The Impacts of Online Education on Ecology of Learning and Social Learning Processes

Abstract

Abstract: Developments in the IT sector and technological advancements around the world have forced educational systems to also change accordingly. Radically affecting the usual flow and order of economic and social life around the world, the global COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation have generated rapid changes. The ongoing process has revealed no previous preparations to have occurred or principles to have been designed for dealing with unforeseen circumstances in terms of matters ranging from internet infrastructure to technological equipment, digital educational tools, access to content, education managers, educators, students, and parents, digital literacy, and social learning environments. A future remodeling of social learning processes, particularly the role of school, ecology, and models of learning is predicted. Education is expected to become a hybrid system composed of face-to-face and online learning processes paralleling one another, whereas teaching is predicted to take place over digital platforms through different modules and software programs. Evaluation, accreditation, and certification are fully expected to take place digitally. Schools will be reshaped with a functional mission in mind, paying special attention to behavior, ethics, consciousness, values, culture, civilization, history, art, and sports; the development of skills, socialization, group work, and teamwork; social and psychological development; and analytical thinking. Rather than engaging in theoretical discussions, this article will tackle the predomination of digitalization and the effect of online education policies and applications on social learning processes as well as the ecology of learning. This article will present solutions, analyzing these matters regarding their pedagogical as well as problematic dimensions.