Virtual Learning the Next Wave in Distance Learning For many students who want to keep studying after joining a job or are returning to studies after a long hiatus, distance learning has already proved an unparalleled option. Its many benefits have made sure that more and more colleges and universities are offering distance learning courses in India, and at the same time the quality of education is improving. But the best if yet to come. The quickly-advancing technology has influenced distance learning also, and the result is the highly useful and interesting virtual learning. With virtual learning, all the course material goes online, which offers some significant advantages to the students: • Interactive course material: With virtual learning, course material becomes interactive. Students can watch animations to understand how the concepts are interrelated, tinker with demonstrations in real-time and see how it affects the outcome, in effect getting better value for their time spent. • Learning better through games: Virtual learning is full of games and quizzes, which are interactive ways to quickly reinforce concepts you just learned. This not only helps you digest the study material well, but also enhances creative thinking and problem-solving skills. • More meaningful exams: Exams in virtual learning can involve live interaction to demonstrate your learning. At the same time, such exams can be timed more accurately than pen-and-paper ones, thus raising the overall effectiveness of examination. • Accessible on the move: Last but not the least, a virtual learning course is available to you no matter where you are. No need to carry all the books around, as all you need is an Internet connection. Some of the most innovative virtual learning programs are now available in India. One such initiative is the EduNxt online learning platform by SMU, which allows students to benefit from interactive distance learning. Check out the website for more details. Achieving Your Dreams through Distance Learning Everyone has high dreams of pursuing higher studies when they are in school, whether towards some definite aim or just for the pleasure of growing in knowledge. However, not all of us are lucky enough to see these dreams materialize. The reasons can be many: some students find that they are not able to crack a competitive exam; others may have family constraints that stop them from investing too much time in studies; and so on. After a point it starts to look like a lost cause. Except that it’s not. The answer to all these problems lies in distance learning. Here’s why there’s no better alternative:
• No entrance exams: Distance learning does not ask you to jump through the hoops of entrance exams. If you want to study a particular subject, you are most welcome to simply enroll for it and get started. After all, interest in a particular subject will alone ensure success and satisfaction in that area. If so, what’s the need for an exam? • Pick your favorite subjects: In direct contrast to regular classroom learning, distance learning does not fix you into particular areas of study. Of course there are minimum eligibility requirements, but those are only to make sure you have some foundation in the subjects you want to pursue. Otherwise, you are pretty much free to choose your own path. • No deadlines to meet: In distance learning programs, you are encouraged to take your time. This makes a lot of sense, because each person has a different capacity for learning, and expecting everyone to wrap up a particular course in a given time-frame is not fair. You decide how you want to move. With Sikkim Manipal University’s EduNxt program, distance learning courses become even better. You are welcome to have a look!