Virtual education, distance education, electronic education, virtual education, online education or cyber education. Different names for the same concept. So what is online education? How is it different from normal education? What are the advantages of online education? Can there be online university education? How does online education work? To answer all these questions, let's examine this educational method, where technology is used most intensively, in a little more depth.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, educational and instructional activities took a very different shape than we are used to. Primary and secondary educational institutions moved their course schedules to television broadcasts. As for universities, distance and open learning was initiated in a digital environment in all higher education institutions in our country, in accordance with the decision taken by YÖK (Higher Education Council).
WHAT IS ONLINE EDUCATION?
Unlike traditional formal education management where students and instructors are in the same environment, online education is a term that describes an education system where the instructor teaching the class and the student are not in the same place.
Online education, which has become a part of university education, is a rational, contemporary, and innovative education system where classes are conducted visually and aurally in a virtual environment through computer technologies, without depending on a place and time, and without the requirement of students and faculty members to come together on campus, and where students can re-watch these classes whenever they want.
In the online education system, classes are held in virtual classrooms. Academicians and students can connect to the system from any environment with an internet connection and participate in classes as if they were in a classroom. In simultaneous classes held in a virtual classroom environment, academicians teach the class visually and aurally, can use a whiteboard, and even share materials saved on their computers with students. Students can also connect to the class visually and aurally; they can ask questions about things they do not understand or come to mind during the class. Simultaneous classes can be recorded, and later anyone who wishes can re-watch the class at any time they want thanks to these recordings.
Online education is an interdisciplinary field in terms of educational sciences. Instructors and students, and sometimes even learning resources, are not in the same place, and different technologies are used to eliminate the limitations experienced due to being far apart. For this reason, the concept of distance education has emerged as an umbrella concept; it has also been used to describe concepts such as learning by correspondence, tele-learning, electronic learning, mobile learning, online learning, and flexible learning. Most of the time, the concepts of distance education and open and distance learning are used interchangeably. Today, its form used especially with computer and online technologies is the most common form and is briefly called online education. Online education has become a core part of mainstream education with the lifelong learning opportunities it provides.
FROM DISTANCE EDUCATION TO ONLINE EDUCATION
Distance education, which is carried out today by utilizing the opportunities of modern technologies such as television, video, audio, graphics, computers, and internet technology, actually has a very old history. Education by correspondence, which emerged in the first quarter of the 1700s, can be called the first example of distance education. In this period, where developments in postal services were decisive, instructors conveyed lessons through letters they wrote; students, on the other hand, asked questions about issues they had in mind, did not understand, or were curious about by writing letters again. With the spread of radio in the first quarter of the 1900s and television thereafter, distance education became mass. Educational material delivered from a single center could be followed by many students at the same time. However, students still had to submit their questions about the lessons they followed in writing. With the emergence of open universities in the 1960s, this form of distance education took on a more academic form. Teleconference technologies that emerged with the 1980s included distance education in a reciprocal communication process. In line with the developments in information and communication technologies in the 1990s, with the widespread use of personal computers, the internet network, and mobile phones, distance education activities transformed into online education.
HOW ARE CLASSES TAUGHT IN ONLINE EDUCATION?
Although there are many different models of distance education, classes can be conducted through three different methods determined by the educational institutions themselves:
- Synchronous (Simultaneous) Classes: It is a model where the instructor and students come together at the same time in virtual classrooms created with the support of internet technologies, and teaching activities are conducted face-to-face just like in traditional education.
- Asynchronous (Non-Simultaneous) Classes: It is a model where various teaching materials such as textbooks, video, and audio files are presented to students in advance, so that the student can carry out the learning activity individually at any time and at their own pace.
- Hybrid (Blended) Classes: It is a model where simultaneous and non-simultaneous classes are implemented together within the same educational program. In this model, some of the classes can be followed synchronously and some asynchronously.
HOW ARE EXAMS CONDUCTED IN ONLINE EDUCATION?
Just like in classes, exams in online education can be conducted through different methods determined by the educational institutions themselves.
- Even though education is online, exams can be conducted on pre-determined dates and locations.
- All exams can be conducted orally over the internet on specified dates.
- Instead of an exam, students can prepare assignments to convey what they have learned within the scope of the classes to be evaluated.
