March 7, 2022
EdTech: How technology is empowering universities to deliver high-quality online programmes
When universities were compelled to pivot from providing primarily campus-based programmes of study to delivering remote-first instruction, teachers and students alike found themselves navigating systems largely designed to deliver a facsimile of the traditional classroom experience, relayed via videoconferencing and other related connectivity tools.
It’s been far from plain sailing; many organisations understandably felt under-prepared – from both an academic and operational infrastructure perspective – for the global transition to online study.
However, this mass digital movement also served as a broader catalyst to educational advancement. It accelerated developments in EdTech from online sector pioneers who were already leveraging artificial intelligence to create more personalised learning pathways and build more responsive reporting and support mechanisms for students seeking digital learning options.
And, while most universities have begun to return to more familiar learning patterns, the interest in remote, hybrid and blending learning options – from students exploring fresh possibilities for skills advancement and from higher ed organisations seeking new revenue streams – looks set to continue apace.
It’s important to acknowledge that for online learning to match the quality of its campus counterpart, it must be firmly rooted in academic strategy and educational design. It’s not enough for institutions to use tech to divert existing programmes to an online audience; course providers must find new ways to embed best practice in courses that are engineered from the ground up to deliver high-quality learning opportunities, and to involve both teachers and students in that process.
Current HE pedagogy is framed within the traditional in-person model. But, if course designers start from the position that technology can enhance, rather than impede, the educational experience, it could transform HE access and academic achievement for millions. The demand for new pedagogies will, naturally, be matched by the development of fresh teaching styles, underpinned by more distributed support services. All will rely on innovations in technology.
As an overarching concern, each university’s leadership team will need to consider how their established mission and values can continue to inspire and inform in this new paradigm.
How should universities approach the challenge of scaling their online capabilities?
The global EdTech market has risen exponentially in the last ten years, growing from a venture capital investment of US$500m in 2010, to a whopping US$16.1bn in 2020, reflecting the increased demand for online learning options.
Some of the hottest EdTech trends include:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the key to offering a more personalised, interactive learning experience, analysing and interpreting students’ interests to deliver the precise content they need. Universities are already deploying AI-based chatbots to support students and answer questions; these approaches are also feeding into student-centric, self-service innovations that improve response times while reducing costs.
But AI could also form the basis of a reimagined tutoring platform, using machine learning (ML) to create tailored assignments and quizzes – even to offer course recommendations. Informed by learning analytics data, AI could build a complete student ecosystem that constantly tweaks course materials for the ultimate flexible learner experience. Implementing this kind of adaptive learning platform will help universities attract non-traditional students who want a cut-through to career progression.
Higher education institutions are already using data analytics to identify students who may need more support along their learning journeys. This approach could be particularly valuable for mature students who don’t have access to in-person support and are already juggling additional real-world responsibilities. These analytics will look at which students are engaged – and which aren’t – enabling more precise targeting of support and the potential for creating better group dynamics.
Gamification is now a feature of the traditional classroom – virtual scenarios offer students a real-world experience without the real-life risks. It has enormous potential to help keep online students motivated, too, encouraging deeper engagement with their learning experience. With a market that’s expected to grow at a rate of 29% over the next five years, it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest EdTech trends of the decade.
As short-form video usage increases in popularity, especially among Gen Z, savvy universities are leveraging the format to help students understand difficult concepts, as well as creating interest in classes via film-style trailers. There are implications for IT infrastructure, which may require upgrading to keep pace with student uptake.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tech not only brings learning experiences to life but also helps students to learn topics faster, according to a recent study by PwC. Microsoft is already pioneering its own mixed-reality platform – Microsoft Mesh – in which students can communicate online with their teachers via 3D avatars. Meanwhile, Hollywood-inspired virtual reality company Dreamscape Immersive’s Dreamscape Learn platform is harnessing the power of storytelling to transform VR learning sessions for students at Arizona State University. It’s just a matter of time before this advanced tech becomes part and parcel of the online experience for students everywhere.
The ‘credentialisation’ of degree components is also on the rise, marking a transition from fixed analogue qualifications to a more fluid form of certification that feeds into the growing trend of ‘unbundling’ higher education. As the market demands that universities move beyond one-and-done undergraduate degrees and towards more agile digital pathways that lend themselves to a process of continuous upskilling more closely aligned with employers’ evolving needs, this important shift in emphasis will enable students to embrace a lifelong approach to learning.
How organisations successfully replace the classroom dynamic is just one challenge in the context of a much wider rethink on the university experience. Considering the most effective approaches to managing group projects, lab work and practical assessments, as well as delivering student support and wider services, together with the opportunities for social enrichment in the context of a more dispersed university population, is eye-wateringly complex.
Although advances in technology are facilitating a fundamental reshaping of higher education provision, it will be down to individual organisations – and their leadership teams – to leverage tech in the best service of their staff and students. Early adopters are already demonstrating how online learning can create a tailored, personalised journey for students, providing access to learning platforms from any device and offering seamless integration with a broader range of academic and non-academic services and resources – such as coaching and pastoral support.
