E Learning ( Distance Education)

11 Advantages of ELearning in Education

Technology has impacted various industries and markets on a global scale, and advancements are still being introduced, changing the way we live, work and study. Higher education has undergone significant upgrades since the expansion of the eLearning trend, and it seems like things are going in the right direction.

Expecting to deliver revenue of over $325 Billion by 2025, the eLearning sector is booming, and there are quite a few powerful reasons why. Students, alumni and corporations are all benefiting from this high education digital trend. As author and eLearning researcher Donna J. Abernathy says “Online learning is not the next big thing; it is the now big thing.”

But what exactly are the aspects that bring so much appeal to eLearning in the first place?

Accessibility

With no geographical boundaries involved, one of the main advantages that come into discussion is accessibility. For some students, moving to another country for study purposes is simply not an option. ELearning eliminates all restrictions, allowing individuals from all over the world to complete the courses or training they’re interested in.

Those who are either physically or psychologically unable to be present in a classroom can continue their educational development through online courses.

Mobility

Combining education with work or other activities can be often challenging for many. One of the factors that has brought so much appeal to learning methods influenced by technology is the mobility involved.

ELearning gives students the chance to study at any place and at any time, accommodating their needs perfectly. Today’s learners want a personalized, mobile approach to education, and that is exactly what this option provides.

Resource scalability

Educating employees and students in traditional learning environments involves a wide range of resource requirements. A single instructor isn’t able to teach a high number of students in just one classroom or at a corporate training institution.

With eLearning, on the other hand, the reach of educators is virtually infinite. With money and time saved, more resources can be preserved as well. Scalability enhances the effects of learning and teaching processes, helping both parties involved.

Effective results

It has been shown that online education can often be more effective. More students are able to grasp the information received when they benefit from increased flexibility. The positive nature of eLearning practices also brings better results to organizations training their employees.

• Improved scores on evaluations (tests, certifications etc.)
• Retaining information for longer periods of time
• More students can obtain “pass” levels

Self-paced learning

While traditional education methods still have their undisputed role, online learning comes with a leaping advantage in terms of schedule freedom. Keeping up with a strict curriculum might inconvenience many students, preventing them from achieving academic improvements.

Online courses allow learners to enjoy a self-paced training schedule. They can study according to their own time, being easier to incorporate learning in their busy life, regardless of specifics.

Full-time employees or individuals who simply don’t have the necessary time to attend physical classes are no longer left behind. Learning and completing courses after work, in the evening, on the weekends or when they have spare time is possible through this digital mode.

From recorded lessons and written content to collaborative learning software and webinars, possibilities are multiple and anyone with an internet connection can easily access them.

As reports at Class Central indicate, in 2017 alone, around 27 million individuals on a global scale took their first Massive Open Online Course, rounding up a number of 81 million online learners at over 800 universities

Quick lesson delivery cycles

When comparing traditional classroom teaching with this digital mode, it’s easy to spot the positive difference in lesson delivery cycles. ELearning facilitates a reduction in learning time by even up to 60%. ELearning reduces study time from the following considerations:

• A single learning session wraps up the entire lesson.
• Students don’t have to keep up with the learning speed of the entire classroom group
• Learners don’t have to travel to a certain institution – eliminating commuting.
• Students can focus solely on learning material areas relevant to them.

Improved metrics

Tracking how effective a traditional training program actually is can be challenging in traditional learning environments. Evaluating results, keeping a close tab on student progress and taking action based on results cannot always be possible in a physical classroom. ELearning, on the other hand, provides a more effective learning management system. An online course curriculum comes with improved metrics. It’s easier to spot study results, which are later measured and improved through necessary changes.

Upskilling

Individuals need to maintain their skills set relevant to the current demands of the industry they work in. Considering that we live in a technology-driver climate, staying up-to-date on different tech trends is a priority for organizations and their staff. Upskilling has thus become a necessity for many individuals, allowing them to upgrade their current skills and perform different professional roles better.

More people are interested in pivoting mid-career and accessing better employment opportunities, as well. Going back to school is however not an easy-to-reach possibility, and that’s when online education comes to the rescue. Diversifying their area of expertise is far easier with eLearning.

Cost considerations

The high expenses of traditional education can often prevent individuals from accessing the academic journey they desire, or the career boost they target. A strong advantage of online learning, which has been linked to the popularity increase of this trend in recent years, is a reduction in costs.

Because learning time and resources are reduced, eLearning is the more cost-effective alternative. Learning through this mode is fast and easy, so naturally a decrease in expenses occurs.

