While “ICT in education” is recommended in Japan, the new field “EdTech” that uses digital technology for learning styles and teaching materials is growing.
EdTech is a combination of “Education” and “Technology”.
Skype English conversation and, studies supplicant of small junior and senior high school students for, LIVE lesson of prep school with a tablet, recurrent education of the working people can be cited as a typical example, taken together all of these ” online classes is called a”.
“Online lessons” are educational methods that can be performed remotely over the Internet and are not restricted by time or place .
It has been adopted by famous schools such as Harvard University in the United States, and recently it is spreading in places such as compulsory education in Japan and training for general companies.
In the future, it is said that the 5G era will be entered and the way of education will change drastically.
In fact, in recent years, there has been an increase in the style in which classes are distributed live and instructors and students interact interactively.
Online classes will become more common in societies where high-speed communication, which allows users to download 3 hours of movies in 3 seconds on a typical mobile device, is the norm.
Therefore, in this article, we will summarize the online classes, merits and demerits, and introduce examples of their use and tools necessary for use.
Don’t you know it unexpectedly? What are online classes?
Online lessons are systems that deliver lessons using the Internet or satellite communication lines.
Until now, classes have generally been gathered in classrooms, and the physical distance has limited the number of people who can participate.
On the other hand, online classes can be easily attended by anyone with a device such as a computer or smartphone.
Currently, there are two main types:
Online classes (recording)
Online classes (LIVE distribution)
Online class (recording): Distribution of recorded video in one direction over the Internet
Recorded online classes are often used in cram schools, prep school classes, and e-learning systems for corporate employee education.
■ Merit
You can study at your own pace at any time
You can rewind and save the video, so you can watch the parts you don’t understand repeatedly
■ Demerits
Unable to exchange data in both directions in real time
Concentration tends to be interrupted because it is not under the supervision of anyone’s eyes
Online lessons (LIVE distribution): Online lessons with LIVE distribution using internet or satellite lines
The LIVE version of the online lesson is a live broadcast class that uses Skype for online English conversation, a high-performance Web conference system, and a video conference system.
■ Merit
You can see each other’s face in the video
Efficient learning with questions and answers in the chat box and screen sharing function
High-performance online classes and webinars can be delivered to a large number of people by using high-performance web conferencing and video conferencing systems.
■ Demerits
Even if there is an unknown part of the learning process, it cannot be rewound or repeated.
All participants must have a communication environment
5 main uses and examples of online education
Let’s take a look at the cases where online education is being implemented. Typical examples include the following usage methods.
School education
Cram school or prep school
University / Graduate Satellite School
In-house training
Adult learning (recurrent education)
School education
School education has great potential for the spread of online classes.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has recommended digital education in Japan in the future (also referred to as “ICT in education”). Although there are differences depending on the local government, we can see that schools in every prefecture are getting better in ICT environment year by year.
In addition, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is promoting “ English education reform in response to globalization, ” and recently, more schools are introducing online English conversation into their classes, whether public or private. In the field of school education, it can be surmised that online lessons are becoming popular, starting with English education.
Case Study
(Image source: Kansai University Elementary School Official Website )
Kansai University Elementary School has introduced English classes and online classes (LIVE version), which are compulsory for third graders since FY2020.
Since students can talk to each other with their classmates in real time in real time, the students’ motivation has greatly improved, and their interest and understanding not only in English but also in other cultures and overseas have also advanced.
There is a concern that the learning progress will be different depending on the students in the style of studying individually with tablet devices, and it is difficult for students to communicate with each other in real time. However, in a live distance class using dedicated equipment, real life learning is possible with realistic images.
Cram school or prep school
In the cram school / prep school industry, many school buildings already offer online classes such as video recording and LIVE.
For example, Toshin High School, famous for its “When do you do it now?” Commercial, has conducted online lessons (recorded version) using communication satellites and Internet lines. The school, which was also a pioneer in conducting online classes, had an excellent track record of passing through difficult universities such as the University of Tokyo, and can be said to have spread the effects of online classes throughout Japan.
As the communication environment further improves in the future, we can expect that online classes will become increasingly popular.
Case Study
(Image source: Mega Study Online Official Site )
Edtech service “University Examination Specialist / Teacher Mega Study Online”, an online class (LIVE type) operated by Sinbad International Co., Ltd., is a service that allows you to receive individual tutor guidance online at home or at home. We support students who challenge university entrance examinations in the metropolitan area and other regions.
In FY2019, there were many reports of students who passed the Meiji / Ritsumeikan University through online classes from remote islands in Setouchi, such as students who passed the desired school in distance classes.
University / Graduate Satellite School
An increasing number of universities have established satellite schools using online education systems.
