Online learning has become more popular. The number of qualifications that can be achieved through this method of learning has increased – there are now many recognized qualifications that are valuable in the workplace. However, more needs to be done. Online learning should not be limited to just several subjects and one method. Most courses can be adapted to suit online students, and more online courses can be made student-friendly.
Easily Accessible Support
If a course is adapted to online learning, it’s important that students can access support if they need it. For example, when you enroll in ABSN programs with Wilkes University, you get support from the team to access work placements and throughout your course, whenever you need it.
This level of support ensures that students don’t feel isolated from the university or course provider during their studies. While on-campus students would be able to ask questions during or just before a lecture, online students can’t do this if they’re accessing course materials in their own time. It’s therefore important that they can still contact someone to talk to about their concerns related to the course.
More Live Learning
Although many students choose online learning to fit around their busy lives, it’s important to have some live online tutorials, even if only occasionally. This may mean that the course provider has to deliver the same tutorials several times to give students a choice of which time and day they attend. To get the most students to attend one of these, it could be best to offer them at varied times, such as daytime, evening and weekend. Students can then ask questions during the tutorial, or they can make notes and ask them in a designated question-and-answer segment at the end. This is particularly useful if they might need the answers quickly to move forward with the rest of their coursework.
Online Learning Should be Simplified
Many students can be put off by complicated websites when trying to access their course. They will be expected to have or learn some basic IT skills to study online. However, the transition to online learning needs to be smoother. Some course providers can overcomplicate it with unnecessary graphics requiring a lot of bandwidth, or fancy learning software and video packages, while students are also required to have other websites open to record their learning. For students in areas where the broadband is slow, this can make learning difficult and frustrating.
Any necessary visual and audio course materials should be downloadable at a time to suit the student so that they can simply watch or listen without the use of the internet. It should also be possible to print out text files so that students can study away from their computer at a time and place that suits them.
None of these changes are hard for course providers to implement, but would make online learning more flexible. After all, flexibility is often the main reason why students opt for online over on-campus learning.
