E-Learning - Image sourced from EvolMind

Update #2 – Recent Research on E-Learning and the Brain

Over a year ago, the Covid-19 pandemic caused schools around the world to shut down, shifting children from a classroom environment to a digital school from home environment. Having been homeschooled myself, I took a particular interest in how this shift in education is effecting our nation’s youth. I must iterate to anyone reading however, that I do not believe that this sudden redirect from in-school education to school from home is not real homeschooling (I had a colorful social life, full of activities outside the home). Some researchers believe that this rapid shift to online learning resulted in a poor experience, while others point to research that online learning is actually more effective [1]. This effectiveness is attributed to students being able to learn at their own pace, re-visiting concepts they need to and accelerating through others. The United States were already in dire need of a shift from a system that focused on traditional skills instead of 21st century skills necessary for the future, and it seems that the pandemic has shaken up the school system and we could actually see lasting positive impacts.

So how does digital technology in teaching effect the brain on a biological level? In the research paper “E-Learning Environments and Their Connection to the Human Brain” [2] the authors wanted to delve deeper into learning digitally through a new educational program termed “e-learning”. They define e-learning environments as those in which the educator can deliver knowledge via information communication technology. During the pandemic, students that were told to work from home on a laptop or computer and participate in zoom lectures and work from a virtual classroom. Researchers find that e-learning is a more student-centered approach, as it allows students to communicate with educators and students in a more collaborative way and frees up time for teachers to give personalized attention to students. The author’s of the aforementioned Journal hypothesize that e-learning can be more successful because the learner takes more responsibility and engagement in the act of learning. This type of learning is also in harmony with the way the brain functions to retain and recall information. From the author’s research into previous studies, they conclude that the way visual aids, tasks, and answers present on screen support the neuroplasticity of the brain thus improving long-term memory.

In conclusion, learning via digital technologies is something that we should continue to use in our educational system as it has already shown to have a positive impact on learners. I think we are on the precipice of completely revitalizing the educational system as more studies show that teaching children according to 19th and 20th century principles results in students unprepared for the creative digital jobs our country needs. The pandemic shook up the system, so perhaps that change will actually start happening. I hope as a society we realize that children are the future so to invest in our future we must continually research and invest in the best education for our children.

References:

[1] The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever. This is how

C Li, F Lalani - World economic forum, 2020

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-digital-learning/

[2] E-Learning Environments and Their Connection to the Human Brain

Kassymova, G., Bekalaeva, A., Yershimanova, D., Flindt, N., Gadirova, T., & Duisenbayeva, S. H. (2020).. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(9s), 947-954.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/G-Kassymova/publication/341162228_E-Learning_Environments_and_Their_Connection_to_the_Human_Brain/links/5eb197bea6fdcc7050a9dcab/E-Learning-Environments-and-Their-Connection-to-the-Human-Brain.pdf

[3] Image sourced from EvolMind

https://www.evolmind.com/en/blog/E-learning-the-definitive-guide