If the content is anything other than an experiment, such as an experiment, even if the teacher is not in the field, it is possible to take the same class as a student at the university base through the screen.
In Japan, where the birthrate is declining, many universities are expected to be consolidated, but if you can deliver high-quality classes online, it will be possible to attract students from all over the world, not just Japan.
Case Study
(Image source: GLOBIS graduate school official website )
Globis University of Management, one of the largest business coolers in Japan, offers “online MBA” courses that can be acquired through LIVE video lessons. Many companies, including major companies , also have curriculums in place and are used in programs for developing next-generation and global leaders.
A system that allows for realistic classes and real-life interaction with other students is utilized, and it seems to be as popular as a school course.
Employee education
For busy business people, online education is highly efficient because they do not need to go to school and can be taken on smartphones and tablets.
Many companies have introduced e-learning (LMS) to employee education since the Internet environment actually spread .
Group training, where a large group of people meet together, is difficult to make in-house adjustments and budgets, and is not open frequently. Therefore, using online classes will be effective in sharing internal knowledge and improving employee skills. It can also be used for video distribution of company newsletters.
In addition, in recent years when work-life balance is recommended, it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of employees who go straight and go home, as well as those who work at home.
Case Study
(Image source: Gakken Plus official website )
Gakken Plus Co., Ltd. has introduced an in-house e-learning service “ 4Me Japanese Learning ” for foreign employees and part-time workers .
Unlimited viewing of 70 learning videos
Perform level check tests before learning starts
Hiragana and katakana learning emphasizes ease of review
Enhanced tests to measure learning effects
From the above points, you can measure the improvement of language skills at a pace that suits each employee, while reducing the time constraint of the Japanese teacher.
At the end of the course, you will be able to reach the level equivalent to the Japanese language test N4 / N5 (“ level that can understand basic Japanese ”).
Adult learning (recurrent education)
In recent years, many companies and universities have put emphasis on recurrent education for retraining working adults .
Today, said to be the era of 100 years of life, the doors of learning have been greatly opened even in those in their 30s and 40s, just as they challenge re-challenges outside of their territory that had accumulated experience in their youth.
Case Study
(Image source: Shimane University Regional Education Charming Center Official Website )
At Shimane University, which nurtures human resources who will be the core of regional revitalization, it is a “ hometown fascinating frontier training course ” (one year) aimed at working people (local government officials) who want to revitalize their hometowns throughout the country . We incorporate online LIVE classes.
As a result, various students from all over Japan gathered, and in fiscal 2019, 20 local government officials from 13 prefectures, members of the Board of Education, working adults working at companies, etc. are learning.
Examples of online classes used in educational institutions and companies are also introduced in detail in the related article “ What are ICT implementations in the education industry, learning from 10 successful cases in remote classes? ” . Please have a look.
Advantages and disadvantages of introducing online classes
I think that online classes and video distribution have become commonplace, and everyone has seen more opportunities to see them.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages of online classes?
Advantages of online classes
Online classes bring various benefits to both users and the social community.
Get classes from top class teachers around the world
Save time and money
Can contribute to school education in remote islands and depopulated areas
Get classes from top class teachers around the world
The big advantage of online education is that many people can take classes from top teachers.
For example, if online classes become widespread, local students will be able to receive excellent lecturer guidance at the same price as students in the city, and there will be no handicap at university entrance examinations or qualification examinations. The business and hobby fields are the same. Educational disparity by region is reduced.
If there are no language barriers, such as simultaneous interpretation and translated text, you can even watch educational online classes delivered by foreign schools, educational institutions and companies in other countries.
Especially in online classes via LIVE streaming, you can use chat to exchange opinions with instructors and other students. This is an effective way to practice active learning because it is easier to send opinions online than to raise your hands .
Save time and money
Online classes do not require a classroom, and you can take high-level classes wherever you have a smartphone, tablet, or internet connection. There is no need to prepare a large-scale classroom on the side providing the lesson, and both have the advantage of not costing much.
Most modern laptops have built-in cameras and microphones. For this reason, there is not much need to purchase a microphone or camera as an initial investment, and most educational institutions that distribute online courses distribute free videos through YouTube.
By taking advantage of these conditions, you will be able to watch free trial videos without attending class, and there will be little additional cost if you have a laptop.
Can contribute to school education in remote islands and depopulated areas
Japan’s population is declining and it is feared that schools in rural areas and remote islands will become difficult to survive. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is planning to introduce a video conference system in small public elementary and junior high schools such as remote islands and mountainous areas in 2017 so that classes can be held with nearby schools. Using video conferencing systems and web conferencing systems, we can provide a full range of classes online to students who are already in depopulated areas.