While each organisation’s operating model will vary according to its target audience, a student-centric strategic vision should be the starting point for any online learning experience. When thoughtfully constructed, online higher education programmes can guide students to create their own education roadmap, using a variety of tools to help review their progress and reinforce their goals, including motivational tips, performance analysis, and exam-preparation materials.
Raising the student experience – through integrated tech platforms, for example – should go hand-in-hand with the redesign of courses and delivery models and with the development of the educational infrastructure that will enable universities to analyse and redefine their offerings with the aim of creating truly exceptional learning experiences for everyone.
*Your email address will not be published.
Prioritising wellbeing in higher education: strategies for improving students’ mental health
That increasing numbers of students are experiencing mental health problems isn’t news; it’s an escalating trend that was extensively documented even before the Covid-19 pandemic, as HE providers reported unprecedented demands for access to their health and welfare support services prior to the 2020 crisis.
Diversification: the key to unlocking new higher education revenue streams
The recent global crisis has highlighted a long-standing need for revenue diversification in the higher education sector.
The same but different: improving fairness of access, participation, and outcomes in higher education
Fairness lies at the heart of modern higher education – in principle, at least. That everyone – regardless of social or economic background – can aspire to study for a globally acknowledged qualification, opening doors to greater education and employment opportunities, has been a cornerstone of HE provision for decades. But equality only works if everyone’s starting point is the same and, as societal divisions widen, universities must do more to level the pitch.
Optimising the digital higher education experience: delivering outstanding support for online learners
The higher education sector is experiencing a period of rapid transformation. With demand for more flexible access options catalysing significant growth in online, hybrid and blended delivery models, universities must not only design new, more adaptable, degree programmes, but must also review and strengthen the support services that are essential to sustain a student body that’s more diverse – and dispersed – than ever before.
Hybrid and blended learning: the flexible future of higher education?
After the restrictions of the last two years, the fact that university campuses everywhere are once again buzzing with students feels like a cause for optimism.
Transforming higher education for the long term
For those in the world’s wealthiest countries, tertiary education has now become the norm – especially among the 18-34-year-old demographic.
Automation in online education
Technology is fundamental in addressing one of the biggest challenges in education – how to continue to increase scale on decreasing budgets?
Online delivery is rightly seen as a valid approach. However, we must consider the students’ consumer expectations for educational experiences that are as good as experiences in other sectors, such as retail or online services, along with the goal of ensuring students are treated as individuals. Automation is key to meeting these challenges.
Motivating online students to support each other
Clear intentions, guiding principles, well-chosen, and well-instructed activities greatly increase students’ participation in peer learning
There are a variety of strategies to help students feel engaged and motivated to participate in online distance learning (ODL) programmes, but perhaps none are more powerful than finding ways to motivate students to interact with their peers.
Effective peer learning in online courses
How to motivate students to participate and genuinely benefit from learning from their peers
Well-designed online learning can be highly engaging, motivating, and enjoyable. Historically though, distance learning, both pre-web and in early online courses, suffered from poor retention – students found it difficult to study on their own.
The future of work: how universities can prepare students for an uncertain future
More people than ever are going to university. In the UK, well over a third of all 18-year-olds (37.8 percent) enrolled on a full-time undergraduate course last year, according to UCAS. And, while some students are drawn to higher education to increase their academic knowledge and enjoy the university experience, most will also be looking to improve their employment and earning prospects. Government figures for 2020 show a graduate employment rate of 86.4 percent, with median graduate earnings standing at £35,000 (£9,500 more than their non-graduate counterparts).
Creating a rich social and cultural experience for online degree learners
Much of the discussion around the recent global shift from campus-based to remote-learning models has centred on the quality of online programmes of study – more particularly on how universities can effectively motivate, support, and assess individuals as part of a dispersed student population.
Breaking the bias: addressing the higher education gender pay gap
As participation continues to widen in the UK’s higher education sector with increasing numbers of applications from previously underrepresented sectors, many gender-based anomalies remain. For example, while women are much more likely to go to university than men (as well as to complete their studies and to achieve a good degree), figures show that women graduates cede their professional advantage in a matter of months.
COMMENTS
PetermuM
2023-07-22 13:34:54
Wonderful Site, I hadn\'t noticed higheredpartners.co.uk in front of my searches! Look after the vast work!
