Online learning for IT for Further Education

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as well as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

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ABSTRACT

In today's modern world of rapid development and expansion, individuals make way for doing their work for the purpose and objective of undertaking studies on a virtual portal. Online education has now become one of the most important and effective forms of individuals, who require effective, yet efficient study portals and virtual education. This paper shall help us understand and comprehend the accounts of online education and shall help us highlight the credibility of online education in the light of virtual schools in today's modern world.

Given that e-learning is such a revolutionary tool and that access to education should be a right and not a privilege, the challenge therefore is how to maintain and further cultivate the growth of e-learning whilst making it cost efficient, beneficial, affordable and therefore accessible to the average student, the small and medium enterprises (SME's) and to the private individual. The answer to this could lie in technology itself.

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Gender39

Figure 2: Subjects that the Students are studying40

Figure 3: Where do you Study?41

Figure 4: Unrestricted Access to Personal Computer42

Figure 5: Students with their own personal computers43

Figure 6: Students with unrestricted access to the internet44

Figure 7: Speed and reliability of the Internet Connection45

Figure 8: E-Learning is an important Element for your course46

Figure 9: Without E-Learning you would not be able to Study47

Figure 10: E-learning makes the course more interesting48

Figure 11: E-learning should be utilized for all your courses49

Figure 12: E-Learning saves time50

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

LIST OF FIGURESV

CHAPTER 01: INTRODUCTION1

Outline of the Study1

Background of the Study1

Research Question3

Aims and Objectives3

Significance of the Study3

Limitations of the Study4

Disposition4

Distance Learning7

Face to face courses8

Blended or hybrid courses8

Online courses8

The Spread of Online Learning9

Increase in Online Courses9

Increase of Online Instruction in Teacher Preparation10

Effectiveness of Online Learning and Online Instruction11

Cloud Computing12

Interactive learning environments (ILEs)14

Active Learning16

Significance of IT in the education industry17

Significance of Online Education in the life of students17

Relationship between IT and online education20

Theories of Online Education20

Gestalt theory21

Cognitive Theory22

Real-life scenarios of virtual schools that exist around the world24

CHAPTER 03: METHODOLOGY25

Overview of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Approaches25

Overview of the Mixed Method Research Approach27

Research Method and Design Appropriateness27

Benefits and Disadvantages of Mixed Method28

Research Design29

Demerits of e-learning29

Merits of e-learning30

Informed Consent32

Confidentiality32

Validity33

Reliability34

Qualitative Data Analysis35

Quantitative Data Analysis35

Ethical Consideration36

CHAPTER 04: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS37

SWOT Analysis of E-Learning37

Strengths37

Weaknesses37

Opportunities38

Threats38

Questionnaire Analysis39

Interview Analysis51

What are the strengths of online education and how do they benefit the students?51

How does online education help a student to learn in an effective manner?52

What do you think about ...