Disadvantages of online classes
Online classes are still short-lived, so there are challenges.
Susceptible to communication environment and ICT equipment
Some say that it is not suitable for granting a degree
There is a risk of health hazard due to long-term use of electronic devices
The premise is a class that relies on the eyes and ears
Susceptible to communication environment and ICT equipment
To take online classes, a certain communication environment and tools are required. Although the Internet has become widespread nationwide, there are, of course, some areas where connection speeds are slow. If the connection is interrupted or the material is not downloaded successfully to the tablet, it may affect the learning progress.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “ Study Results on Educational Informatization at Schools in 2017 ” also presents problems such as a shortage of PCs per student, low wireless LAN maintenance rates for ordinary classrooms, and low rates for maintenance of electronic blackboards. It has been pointed out. It can be said that there are still infrastructure issues for online education to spread to all schools.
Some say that it is not suitable for granting a degree
In the United States, it is becoming common for universities to offer online classes and grant degrees, but the fraudulent “diploma mill” is a challenge . This is because it is difficult to monitor attendance and cheat for tests in an online class with no face.
Although it is possible to confirm attendance by using the “face recognition system” that has become popular in recent years, it is possible to demonstrate more than the ability if there is a collaborator out of the image, so only the test is performed in the field There are many educational institutions that do this.
There is a risk of health hazard due to long-term use of electronic devices
Long online classes can lead to blindness, stiff shoulders, and hearing loss. In order not to harm your health, it is important to be aware of the proper usage time of electronic devices.
Instead of sitting in front of the screen, standing up every 30 minutes, stretching, and taking a break away from the screen when studying for more than 90 minutes, the provider of online classes is the learner’s health You will also need to look at the condition.
The premise is a class that relies on the eyes and ears
Online classes are created from the viewpoint of healthy people, and the reality is that there are restrictions on those who are deaf or hard of eyes to take online classes.
As you can see, it is possible to take classes without relying solely on sight and hearing, and it is relatively easy to respond individually. In online classes, it is difficult to provide “natural” to everyone.
List of systems for realizing online classes
So far, we have introduced the advantages and disadvantages of online classes using videos and examples of their use.
Although it is good to prepare a computer with a built-in camera and microphone, we recommend using specialized tools and systems for a more comfortable online lesson.
Finally, we will introduce the systems and tools necessary for taking online classes.
software
To conduct online classes via the Internet, you need software that is a base called LMS (Learning Management System), e-learning system, etc. With LMS, online classes can be easily realized. Students can learn by logging into the system, and teachers and instructors can manage their attendance history and grades.
Product Name: V-CUBE Meeting
Provider: V-cube Inc.
Features:
Instructors and students can participate from anywhere in online lectures
Effective learning in class while communicating
Connects schools remotely and allows close exchange with other schools
camera
Most online classes are available on a computer, tablet or smartphone. The device may or may not have a built-in camera. If you take it alone, there is no problem with a camera built in a personal computer. It will be possible.
Product Name: HD Webcam C270
Manufacturer: Made by Logitech
Features: 60 ° / 1.2 million pixels / UVC
compatible OS: Windows, Mac OS
Microphone
As for the microphone, if you are going to class alone, there is no problem if you can pick up your own voice, so a general headset is sufficient. When taking classes in large numbers, microphones are required according to the number of participants and classroom space. Most simple microphones can be used by connecting to a computer via USB.
Product Name: Evolve 30 II UC Stereo
Manufacturer Name: Jabra
Features: USB, 3.5mm jack connection support / noise canceling / mute / volume control
Tablet storage
Tablets are lighter and easier to carry than PCs, and have a larger screen than a smartphone, making it easier to read materials. Most tablets have built-in microphones, speakers, and cameras, so you can always take online classes.
In addition, when multiple people gather and take online classes using a tablet, multiple pre-set tablets are required. In such a case, a vault that stores and charges a large number of tablets plays an active role.
Product Name: C20i
Manufacturer name: Aber Information Co., Ltd.
Features: 20 storage units, chargeable during storage, intelligent charging system
Summary ｜ Online education will greatly reduce the barriers between regions, time, and wealth, and expand the education market.
If online classes become widespread, not only students but people with physical disabilities, people who can not leave the home due to childcare and nursing care, busy business people, etc. will be able to take first-class classes in their spare time. .
It’s easy to get excellent education from around the world while you’re in Japan, and to provide Japanese education online for overseas people.
Online education will expand the market of education greatly by minimizing the barriers between regions, time and wealth.
For a more comfortable online lesson, we also recommend introducing a dedicated tool.
Please consider this as the best way to use online classes for your company or organization.