Ronaldhak
2023-11-09 11:08:33
Наша столярная компания работает, чтобы реализовать любые пожелания клиентов https://fabrica33.ru/korpusnaya-mebel/stenki/stenki-temnye/?limit=192&sort=p.price&order=DESC&page=1 В столярном цеху трудятся настоящие профессионалы, способные с легкостью справиться даже с самыми сложными задачами, проектами и дизайнами на заказ https://fabrica33.ru/stenka-zhostina.html Запись на замер https://fabrica33.ru/divan-denver.html Стандартный срок по договору составляет 30 календарных дней https://fabrica33.ru/korpusnaya-mebel/stoly-i-stulya/?limit=48 Однако, для наших клиентов стараемся сократить этот срок, чтобы вы могли порадоваться новому интерьеру как можно скорее https://fabrica33.ru/myagkaya-mebel/tahty-i-sofy/?limit=48 Большинство заказчиков получают мебель уже через 10-20 дней после оформления заказа https://fabrica33.ru/spalnyj-garnitur-agata-2.html Рассчитайте за пару минут стоимость будущей мебели по цене от производителя https://fabrica33.ru/korpusnaya-mebel/stenki/?page=2 Свяжитесь с нами, мы ответим на все вопросы и подберем подходящий вариант работы https://fabrica33.ru/modulnaya-sistema-taisiya.html Популярное https://fabrica33.ru/spalnyj-garnitur-arina-3.html
Scottphere
2023-11-09 11:08:49
Также, достаточно серьезный вопрос выбор керамической плитки для пола и стен https://olga-filippova.ru/interery-medical-study-center#! Вы можете довериться выбору профессионалов, предлагающих готовые цветовые сочетания, а также можете сделать это самостоятельно, создав индивидуальный и неповторимый дизайн интерьера комнаты https://olga-filippova.ru/interior_appartment Для этого стиля характерно использование легких штор, мебели белого цвета и светлых полов, пастельных оттенков, живых цветов, большого количества декора в виде статуэток и прочего https://olga-filippova.ru/portfolio-kafe-interyery Финансовый контроль — это основа управления, совокупность действий и операций по проверке финансовых и связанных с ними вопросов деятельности субъектов хозяйствования https://olga-filippova.ru/interyer-doma Управления происходит с применением специфических форм и методов организации https://olga-filippova.ru/fitness-spa https://olga-filippova.ru/restoran-izyum https://olga-filippova.ru/ https://olga-filippova.ru/beauty-salons-spa-design
Davidmah
2023-11-09 11:10:30
В США, где ГФС получил наиболее широкое распространение (на рынке США на его долю приходится 94% потребляемых сектором подсластителей), сироп используется в качестве сахарозаменителя в продуктах питания (йогурты, мучные кондитерские изделия, салатные заправки и т https://amadey-sirop.ru/med-naturalnyj-konditerskij/ д https://amadey-sirop.ru/glyukozno-fruktoznyj-sirop-lfx10-g-60-nizkofruktoznyj/ ) и напитках http://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/produkciya-na-glavnoj/concentraty-i-ekstrakty/ Производство глюкозно-фруктозных сиропов в промышленно развитых странах достигает огромных размеров http://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/produkciya-na-glavnoj/ Душистые воды получают при простой или фракционной перегонке, отбирая погоны крепостью от 50 до 20 % об http://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/produkciya-na-glavnoj/concentraty-i-ekstrakty/ Выдержка их производится аналогично спиртованным водам http://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/produkciya-na-glavnoj/kolery https://amadey-sirop.ru/maltodekstrin-korichnevyj/fertilizer-eddha-fe-6-chelated-iron-microelement/ https://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/patoka/patoki-trostnikovye-organicheskie/ http://amadey-sirop.ru производится на основе органического тростникового сиропа https://amadey-sirop.ru Обладает ярким фруктовым ароматом и приятным вкусом https://amadey-sirop.ru/maltodekstrin-korichnevyj/fertilizer-eddha-fe-6-chelated-iron-microelement/ Содержит много полезных веществ и микроэлементов: Разрежьте лайм на 3 дольки, положите их в высокий стакан, бросьте листочки мяты и подавите мадлером https://amadey-sirop.ru/patoka-rafinadnaya-medovaya/ Добавьте ежевику (примерно 10 ягод) и ещё раз помните https://amadey-sirop.ru/maltodekstrin-korichnevyj/fertilizer-eddha-fe-6-chelated-iron-microelement/ Ответ на сканворд или кроссворд на вопрос: сахарного сиропа4 буквы Нужно взять 1 кг 750 г айвы, 500 г яблок (очищенных), сок лимона, немного корицы, 3 зернышка кориандра, 1 л воды, звездочку аниса, 0,5 л сахарного сиропа Обновлено 31 окт 2022 https://amadey-sirop.ru/page/3/ https://amadey-sirop.ru/patoka-rafinadnaya-klassicheskaya/ https://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/suxie_patoki_siropy/ Е420 высокого качества https://amadey-sirop.ru/baton-nareznoj-s-saxarom-kraxmalnym-tverdym/ Сорбитовый сироп - подсластитель, влагоудерживающий агент, http://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/produkciya-na-glavnoj/syropy/ https://amadey-sirop.ru/page/3/ http://amadey-sirop.ru/amadey/produkciya-na-glavnoj/kolery безвредность его в питании больных сахарным диабетом https://amadey-sirop.ru/receptura-1-xleb-rzhano-pshenichnyj-borodinskij-s-ispolzovaniem-rafinadnoj-patoki/khleb-borodinskiy-receptura-amadey/