Online education has been around for a while, but the popularity of studying online got a significant boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, online education was only offered by a handful of educational institutions and could have been perceived better. This led to schools, colleges and universities needing help switching to a full-time online studies model.
Teachers needed to gain the skills to conduct and control classes in a virtual environment, and students needed to learn how to maintain their focus from afar. It was like a new beginning for everyone. Organizations realized the importance of avoiding such unforeseen incidents and began developing better solutions to conduct classes in a virtual environment.
In this article, we will explore how emerging trends are assisting in online education delivery. We will also discuss the interactive learning components that enhance the online study experience for students and teachers.
Two emerging trends in online education
Increasing prevalence of virtual higher education programs
Over the last four years, one of the most prominent emerging trends is the increasing prevalence of online educational courses at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. On the contrary, the demand for smaller online classes from prep to K-12 is less common now due to the drastic difference between maintaining the attention span of younger children and that of adults. Although this area is being worked upon, higher educational courses steal the spotlight.
When students choose between traditional classroom teaching and online learning, two elements influencing their decision are flexibility and convenience. It turns out that flexibility has always been needed in higher education courses, but students were seldom able to experience it before the pandemic, and the results are excellent. Students can now pursue studies while still attending to other important tasks within their daily lives. They do not have to compromise or give up on either. They now have the flexibility to pre-plan and achieve their goals. People who complete their degrees online will likely develop better time management, discipline, prioritizing, and communication abilities.
One field that has seen a rise in postgraduate studies, especially online doctoral studies, is nursing. With changing schedules, nurses require flexibility regarding furthering their education while continuing to work. The flexibility offered by online learning has meant that nurses who have enrolled in postgraduate programs can better meet their coursework deadlines while still being able to work (depending on the program they enroll in).
Nurses looking to build on their skills and expertise can enroll in Wilkes University’s Masters in Nursing online programs, where they can specialize as a family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner or psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner. Each specialized role is in high demand, and those with these qualifications are sought after. Students who enroll in an MSN will focus on advanced clinical skills and evidence-based practice for improved patient outcomes.
Empowering learning through microlearning
Despite being overloaded and preoccupied, modern learners are thankfully driven to study. They employ a “self-serve” learning strategy in which they are free to learn independently. Much discussion has focused on the differences between mobile and desktop usage, but microlearning — delivering knowledge in brief bursts — is a crucial component of mobile learning. Microlearning, however, involves more than simply a little learning.
Microlearning education consists of brief or micro courses and relatively specific learning modules or disciplines. Examples of content include pictures, games, written content, video, audio and questionnaires. For instance, before beginning a task, students can watch a brief instructional video to remind themselves how to accomplish it.
These brief, to-the-point training materials may improve student engagement, provide appropriate information when need, and support longer-term retention. This learning method is excellent because it avoids overburdening the students, and they increase their knowledge with fun and games. This kind of knowledge is also well-retained.
Upcoming assistive technologies in online education
With the recognition and integration of the online education model into our education system, a lot of schools and colleges are constantly training their staff to conduct more effective virtual classes. Different organizations have identified the need for improving and enhancing the study and teaching experience, so there are constant developments in this field. Educational technology has become an ever-growing field and is linked to increased spending on technologies that can aid in online education. Below, we review some of the most hyped up-and-coming technologies in the field of online education:
Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)
In eLearning, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are already leaving their impact, and in the years to come, the development is expected to grow. Learners may get real-time help and suggestions, as well as tailored course and subject matter recommendations, with tools powered by AI. Simultaneously, algorithms for machine learning may also be used to identify gaps in understanding and customize courses to meet the needs of specific students.
AI has also started to be used at a lot of schools and institutions to increase enrollment and improve operations. We expect machine learning and AI to have a significant impact on customized learning. For example, student interactions with auto recommendation systems are based on behavior, description and performance. By assessing students, the system may determine how well they have understood a subject and suggest related materials, such as simulations, games or movies that best suit their learning needs.
Game-based learning
Utilizing game design ideas to enhance learning and make it more participatory is known as gamification or game-based learning. To encourage students to finish courses and meet their learning objectives, educators may incorporate components like certificates, badges and leaderboards. This is furthered by game-based learning, which uses actual games as the teaching tool. Soft skills and difficult topics can be taught effectively with this method.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
VR and AR are more recent developments in the field of online education. The way that individuals learn is being drastically changed by these new technologies. Learners may engage in an immersive and engaging learning experience with AR/VR technology. More than half of organizations either have plans to integrate a VR environment into their educational courses or have already done so.