For larger organizations, this also comes as an optimal solution for employee training. Corporations can improve the skills of their workforces regardless of economic climate.

Helps students stay relevant in quickly changing environments

We live in a fast-paced word, and traditional learning is often an obstacle, due to outdated learning resources. Digital learning makes it possible to update study materials fast and in real time, keeping content fresh and relevant in quickly changing environments.

When students are taking an online class, they can be certain the information received is updated to the current climate, whereas in traditional settings, textbooks may still contain outdated, irrelevant content.

Environmental impact

One last thing to remember here is the impact eLearning has on the environment. Activists are encouraging sustainability practices in all industries and markets, and education isn’t left behind. More organizations are highlighting the eco-friendly nature of digital learning. ELearning is a paperless way of studying. According to certain statistics, digital learning also consumes up to 90% less power, so those who are interested in a more environmentally-conscious way of studying have certainly directed their attention to distance-based learning opportunities.

The subject of eLearning is a cast one, addressing a wide variety of aspects. While at the time, digital learning technologies cannot completely eliminate the need for traditional learning, these have become essential for the modern student. With powerful advantages, eLearning is driving more interest than ever and things are likely to go uphill from now on.

General Steps for a Construction Project

Basics of Building Construction

Understanding the basics of building construction helps to construct a building project successfully. The steps involved in building construction are explained in this article

Basic Steps in Starting a Building Project

When there is a plan to develop a new building, it is very necessary to have an idea about the start and the end of the building project. The flowchart below shows the construction flow from the start to the end of a building project.

                                         Fig.1.Construction Flow in Building Construction

There may be variations as every project is unique and follows different design and construction process. In general, the basic steps involved in a building project are briefly explained.

1. Planning
2. Permits
3. Preparation of Construction Site
4. Foundation Construction
5. Superstructure Construction
6. Punch Lists
7. Building Warranty Period

1.  Planning

The planning in building construction involves three major steps:

1. Developing the Building Plan
2. Analyzing the Finance
3. Selecting the Construction Team

Once the site where the building project is indented to construct is chosen, the expertise of engineers and architects are taken to develop the site and the building plan. Sometimes, an appropriate site is selected after the building layout is prepared. The building plan is developed based on the owner’s requirements and budget.

Once the plan is in hand, the finance and total cost is estimated. The structural design details, the material estimates are prepared which help to derive project cost estimate. The cost calculated include:

1. The material cost
2. The construction cost
3. The labor cost
4. Miscellaneous cost

Based on the estimated cost, either a bidding process is performed or the project to handover to a known contractor. The contractor and the owner must agree to contract based on which the project is implemented. The contract mentions the completion period and necessary guides, exclusions to remove claims.

2. Permits and Insurance in Building Construction

Before starting a building construction, the owner must make sure that one has necessary permits taken to start the construction. Permits and insurance are obtained from different sources in cities and states.

A construction work conducted without permits results in project delay or project demolition or huge fines. Possessing insurance for the required parties helps to save the owner and the contractor.

3. Site Preparation

From here, the actual construction process starts. Based on the site and building plan, necessary excavations, leveling, and filling can be undergone to prepare the site. The necessary excavation for utilities, power, water and sanitation lines, temporary storage facilities are prepared. Mostly the works needed to set up the utilities are prepared. This is followed by an inspection from the government officials.

Inspections are performed at different stages on structural, building codes, the utilities, HVAC, electrical works etc. After the completion of the whole project, a final inspection is performed.

4. Foundation / Substructure Construction

Building structures are generally constructed on concrete foundations. Based on the soil type and water table level of the area, the foundation chosen can vary. If necessary, soil testing is performed to check the bearing capacity. Shallow foundations are required for low-rise building. For high-rise building, pile foundation is employed.

Once the foundation is selected, the soil is excavated to construct the foundation. It is performed based on the foundation layout. Form works are placed in the foundation trenches and reinforcement is placed based on the foundation detailing design prepared in the planning stage. The reinforcement works performed by the contractor is periodically checked by the engineer in charge.

The concrete mix of the required proportion is poured to formwork and is cured to form the finished foundation.

5. Superstructure Construction

The superstructure is constructed once the substructure is complete. Generally, a framed structured is developed which is later finished with masonry walls. Adequate windows and exterior doors are placed based on the building plan. Other works coming under this section is:

1. Construction of roofs or siding
2. Installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning
3. Providing adequate electric and water lines connection line.
4. Provide insulation works as required to protect from lighting
5. Provision of waterproofing to the walls.
6. Plastering and finishing the walls and surfaces
7. Flooring works
8. Exterior and Interior Painting.

