
2. Variety of Course Content: The courses available cover each and every discipline. Computer science, engineering, IT, software, humanities, social sciences, arts, theoretical sciences, medicine, international certifications, personal hobbies and interests courses are only a few categories which are available on the e-learning platforms.
3. Economical: What can be more enticing if the courses are totally free! All you have to pay is the internet and electricity. And it's not an exaggeration, large amount of online course content is totally free, specially on YouTube.
4. Hassle Free: No need to travel to attend classes. No extra time and money is required to reach to the campus. Your campus is your home! Your classroom is your laptop!
5. Quality of Course Content: The content of the courses offered is up to date being taught in a professional manner. The content includes audio, video, transcripts, diagrams, articles and research papers to help the students in grasping both theoretical and practical aspects of the subject. The content is downloadable for personal use as well.
6. Professional Trainers/ Instructors: The courses are being taught and conducted by professional experienced faculty members and trainers from reputed universities and organizations. They are well informed and equipped in current pedagogical approaches.
7. No Technical Background Needed: You are not required to be a technically sound in IT for pursuing online education. A normal computer user can take advantage of online learning. The websites for online course searching, access and registration are very simple and easy to use
8. Portals are Informative & Responsive: All the relevant information with easy navigation about the courses, programs, fees structure, schedules,student progress and results is available. Further, timely information is provided to students on all the important matters with emails and reminders e.g. when an assignment or quiz is due, what other courses are being offered in the same discipline that can be of interest for the user, how the user can improve his progress in the course etc.
9. Networking with Online Community for Sharing Knowledge & Experience: Online education is a remarkable opportunity to connect with thousands of people all around the globe who share the same areas of interest with you. Sharing each others experiences enhances the learning process and makes it pragmatic. It is always enriching to see a particular concept with various angles by stepping out of your mental approach and listening to and embracing someone else's ideas.
10. Variety of Learning Tracks: From individual short courses to full fledged degree programs, you have a variety to choose as per your requirement and life style. Online portals also are offering certifications on a certain track, under graduate, graduate and post graduate degree programs and preparation courses for various international certifications.
11. Certificates & Credentials: Once you complete a course you are awarded with a proper certificate which contains the name of the awarding institute or university and the signature of the instructor/s. It is a document one can share on social media.

Some Important Online Learning Portals:

• YouTube.com
• Coursera.com
• Udemy.com
• CentreofExcellence.com
• OpenUniversity.edu
• DigiSkills.pk
• Edureka.co
• Udacity.com

Online learning offers a great opportunity for all of us to continue educating ourselves. It's flexible and economical, and a very good way of using one's time productively.