Online learning has boomed in recent years, with the development of wholly online courses, distance learning, and digital course materials. However, online learning not only complements how students learn, but it has also changed the way that students use education. From being able to access course materials 24 hours a day, to the creation of automated marking and submission systems, technology has now become an integral part of education, influencing how students may learn in the future.
- Increased Access
However, online education has also allowed a wider range of people to access college degrees at home, even if they live in close proximity to the college. This not only gives students extra benefits such as being able to access course materials online, but it allows students who may not be able to commit to real-time lectures the ability to have access to the course like other students. For instance, Spring Arbor University’s Michigan-based online courses, such as an online MBA Healthcare Administration, cater towards working adults who are looking to advance their career around a full-time job, rather than the level of commitment that most physical colleges demand.
- Distance Learning
Online learning does not have to be coupled with distance learning, with many online courses being held in close proximity to physical colleges. However, online education has developed to the extent that distance learning is now an integral part of colleges, with many colleges offering courses away from campus. This distance learning has made it incredibly easy for people with other commitments to take a degree or training course, which can be especially useful if they are a parent, carer, or already have a long-term job. Distance learning takes place wholly online, with students receiving course materials and even lectures on a digital platform, and submitting their assignments online through digital platforms.
- Worldwide Access
Not only this, but the ability of students to access online learning has led to students being able to take courses from colleges all around the world, even if they live in a different country. This is particularly beneficial to students who are looking for a specific course or school of learning which is not available in their country and cannot take a course abroad without funding. This is also useful if they are planning to move to a different country, where they may need a different set of qualifications to begin their career in that country before they travel.
- Digital Course Materials
Digital course materials have had an undeniable impact on the lives of students in both online courses and traditional colleges. Digital course materials allow students to access the resources that they need at any time of the day or night, whenever they need them. They also have the opportunity to rewatch lectures and slides to consolidate their knowledge and use the attachments on these to do essays. These can be accessed through online portals such as Moodle, where students can communicate with others on forums and see all of their reading lists and course information. Textbooks are now being used in a digital format too, with many coursebook providers announcing that they are starting to offer their books in digital and e-book formats for their students.
- Communication with Teachers
As a student, communication with teachers and lecturers is vital to the development of their learning. Although digital learning has made it difficult in some ways for students to access teachers and lecturers face-to-face, the advantages of the internet has allowed direct communication between teachers and students. Students are often able to contact lecturers on forums and by email, meaning that lecturers can access questions from their students easily, and the internet has also given lecturers a means to contact students by with information about their course. The development of the internet has also increased the number of internet tutors, which means that students can be helped to develop their skills by teachers all around the world. This is specifically useful to language students, who can be offered tutoring from teachers in the country whose language they are learning,
- Personalized Teaching and Materials
The creation of online learning has also enabled an increase in personalized teaching and materials. This enables students to choose the methods that aid them with their learning the best, such as oral materials like lectures, or visual aids such as images and PowerPoints. Teachers can also use personalized online teaching materials within the classroom to tailor learning to the classroom’s or age group’s interests and the format that will interest them best, such as specific research information or video files. Online learning has also made learning more interactive, with the ability to perform research and independent study on your own terms and at any time of the day or night. This had led to the ability for students to tailor courses to themselves, around other priorities.
- Part-time Courses
With the rise of independent and self-led learning, part-time courses are beginning to grow in their scope and the ability of their students to access these successfully. Now, part-time students get much more support, and they can now complement their learning whenever possible through online course materials and access to lecturer advice. Part-time courses are usually longer than full-time courses, but now students can learn whenever they are available through additional resources online from any location.
- Automated Marking and Submission
Online learning has also impacted the way that students work through the development of online submission and the use of plagiarism tracking applications such as Turnitin. Platforms such as these allow students to submit and work on papers up until the final seconds from their own home, with the opportunity to resubmit easily and receive feedback from lecturers. This can help to reduce the stress of deadlines for students and make it easier to highlight any plagiarism that is taking place. These papers can now be automatically marked and scanned by computers, enabling the marking process to take less time for lecturers.
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