Online Distance Learning at Ease
The Covid-19 pandemic has made the learning system on campus forced to change drastically from face-to-face classes to online distance learning (ODL). Many campuses that do not yet have online learning infrastructure are forced to conduct online lectures amid the existing limitations. Despite these conditions, many students still attend online class so that they will not be left behind. Countless students are forced to adjust to the new learning system. This adjustment means they need to face the struggles of having class online. The struggles include submitting works, doing a presentation for the class, writing numerous essays, and many more. But despite the struggles, students are handling the situation in a mature way and many have used the help of using different applications for their online class.
An application is a software that bundles together certain features in a way that is accessible to a user. It is also referred to as an application program or application software and is a computer software package that performs a specific function directly for an end user or, in some cases, for another application. It can be self-contained or a group of programs. The program is a set of operations that runs the application for the user. Web browsers, email programs, word processors, games, and utilities are all applications. The word "application" is used because each program has a specific application for the user. For example, a word processor can help a student create a research paper, while a video game can prevent the student from getting the paper done. Using applications for online distance learning has its perks. One being is for motivation and engagement. While students are not always interested in a lecture, they may find they are curious about a particular subject due to an app. Using education apps is a way to promote interest in topics that students might otherwise disregard. Second perk is that it is available 24/7. Unlike face-to-face classes, applications are available round the clock. No need to be worried about schedules. Anywhere can be a classroom. App learning is not time-bound learning, its relaxed learning. Last example of the perks of application for ODL is that it helps students and teachers stay connected. Applications are the best way for students to stay connected with their teachers. Though the way of learning through apps is entirely different from the traditional learning method, it adds value to the entire process.
There is no denying that applications are helpful for ODL. Here are some of the applications a student can use which can help them. First is Microsoft To do. This app is a powerful task management software for businesses and individuals who want to monitor and collaborate on simple tasks. It is built with a simple yet intuitive interface that not only lets you prepare, maintain, and share task lists with collaborators but also allows you to organize and label these tasks into folders. It comes with functional icons that enable you to create new lists and add new tasks as well as add reminders, deadlines, and notes similar to the Calendar app. The main benefit of Microsoft To Do is that it is an easy-to-use interface because it provides users with usage patterns, allowing them to learn what different icons, tabs, elements, and other elements will look like and how they function in different contexts. Of course, all students will write essays, articles, research, and any of the sort. The next application is one of the most helpful when writing a paper for ODL which is Grammarly. It is an online grammar checking, spell checking, and plagiarism detection platform developed by Grammarly, Inc. The app’s proofreading and plagiarism-detection resources check against more than 250 grammar rules. The main benefit of Grammarly is it checks the clarity of your paper. Grammarly’s clarity suggestions will help you learn how few words you really need to say what you mean. It helps you write in the active voice, as well as cut overused or redundant phrases and words that detract from your message. Lastly is for students who are having a hard time in understanding Mathematics. Mathway is very helpful for those who are not gifted in solving math problems or equations. It provides students with the tools they need to understand and solve their math problems. With millions of users and billions of problems solved, Mathway is the #1 problem solving resource available for students, parents, and teachers. This app can solve equations, simplify expressions, and evaluate limits. It can do everything from reduce a fraction to integrate a function. One of the main benefits in using Mathway is its usability. This app has a lot of features, and is easy and intuitive to use. It’s stable and fast, and makes finding answers to your math problems super quick. Students can even save problems for later if you’re doing work on the go and want to save the problems for later.
Not only can these applications be used online, there are also apps that can help every student, who is in ODL, socialize and interact with one another. These apps are helpful in garnering being a social person and help in other ways such as being competitive, able to have fun and accommodate a student’s leisure time. One example of these applications is Kahoot! It is a game-based learning platform, used as educational technology in schools and other educational institutions. It's learning games. “Kahoots”, is a user-generated multiples-choices quiz that can be accessed via a web browser or the Kahoot app. This app can make students competitive because of the feature of a leaderboard and they may or may not be given incentives if they are in the podium. Second is in the function of web browser Microsoft Edge, which is Read Aloud, in this feature when a student opens a PDF in the web browser the feature can be enabled and read the contents to them of the PDF. In this way, the student can listen to what is being read in the PDF while doing other tasks at the same time. It is an advantage when a student is busy doing their tasks and needs to read an article or an essay at the same time. It will be just like a person talking to them but a computer. Lastly is Canva, which is a graphic design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The app includes templates for users to use. The platform is free to use and offers paid subscriptions like Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise for additional functionality. This app has already been used by many and always been a go-to making of visual content to present. Students will have a great benefit using this app because it can make any visual content that surrounds them. Like posting a poster for a social media content and doing a quick presentation with the set of templates found in this app. Here’s a secret, when your school provides you a school account, use this account to sign-in and it will make all of the features in Canva free. No need to pay and no deduction to your money.
These applications can save you big time. Everytime you are reminded that during this pandemic, there are things you’ve missed and all these things cannot happen again. Students see this pandemic as a problem or a challenge to face because the routines, habits and self-esteem changes but with these apps, students can see the future and a better tomorrow at them. For those who are in ODL, they are in benefit with these apps because it is accessible, convenient in just a click of a button, it pops out. That is why use these applications for making your lives easy and ready to face another task.