The outbreak of a pandemic has given us a generous scoop of home-based e-learning. Thanks to the ever-evolving technologies and access to high-speed internet, online learning is flourishing and could soon be a substitute to traditional classroom teaching. But does e-learning facilitate the overall progress of a child?
With the restricted interaction and physical activity of e-platforms, how far can they modulate cognitive skills in children? Can brain stimulators like mind games that develop cognitive capabilities in children be taught effectively online?
Fitting into the Framework
Though e-learning has the attraction of learning at your own pace and convenience, there are factors that challenge the feasibility of cognitive skill development on e-platforms. Yes, there is the issue of short-span-of-attention during online classes.
Yet, today’s kids who were born into the laps of Smart technology are more comfortable wielding the mouse or scrawling over touch-screens than anything.
High-level cognitive skill development online works well for children when they are encouraged to solve problems through techniques, prior knowledge, facts or rules, in diverse ways. This tends to trigger thinking abilities and the creation or processing of new ideas or information.
E-factors that click
A prevalent factor that makes cognitive skills training feasible over e-platforms is that the students get to develop their individual way of learning through analytical, critical or reflective thinking, more than ever. They learn to, or are compelled to solve problems, make decisions, ask questions, and learn independently. E-learning influences and sharpens some of the higher cognitive skills like critical thinking, autonomous study, skills of reflection etc that we would love to inculcate in our kids.
Another dominant aspect of cognitive training through e-learning is self-regulation. Students with self-motivation naturally do better than students with low self-efficacy. In an online environment, the instructor cannot be there to assist every child with the required actions or responses.
Learning by oneself and with limited interference from teachers or instructors build or improve self-efficacy in children. Like, in online learning of mind games like Chess, a child with low levels of motivation or initiative is required to push her or his analytical and thinking capabilities further and make decisions without the support or prompting of the instructor.
In a game like chess, the possibilities of exploring and experimenting are vast in an online setting. For online chess coaching, having the convenience of setting up a games database - in changing exercises/games, positions etc - saves time tremendously than setting them up in a physical scenario.
Also, another advantage of Chess Coaching for kids, is that children often identify patterns better on the computer than on a physical chessboard.
Benefits of e-learning in cognitive skill development
With the advent of new technologies, web-based learning environments have progressed drastically and are today no less than a classroom environment, especially with regard to instructor-led training programs. Students are able to adapt to a web-based learning platform with ease and enjoy its lenient and flexible element and social interactions much more than a space-confined and time-oriented physical classroom.
Demands active participation and interaction
In e-learning, the primary advantage is that students need to be active in the learning process. Cognitive skill-based programs - like online chess classes or Coding classes - reject a passive attitude and demand participation and interaction, not only with the instructor but with other participants and the interface itself.
In an online environment students get the opportunity to collaborate with each other in a better and convenient framework. They learn to share tasks and offer support. Instructors are also able to keep track of each student’s performance and learning curve through the “log” system. They can recognise the interactions and assess the progress and record them in a much better and feasible manner in online classes.
Self-study & Enhancing Tools
On e-learning platforms tools are available to facilitate and measure problem-solving skills through scenarios and authentic problems, as part of real activity. This helps to stimulate interest in students and boosts confidence, persistence, and reduces the anxiety of students.
One of the dominant qualities of e-learning that is rooted in cognitive capabilities is developing autonomous study skills or synchronous activities – like tools of synchronous and asynchronous communication: features offered by the e-learning platforms to facilitate collaboration between participants.
The Future of Cognitive Learning Online
E-learning platforms encourage social learning, instructor mentoring, and multi-tool learning. Also the use of AI (artificial intelligence) tools and simulations in cognitive skill–oriented courses like chess, robotics or Coding provides students the leniency of studying in a convenient environment with minimum distractions. Online learning will empower the student to step out of conventional boxes of education and inspire to explore and implement their own way of learning.
Further, when it comes to options and convenience, nothing scores better than online learning. E-learning with its flexibility of platforms and myriad options in courses and tools will replace traditional classroom structures in the near future. By the year 2025, the online learning platforms are expected to amount to a whopping $325 billion.
Though the practicality of applying cognitive abilities in online learning might seem far-fetched, the foundational aspect of learning - absorbing, processing, and retaining information remains the same on e-platforms as well. And with the huge possibilities of virtual and augmented realities, AI etc, the scope of cognitive skill training on online platforms is all set to widen and not shrink.