6. Punch List

Once the project is complete, the contractor inspects the whole work one by one and make a punch list. Those structural units or areas that were not constructed properly or are below the quality level is listed in the punch list. This is later corrected by the contractor in charge.

7. Warranty Period

Once the project is complete and handovered to the owner, the contractor specifies a warranty period. Within this period, any defects found in building constructed must be fixed and replaced by the contractor in charge. The warranty for materials and appliances are obtained from manufacturers and suppliers.

Types of Foundations

                          TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

In this article we will discuss the common types of foundations in buildings. Broadly speaking, all foundations are divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations. The words shallow and deep refer to the depth of soil in which the foundation is made. Shallow foundations can be made in depths of as little as 3ft (1m), while deep foundations can be made at depths of 60 - 200ft (20 - 65m). Shallow foundations are used for small, light buildings, while deep ones are for large, heavy buildings

SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS

Shallow foundations are also called spread footings or open footings. The 'open' refers to the fact that the foundations are made by first excavating all the earth till the bottom of the footing, and then constructing the footing. During the early stages of work, the entire footing is visible to the eye, and is therefore called an open foundation. The idea is that each footing takes the concentrated load of the column and spreads it out over a large area, so that the actual weight on the soil does not exceed the safe bearing capacity of the soil.

In cold climates, shallow foundations must be protected from freezing. This is because water in the soil around the foundation can freeze and expand, thereby damaging the foundation. These foundations should be built below the frost line, which is the level in the ground above which freezing occurs. If they cannot be built below the frost line, they should be protected by insulation: normally a little heat from the building will permeate into the soil and prevent freezing.

individual footings

Individual footings awaiting concreting of the footing column

Individual footings are one of the most simple and common types of foundations.  These are used when the load of the building is carried by columns. Usually, each column will have its own footing. The footing is just a square or rectangular pad of concrete on which the column sits. To get a very rough idea of the size of the footing, the engineer will take the total load on the column and divide it by the safe bearing capacity (SBC) of the soil. For example, if a column has a vertical load of 10T, and the SBC of the soil is 10T/m2, then the area of the footing will be 1m2. In practice, the designer will look at many other factors before preparing a construction design for the footing.

Individual footings connected by a plinth beam. Note that the footings have been cast on top of beds of plain cement concrete (PCC), which has been done to create a level, firm base for the footing.

Individual footings are usually connected by a plinth beam, a horizontal beam that is built at ground or below ground level.

strip footings

Strip footings are commonly found in load-bearing masonry construction, and act as a long strip that supports the weight of an entire wall.  These are used where the building loads are carried by entire walls rather than isolated columns, such as in older buildings made of masonry.

raft or mat foundations

Raft Foundations, also called Mat Foundations, are most often used when basements are to be constructed. In a raft, the entire basement floor slab acts as the foundation; the weight of the building is spread evenly over the entire footprint of the building. It is called a raft because the building is like a vessel that 'floats' in a sea of soil.
Mat Foundations are used where the soil is week, and therefore building loads have to be spread over a large area, or where columns are closely spaced, which means that if individual footings were used, they would touch each other.

DEEP FOUNDATIONS

pile foundations

A pile is basically a long cylinder of a strong material such as concrete that is pushed into the ground so that structures can be supported on top of it.

Pile foundations are used in the following situations:

1. When there is a layer of weak soil at the surface. This layer cannot support the weight of the building, so the loads of the building have to bypass this layer and be transferred to the layer of stronger soil or rock that is below the weak layer.
2. When a building has very heavy, concentrated loads, such as in a high rise structure.
   

Pile foundations are capable of taking higher loads than spread footings.
There are two types of pile foundations, each of which works in its own way.

End Bearing Piles

In end bearing piles, the bottom end of the pile rests on a layer of especially strong soil or rock. The load of the building is transferred through the pile onto the strong layer. In a sense, this pile acts like a column. The key principle is that the bottom end rests on the surface which is the intersection of a weak and strong layer. The load therefore bypasses the weak layer and is safely transferred to the strong layer.

Friction Piles

Friction piles work on a different principle. The pile transfers the load of the building to the soil across the full height of the pile, by friction. In other words, the entire surface of the pile, which is cylindrical in shape, works to transfer the forces to the soil. 

To visualize how this works, imagine you are pushing a solid metal rod of say 4mm diameter into a tub of frozen ice cream. Once you have pushed it in, it is strong enough to support some load. The greater the embedment depth in the ice cream, the more load it can support. This is very similar to how a friction pile works. In a friction pile, the amount of load a pile can support is directly proportionate to its length