- Students can take exams where they will give multiple-choice answers over the internet on specified dates.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE EDUCATION?
Since it does not require being in the same place, it eliminates regional and geographical barriers. You can follow the classes even if you are in different cities during online education.
Online education allows each learner to learn at their own pace.
Online education provides unlimited access to course materials. In this respect, it offers an economical alternative with reusable course materials and common course content.
Apart from the time you will spend for education, you do not experience unnecessary loss of time on issues such as travel and the like.
Since you can access educational material whenever you want, you can participate in the training even if you work a full-time job.
Just as working is not an obstacle to online education, getting married, having children, or other reasons do not prevent participation in online education.
Since you only need a computer with an internet connection, you can easily follow the education.
Since you can access educational materials whenever you want according to your own study schedule, you learn more effectively and you can re-watch the class whenever you want.
Online Education provides equality of opportunity in education. It provides education opportunities for physically disabled students.
WHY IS ONLINE EDUCATION MORE EFFECTIVE?
Unlike traditional education models, the student is at the center of online education. Unlike traditional education, which relies on learning everything during class, in the online education system, the student can follow classes without depending on time and place.
Unlike the traditional education system, students can follow the desired course content whenever they want with online education. With this feature that distinguishes the online education model from the traditional education system, anyone who wants to learn a topic can watch that course material as many times as they want. Thanks to the synchronous class model, students can ask questions to instructors in online education just like in traditional education. They can learn the answers to the issues that stick in their minds.
In online education, sample video solutions of complex problems and questions are included as course material, and this ensures that the student works harder for their success and future. The student follows the relationship between theory and practice from videos and learns quickly, and can also put what is learned into practice more easily.
The online education system includes many visual and auditory contents in addition to traditional educational materials. With the help of rich visual and auditory content, it makes education more attractive, enjoyable, and understandable, increasing the student's interest in classes and level of learning.
HISTORY OF ONLINE EDUCATION IN TURKEY
The history of distance education in Turkey dates back to the early years of our republic. Considering the developments in the common technologies used in the education process, we can examine distance education in our country fundamentally in 4 periods:
Period 1: (1923-1955) Conceptual discussion period.
Period 2: (1956-1975) Education by correspondence period.
Period 3: (1976-1995) Education period with audio-visual tools such as Radio-Television.
Period 4: (1996-2020) Internet and information technologies-based education period.
The most important date within this periodization is the establishment of Anadolu University in 1982. The Open Education Faculty operating within the framework of this university is an education project where courses are given through mass media (internet, radio, television) and academic consultancy centers in various cities, and exams are held 2 times a year (midterm, final).
In 1992, the Open Education High School started education as a unique and centralized model that has the same program contents as general high schools in formal education, but is different from other formal education institutions in terms of its structure and operation.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic experienced in 2020 and in accordance with the decision taken by YÖK, distance and open learning was initiated in a digital environment in all higher education institutions in our country.
DISTANCE EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC PROCESS
The Higher Education Council (YÖK) announced that education cannot be continued with traditional methods during the Coronavirus pandemic process, which is effective globally, but that the fight must be continued in a different lane, and put into effect the distance education and digital learning opportunities it started in 2019. While universities offered thousands of educational materials to students in a digital environment, on the other hand, they continued education in virtual classrooms. While education and instruction in existing open education faculties continued, course materials of open education programs were opened to the access of all students in a digital environment under the name 'YÖK Courses Platform'. This platform, which is constantly developing and enriching with the contributions of all universities in Turkey, makes a significant contribution to the sharing of knowledge and scientific accumulation.
With the introduction of modern educational practices by YÖK and universities into use in Turkey as well, the foundation of Turkish higher education created different opportunities in terms of combating global threats and dangers where all segments of society, the business world, industry, tourism, and economic activities, and even foreign policies were affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. In the process when these extraordinary days were experienced, our universities, which know much better what to do and how to do it compared to many countries in the world, managed to offer a clear roadmap to their students.
