Online education is the process of learning through an online or digital platform. Through the pandemic, we saw teachers and students adapt to the shift from in-person to online learning. While k-12 educators had to quickly shift their curriculum to an online platform and ensure their students have the tools to do so, many education platforms blossomed at the height of the pandemic.
It became clear that there was a hunger to learn, and online education made it financially accessible for almost everyone. With many free and paid education programs, students everywhere can earn degrees and certifications to help them advance their careers. Whether you’re a professional hoping to build your repertoire of skills, a college student, or even just working for your high school diploma, a lot has changed since the beginning of online education. Here are some of the ways online education continues to evolve.
New technology
As the world continues to evolve, so does the technology we use. In the past, distance or online learning wasn’t possible because we didn’t have the technology to optimize the experience. More and more students are earning their college degrees online with the help of technology. Not only have multiple online learning platforms unleashed themselves to the world, but these days most computers include a webcam and other software, making it easier for students to communicate and connect with their peers and teachers.
While much of the new education technology works to improve the experience for students and teachers, some have proven to make it more difficult. Improved artificial intelligence spells trouble for teachers because it allows students to complete assignments with little to no work. However, other systems have gamified education to help increase engagement among students.
Better online learning platforms
Not only has our technology evolved, but so have the learning platforms themselves. With new tech coming out every day, educators have to work to keep up and ensure their online learning system is optimized and ensure they quickly address problem areas. With the invention of AI writing systems and other technology deterring authentic learning, teachers must ensure that their students are working with integrity.
In addition, online learning has improved educators’ abilities to evaluate important learning metrics, massive open online courses, integrate the cloud, and more. As online education becomes more popular, more technology will be released in the hopes of improving the process.
Reduced cost
College is expensive, and the costs only seem to grow as time goes on. The beauty of online education is that it makes getting a good education more accessible to people everywhere. Today, there are tons of online learning platforms at a reduced cost or even free. LinkedIn Learning, Hubspot Academy, Udemy, and more offer paid and free courses.
Making education more accessible means that people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford an education can now do so. With increased access to education, people open more professional opportunities to themselves.
Accredited online learning
Due to COVID-19, many students had to acclimate to an online learning climate. While the shift to distance learning proved difficult for many students and educators, it did open up more opportunities to earn accredited degrees online. Before the pandemic, we saw only a few accredited degrees available to earn online degrees.
Digital learning has shown it’s here to say, and many learning institutions have taken note of the shift. Whether you want to earn an accredited degree online through one of your favorite institutions like Berkeley, learn from your local community college, or even one of the many new online learning platforms, you can now earn accredited degrees recognized by the department of education.
Changes for educators
Like students, educators struggled to adapt to an online learning climate as the pandemic ensued. While some teachers loved teaching online from their homes, others felt the effects of the change. Educators had to work closely with parents to ensure students attended classes and completed assignments. They also had to communicate closely with parents to evaluate the child’s performance. Teachers also had to adapt by giving parents and students more agency, since the teachers themselves can’t be there to keep students in check.
As the shift to online learning progresses, teachers have to work extra hard to keep their students engaged with the content and evaluate time frames for students to complete assignments and projects. Educators must also ensure their students have access to the necessary resources and technology.
Digital discrepancies for students
Many students were happy having to wake up early and go to school. However, many students also struggled to shift to learning from the comfort of their own homes. People with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder may not do as well in school when done online. Many educational institutions had to quickly adapt their programs online due to the pandemic, creating discrepancies in the quality of education they were receiving. While educators did their best to shift their learning curriculum online, the panic to shift didn’t leave much room to optimize the experience for students who struggle in school.
However, as time has gone on, many institutions have done the work to help students with learning disabilities. Many strategies have been put in place like scheduling, the pacing of programs, ensuring their program minimizes distractions, and peer interaction.
While teachers do their best to help students that struggle in school, there are also benefits to online learning for more advanced students. While slower pacing can help students with learning disabilities, faster pacing can help advanced students stay engaged and learn as much as they can while school is in session.
Conclusion
As students return to school, the freedom to choose where what, and how they learn comes with it. As online learning continues to be improved, we will see more students opt for digital learning. As with in-person learning, online learning has its fair share of challenges but also proves to be the more convenient and accessible option for students around the world. As our technology advances, so will programs for eLearning.
