IMPACT OF E-LEARNING ON THE STUDENTS OF POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES

Prof.P.T.Rajan
Principal
Karpagam Polytechnic College
Coimbatore – 641 021.
India
E-mail: peeteeyar@yahoo.com

Introduction
The Polytechnic curriculum in India is designed with equal importance to with
theory and practical. There are more than 400 Polytechnic Colleges offering diploma
level engineering education in Tamilnadu State of India which are affliated with the
State board of Technical education and training, following the uniform curriculum
designed by the board except few institutes which are autonomous. In general these
Colleges follow the traditional teaching-learning methods without effective e-learning
processes.

New technologies and sophisticated learning methods are the symptoms for a
major impact in technical institutions. The vocational and technical institutions need to
change to accommodate the impact of e-learning. It is sure that the impact of e-learning
will require institutions to re-think of the strategies of teaching learning process. Much
focus could be given in adopting ICTs and other technological advancements. The
discussions in this case study could be used to help the institutions respond to the
change about the implementation of e-learning.

E-learning

E-learning is the method of teaching – learning enabled by electronic

technologies. By using internet, intranet, videotapes, satellite broadcast, interactive TV,
video conferencing and CD-ROM not only for content delivery but also for interaction
among the teacher and learners.

There are mainly two types of e-learning known as i) Synchronous learning and
ii) Asynchronous learning.
 In Synchronous learning, teachers and lecturers interact with themselves and
with each other using communication technologies such as video conferencing, web
conferencing, chatting, telephone etc., In asynchronous learning, without live
interaction with the teacher using technologies such as CD-ROMS, Cassettes, e-mails
etc.,

Blended method which is a mixture of both synchronous and asynchronous

e-learning methods is used by most of the educational institutions.

Need of E-Learning

Technology in this new millennium has grown in a tremendous way. Information

and Communication Technology (ICT) is developed in its own way day by day. The
common man could access the ICT facility at an affordable cost in most of the countries.
Being a developing country and emerging as a world class leader in ICT. India could
make appreciable impacts in all the fields where ICT can be employed.

In educational institutions, the classroom environment is changing by the use of

ICT attracting the attention of students in listening the teaching. The minds of students
are in capable of absorbing the contents of teaching. This will help the slow learners to
improve their performance academically. Participants interact and support each other,
by sharing their views, finding answers to questions and the task can be distributed to
groups to get solutions. They need not to go in person to utilize the resources available
in other institutions. E-learning motivates the learners, improves the confidence and
help to overcome the difficulties. Moreover the ICT skills of the people will also be
developed.

The conventional methods and practices in technical institutions need

replacement. Learning methods must be integrated to suit the students of all levels. E-
learning tools are necessary for the teachers to develop their career as they produced
more advantages.
 Features

• Learning is self paced and giving students a chance to speed up or slow

down as necessary.

• Learning is self directed, allowing students to choose content and tools

appropriate to their differing interests, needs and skill levels.

• Designed around the learner

• Geographical carriers are eliminated, opening up broader education

options.

• Fosters greater student interaction and collaboration.

• Enhances computer and internet skills

Benefits

Resources are accessible on our schedule

• No physical attendance

• Unbound by time and place

• Student – Centered

• Students will enjoy because of variety of delivery methods used to reach

different types of learners, better than in a traditional class room.

• Technology tools make collaboration among students much easier. Since

they involve collaborative learning.

• It proves the way for global opportunities.

Learners and other professionals opening up to the e-learning experience, often

find e-learning both challenging and practical to their advantage. Learning at
anytime, anywhere and demand is possible through e-learning.
 Objective

The objective of this paper is to deal the impact of introducing e-learning for the
diploma level engineering students studying in Polytechnic Colleges by comparing the
performances of students taught by traditional of teaching and the students taught by
traditional method with e-learning in the subject of Mobile computing of Computer
engineering branch in Karpagam Polytechnic College.

Methodology

Twenty students of final year Diploma in Computer Engineering students of

Karpagam Polytechnic College, Coimbatore, India were selected and divided into two
groups leased on their academic performance so that two groups have equal students
strength and balanced performance of academic excellence.

One unit of the syllabus was taken as a sample. Group A was taught by the
traditional method and group B was taught by traditional method supplemented by the
multimedia presentations using CD-ROM and LCD projector. After 15 days of time
period the groups were tested by means of three types of tests such as quiz, objective
type, multiple choice and verbal questions. The marks scored by the students in A and B
batches were tabulated in table 1 the mean was calculated in table 2.

Tools Used.

Three types of tests viz quiz, objective and verbal with 10 questions in each type
for each student were given with a time of 30 minutes. After evaluation the scores were
tabulated in table 1.

Group A - Traditional teaching

Group B - Traditional teaching with e-learning.

 Table: 1 Individual scores of groups A & B

Test Nos. Group No of students Average

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

Test – 1 A 5 7 9 6 4 1 3 2 4 3 42
Quiz
B 7 8 4 5 8 7 2 4 5 6 59
(Maximum
10 marks )
Test – 2 A 3 5 8 4 6 3 2 7 4 6 48
Objective
type B 9 8 3 3 5 6 4 5 7 4 54

(Maximum
10 marks )
Test – 3 A 5 4 7 8 4 3 6 5 9 7 58
Verbal type
B 8 5 4 4 7 6 3 5 6 5 53
(Maximum
10 marks )
Table – 1
 The following table indicates the average marks of group A & B in 3 tests.

Average score of three tests of group A and b.

Group Test-1 Test - 2 Test-3

Group A 44 48 58

Group B 59 54 53

Table – 2

150
For group A, Mean A = ____________ = 50
3
166
For group B, Mean B = ____________ = 55.5
3

Discussion

This table 2 shows the comparison of scores of student batches in the tests
conducted in the paper of “Mobile computing” of Diploma in Computer Engineering
students studying in Polytechnic College. The group A of ten students were taught the
subject by traditional teaching supplemented by e-learning using CD-ROM with
multimedia presentations. After a month the two groups were tested with three types
of tests and evaluated. It was found that there was a significant impact on using e-
learning process among the group. This multimedia presentation using CD-ROM is one
of the various methods of e-learning. From the results it was learnt that e-learning
enhanced the student learners to score high marks and improve their understanding
capacity. The overall result of the group is also raised. It is evident that the students
interested to learn and listening any supplement teaching methods which help the
students to increase their learning capabilities. From the table 2 we could see the
difference in the performance of group B over group A. The Mean value of group B
(55.5) is greater than the Mean value of group A (50) which is the clear evidence of the
impact on the implementation of e-learning.
 Conclusion

E-learning could be adopted in teaching – learning processes as it will make

changes in the field of education through emerging technologies. It brings happiness
among the learners because of innovative method of delivery of subjects. Students of
technical / vocational institutions need a lot of encouragement, motivation and positive
strokes.

Introducing ICTs in teaching – learning process could make significant changes in both
teaching and learning communities thereby feed the needs of the society and industries
in this globalization era.

Recommendations

Technical and vocational institutions should make up their minds for introducing
e-learning in their teaching learning process. As polytechnic college students need to
acquire more practical and theoretical skills in teaching and learning through electronic
media would help them to accomplish this need. Institutions must provide the
necessary infrastructure and e-learning facilities in their campuses. Teachers must be
motivated to prepare necessary study materials as prescribed in the curriculum. E-
learning concept can be gradually followed after experimentally verified for success
through various case studies. Networks of institutions can be formed resource materials
for the same curriculum.
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