YÖK President Prof. Dr. Yekta Saraç shared the following information regarding distance education given in universities that closed their doors due to the Covid-19 outbreak during the spring semester in the introductory article of the 17th issue of the Higher Education journal:
"Since March 11, 2020, when our universities were physically closed, the number of courses that needed to be opened formally in higher education institutions in the spring semester was 736 thousand 341, and it materialized as 663 thousand 808 with distance education, meaning 90.1 percent of all courses could be given with distance education. This rate materialized as 91 percent in social sciences, 78 percent in natural sciences, 77 percent in engineering sciences, and 54 percent in health sciences. Generally speaking and compared to world countries, these rates show a success despite all the difficulties experienced."
Emphasizing that distance education can continue in universities in the new academic year as well, Prof. Dr. Yekta Saraç stated in his article: "The severe pandemic period, this serious crisis, these difficult days show us that digital learning will be used with an understanding far beyond being an alternative for at least a while longer. These changes caused by digital technologies also pave the way for new professions in higher education. Professions such as the Internet of Things, robot technologies, digital marketing, and machine learning attract intense interest at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. We will continue to encourage supporting new technologies in this field, network management, cybersecurity, live video training, and integrating into all these concepts in higher education," he evaluated.
ÜSKÜDAR UNIVERSITY AND ONLINE EDUCATION
Üsküdar University, which stopped face-to-face education and switched to distance education like all universities due to the coronavirus, offered many opportunities to its students in online education so that their education would not be disrupted. Üsküdar University associate degree, undergraduate, and graduate students, who continued education and instruction without interruption, followed distance education classes provided through different digital applications.
More than 100,000 students used the ALMS system
Üsküdar University students came together with academicians in distance education with the ALMS interface. 827 live classes took place through the virtual classroom application ALMS for 1 week. More than 100,000 students logged into the ALMS system.
243 live class broadcasts were made via ZOOM…
Üsküdar University supported its students for distance education with the Zoom program as well as the ALMS program. In the Zoom program, which students showed great interest in, academicians made 243 live class broadcasts via ZOOM.
The STIX page was viewed nearly 1,000,000 times
STIX, developed by Üsküdar University Software Planning Unit, allowed students who could not attend the class to access the class video and watch the video. Üsküdar students viewed the STIX page nearly 1,000,000 times.
Üsküdar students watched 35,000 live classes on ÜÜTV
Üsküdar University, which started distance education so that its students' education would not be disrupted, also broadcasted the classes of all faculties, Health Services Vocational School, and institutes live on ÜÜ TV 6 days a week within the framework of the prepared schedule.
35,000 students watched live classes from ÜÜTV1 and ÜÜTV2 broadcasts. Students viewed the ÜÜ Web page 275,000 times in 1 week.
ÜSKÜDAR UNIVERSITY'S ONLINE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE HAS CROSSED BORDERS
Üsküdar University, which continued its educational activities without interruption by rapidly realizing digital transformation during the pandemic period, saw its experience in this direction cross national borders. With Üsküdar University Television (ÜÜTV), which broadcasts live classes 6 days a week, our online education classes, which reach all over the world, are also watched with interest by Turkish students all over the world.
Other university students also showed great interest in the course videos of Üsküdar University, which were broadcast live from ÜÜTV throughout the spring semester and uploaded to its official YouTube account. Dr. Faculty Member Yeşim Özdemir, Head of the Department of Medical Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, expressed the process as follows: "Thanks to this infrastructure, which allowed us to create a video library open to all Turkish-speaking students on earth thanks to the generosity of our university as well as Üsküdar University's students, there were students who reported that they listened to classes even from Macedonia and even successfully passed their exams thanks to these classes, and presented their thanks for this."
ÜSKÜDAR UNIVERSITY ONLINE EDUCATION RESEARCH
Üsküdar University evaluated the perspective of young people on distance education in a research it conducted with 350 university students across Turkey. In the research named 'Covid Youth', conducted by Dr. Tuğba Aydın Öztürk, Faculty Member of Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, across Turkey in June 2020, it turned out that 48% of the participants preferred the hybrid model where some classes would be applied in a face-to-face classroom environment and some classes online. While 55% of the students stated that they felt reluctant and unhappy during this process in the Covid-19 process and therefore could not get the necessary efficiency from the classes, 58% of the students thought that the efficiency of education increased because expenses spent for accommodation and eating and drinking outside decreased thanks to distance education, and 49% because they did not have to waste time in traffic, especially in metropolitan cities.