General Information
We are Experiencing a Boom in Global Information
Education has always been the most important driver of economic growth, peace, and prosperity. The ability of the information society to access information quickly, in parallel with its growing need for information, is becoming increasingly evident today. The Internet is creating radical advancements and leaps in global access to information. Access to and archiving of information has become paramount. The fact that companies providing access to information, such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google, are among the top five global giants is a significant testament to this.
We Need New Learning Methods
As the world undergoes the aforementioned transformation, it is inevitable that future generations will need new methods and tools that will meet the requirements of the information society and enable them to adapt to change. Educational institutions play a crucial role in this regard. In parallel with traditional educational methods, there is also a need for different teaching methods that aim to keep up with the times. It is essential for education institutions to keep pace with these developments. Teaching methods that have fallen behind the times have lost their effectiveness and appeal. To develop an education system that aligns with the development of the society and meets its needs, we have to turn to new teaching methods and seize technological advancements.
Information Technologies Provide Online Education
Online distance education is one of the new teaching methods offered by our rapidly digitalizing world. The term “online education” has been specifically used instead of distance education. The concept of distance education has long been a part of our lives through communication channels such as correspondence, television, and radio. However, today's advancements in information and communication technologies have brought a new dimension to distance education. It would be more accurate to call this new form of distance education online education.
Synchronous, and Unbound by Location
With information and communication technologies, online learning may now be delivered synchronously, regardless of location. This allows instructors and learners to communicate in a virtual classroom environment, regardless of location. Instructors may teach from all over of the world, with learners from various countries and cities. With new forms of distance learning, it is now possible for someone who has to stay in their small rural town for work to continue their educational careers through distance learning programs of universities.
Timeless Education
With the new form of distance education, time constraints are also disappearing. Live courses are recorded as instructors present their courses in virtual classrooms. Live course recordings include the videos of instructors, the materials they present during the lesson, their handouts, and even all audio and text-based communication within the virtual classroom. Live lesson recordings offer a significant advantage for students who are unable to attend their courses on time. All course recordings may be viewed asynchronously at a later time. Online distance education systems also include forums and other social media-based communication tools, allowing students to ask instructors questions and receive answers after watching the courses.
Education Unbound by Devices
With the advancement of technology, the number of devices with Internet access is rapidly increasing. Smartphones and tablets offer comparable performance to desktop computers and laptops, and are rapidly becoming part of our lives. Online distance education allows students to participate in education on any device with Internet access. While driving in heavy city traffic, students may listen to live lecture broadcasts on their smartphones positioned in the dashboard of their vehicle, and ask their instructors questions. On the evening commute home, they may plug in their headphones and watch a video of a missed live lecture on their smartphones.
Distance Education Worldwide
The total size of the global online learning market, at $107 billion, is very close to the 2015 budget of Türkiye of $161.4 billion. A large portion of the world’s universities have distance education units. 8% of these universities offer recently developed MOOCs, or massive open online courses. This number is expected to rise to 28% within two years. Education researchers predict that 50% of all university students will be receiving online education by 2019.
Online Distance Education in Türkiye
In Türkiye, universities affiliated with the Higher Education Council (YÖK) offer distance education programs. Distance education programs are still rather limited in number than the formal programs offered by universities. As per the statistics provided by the Higher Education Council (YÖK), the number of students enrolled in distance education programs in 2014-2015 was 2.4%.
Distance Education Infrastructure at Atılım University
Atılım University has been among the leading universities offering distance education programs since 2008. Our distance education center features a studio for professional filming. The “GreenBox” technology allows for the preparation of high-quality educational content, a key element of distance education. The center also features a smart classroom where virtual courses may be presented. Educational technologists and system administrators working at the center provide technical and pedagogical support to instructors in distance education.
Atılım University Web Platform for Distance Education
Atılım University offers distance education programs through the Moodle learning management system. The Moodle learning management system is a web platform that provides essential online education tools, including course presentations, exams, assignment and collection of assignments, grade assignments, virtual lessons, and communication between instructors and students.