Compared to students who learn using traditional techniques, those who receive VR-powered instruction train four times quicker and are 275% more confident in their ability to apply the skills they have acquired at college. Additionally, students who have used virtual reality technology reported feeling 3.5 times more emotionally invested in their participation in the course than those who received instruction in a classroom.
Additionally, research shows that virtual instruction is 76% more successful than traditional instruction. Surgeons at the University School of Medicine in Atlanta received training within a virtual reality environment, which is another noteworthy instance of VR learning. It was discovered that surgeons with training based on virtual reality made 40% fewer errors than surgeons who received traditional training.
Social education and cooperation
The importance of social learning and teamwork in online learning is growing. Educators typically facilitate knowledge sharing and peer learning among students by establishing virtual communities and collaborative educational environments. This method works especially well for interpersonal abilities like leadership and communication.
Mobile learning
In the eLearning field, two developments that have already garnered a lot of popularity are microlearning and mobile learning. While mobile learning enables learners to access knowledge on the move via smartphones or tablets, microlearning entails dividing educational material into bite-sized, readily consumable portions. These tendencies are probably going to continue to gain traction as learners become more mobile and attention spans shorten.
How technology improves online education
There are three elements that affect online education which improved technology has helped to improve and has made it more accessible to people. The three elements are engagement, collaboration and effectiveness.
Online education needs to be engaging to keep students’ attention and participation. This can be include making the content more engaging. The improvement in tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams allows teachers to conduct lectures visually without students having to attend the physical campus.
Collaboration improves online education as technology has made it easier for students to collaborate or work together on group projects without having to meet up in person. Online sharing platforms such as Google Docs enable students to work on the same document and collaborate with greater ease on group projects.
Advancements in technology have improved the effectiveness of online education in that access to digital learning has meant that students can go back to re-watch recorded online lessons if they need to and they are typically granted access to the slides. This means that students are more likely to achieve better results because they can review anything that they might have previously missed, which they would not have had the opportunity to do in an in person class that had not been recorded.
The above three elements can improve online learning and allows students to more easily participate in their education. If each of these elements are met and constantly improved on, online education can become a very effective means for students to improve their career prospects and to specialize within an area that is important to them.
Nurses in particular can benefit greatly by making use of online learning, particularly if they are working while studying as some programs are available on a part-time basis. Nurses can specialize in areas that they are very passionate about, such as becoming a family nurse practitioner or a psychiatric/mental health nurse.
Benefits of online education
Flexibility
Online classrooms are excellent for those who are improving their education while working, which is only one of the numerous advantages of online learning. In a typical classroom, lectures take place at set times during the day. Managing your study schedule alongside your job duties might be challenging if you are presently employed and there are no courses offered after work hours. Online learning offers significantly greater freedom in scheduling when compared to traditional classroom settings. In many cases, you can study whenever it suits you. You can also avoid distractions more easily if you have greater control over your schedule.
Enhanced cooperation
Students who learn online have more opportunities to work together with their peers through virtual meetings and group projects. The message boards and group features of online courses are advantageous as they enable students to share their thoughts on assigned readings and other tasks and reply to their peers. With virtual learning, students can also spend more individual time with their professors, which is helpful for both networking and learning. Students can post work for evaluation and contact their lecturer online.
Improved capabilities in time management
Even if the freedom to finish projects at a time that works best for them is one of the advantages of online learning, students must still manage their time well to finish their work by the deadlines set by their professors. As they require active participation rather than just attending on a scheduled day and time, online courses help students become more adept time managers. Consequently, students improve their time management abilities in addition to learning new information from their education.
Individualized instruction
Online courses might help students who find it difficult to concentrate in class. When interacting online, students who are less vocal might be able to take part in classroom discussions more effectively. With self-paced learning and the freedom to work from any location, the outcome is often a more customized educational experience. Students in online courses are free to select the time that suits them best for finishing readings and tasks. Courses can be completed wherever there is a connection to the internet because the coursework is done online.
Online education has many advantages
Online education is an amazing addition to the field of education. It will ensure that more people have access to quality higher education. To make this process easy, many assistive technologies have evolved since the pandemic, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, mobile learning, and the gamification of educational materials. People from all professions can benefit from online education, but it has created countless opportunities for nurses to excel in their education and professional careers.
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