Online Learning Autumn 2021
Many of us are finalizing our spring academic term and pondering how to integrate some of the lessons learned over the past year. I would like to share two articles, one, a longitudinal study of mobile learning; and the other, suggestions on how we can incorporate online learning into our academic programs.
The first article is entitled, "iPads in the classroom: Teachers’ perspectives post-implementation" by Miles (2021). The author shares the outcomes of a five year study integrating mobile tools as part of a blended learning environment, concluding that "mobile learning has the potential to engage students in collaborative tasks and assist in learning dynamics." As we return to offering F2F learning opportunities, it seems taking advantages of mobile devices could assist in learning and creating a bridge between F2F interactions, blended and online.
The second article is from Inside Higher Ed this week by Kim (2021) entitled, "Ways That Online Education Advances Learning." In this article, the author shares potential advantages for online learning:
Institutions
Responding to student demand for flexibility.
Enhancing educational accessibility.
Meeting the needs for workforce development.
Creating robust infrastructure for digitally mediated teaching and learning.
Prioritization of student care and well-being.
Enhanced ability to collect and act on outcome data to support success.
New capabilities in shifting student life and support services.
Opportunities to evolve teaching methods aligned with learning science.
Students
Learning how to learn in digitally mediated environments.
Developing skills in time management and self-directed work.
Collaboration and communications skills, specifically on digital platforms.
Making the transition from passive consumers to active participants.
Enhancing a range of analytical skills that are prioritized in online courses.
Faculty
Opportunities to collaborate with learning designers in the course design.
Exposure to instructional design and learning science principles.
Shifting from information delivery to prioritizing presence and feedback.
Moving from summative to formative assessment.
References
Miles, R. (2019). iPads in the classroom: teachers’ perspectives post-implementation. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, 16(1).
Kim, J. (2021). 15 ways that online education advances learning. Inside higher Ed, retrieved from www.insidehighered.com/blogs/learning-innovation/15-ways-online-education-advances-learning
