Learning strategies for the new normal

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a enormous shift in the way we operate, find out and join with other individuals.

While there are a range of effectively-recognised organisations inside of Australia that supply on line formal skills, Open Schools being a person of them, not all faculties ended up well prepared to make the change to a absolutely on the net finding out surroundings.

At the begin of the pandemic in Australia, there was a immediate changeover from physical school rooms to digital classrooms. Lots of campuses experienced to scramble quickly to transform their courses into a electronic, remote-pleasant structure.

But as hard as this immediate transition was for bricks-and-mortar educational institutions, it was an even far more jarring experience for pupils.

However, irrespective of the online learning curve for learners and schools, there are several positive aspects to on the internet studying. And this change away from traditional lecture rooms could be the new normal for several Australian learners.

Is online understanding the new regular?

On the net study could be the new usual for the foreseeable future of instruction in Australia. And just one of the most persuasive arguments is big facts.

In the proper fingers, significant data can be utilised to uncover developments and attain crucial insights. For example, in schooling this details can be utilized to boost pupil outcomes, personalise curricula and cut down the pupil dropout amount.

By means of the use of machine finding out and algorithms, it is probable to monitor how college students are progressing.

If a specified student is lagging powering, then the algorithm can detect the areas where by they are failing and ship an alert to the student’s Instructor or Coach. This would sign to the Educator that this individual scholar demands enable in a particular region, and the Educator can then work to aid bridge that awareness gap. This could help to stop college students from falling by means of the cracks.

On the other hand, the algorithm could also be employed to detect students who are excelling speedily. This would necessarily mean that pupils who are performing higher than normal would be offered the guidance they want to achieve their whole probable, alternatively of possessing to wait around for their classmates to catch up.

The schooling procedure requirements to reflect our switching requires

Our life are changing and its very important that the instruction method can retain up.

The normal Australian is probable to adjust work opportunities the moment every 3 a long time or so. It is no longer prevalent for individuals to commit to the similar career route for their whole functioning existence, and persons now have the flexibility to transform professions when it fits them.

To facilitate this need to have, it’s essential that the appropriate variety of formal on the web programs are accessible. For several Australians who are doing the job total time and would like to improve occupations, it’s just not simple to attend a physical campus comprehensive- or component-time. Instead, on the web instruction is the most noticeable and convenient selection.

Engagement performs a large component in online understanding pupil achievement

Regardless of the noticeable benefits of on the internet learning and what it can offer you learners, modern day learners will have to have to create new understanding tactics to navigate online instruction.

The larger training mastering natural environment can be incredibly diverse to what higher university students have previously seasoned in conditions of workload, time management and time invested interacting with their peers and Instructors. The similar can be stated for an on the internet understanding ecosystem.

How very well a scholar adjusts to their new mastering ecosystem can have a direct result on their educational achievements. This is aspect of the online finding out curve, but it’s critical to a student’s grades.

A student’s engagement is also crucial to their success. A current examine identified that pupils in New Zealand who had to speedily changeover to an on line studying surroundings ‘adopted a learning approach that coordinated their on the net LMS engagement with class assessment owing day. Pupils experienced a 388% (SD 58%) greater distinct engagement with the LMS on the assessment thanks day and the working day prior, than in the course of the remainder of their program.’

Nevertheless: ‘a clear marriage between the amount of university student LMS engagement and pupil course quality existed. For every single further 7 days of zero LMS engagement, the odds of a pupil accomplishing. a grade decrease than B ended up 1.67 times bigger (95% CI 1.24, 2.26 p < 0.001), regardless of the course.’

This clearly tells us that engagement is critical to a student’s success.

Higher education learning strategies for the new normal

There are a lot of pros to online learning. But it also comes with its own unique challenges. With this in mind, how can online students prepare for the new normal and find effective online higher education learning strategies?

Teachers and Trainers need to be the primary force driving this change and promoting engagement.

Here are a few higher education learning strategies Teachers and Trainers can use to increase learner engagement online:

1. Planning is everything

Ensure that you’re always organised and have a plan laid out. Teaching a class without a plan is difficult enough face-to-face. But with an online class, you also need to think about new and different ways to keep your class engaged.

Synchronous and asynchronous learning both have their place. You could think about mixing things up to ensure that students are engaged with their online lessons.

Also remember to break up your lessons into digestible pieces so your students attention spans to waver.

2. Lead by example

Present yourself well, look into the camera when you present and don’t multi-task while you’re presenting. If you want your students to be engaged, then you need to be engaged, too.

If your students have suddenly had to go from face-to-face lessons to online learning, you don’t want them to think of online as potentially lesser than a physical class. At home, there are more distractions for people. Just because everyone is learning from home online doesn’t mean they can divide their focus between their class, thinking about what to cook for dinner and shopping online.

This means you as the Teacher need to lead by example and set expectations.

3. Think outside the box

There are other ways to teach online that go way beyond delivering a livestream lecture or converting documents into a PDF. Technology today allows us to connect in so many different ways. And Teachers can use this to their advantage in the virtual classroom.

You could start by encouraging students to take part in online polls or real-time online knowledge tests. You could include audio files or videos as part of your lesson. You could

OC’s learning management system, OpenSpace, has been designed with student engagement at its core. Through OpenSpace, students learn through a variety of mediums, and some courses even have interactive tools.

4. Encourage social interaction

Switching to an online learning environment can be tough for some students. But if Teachers can encourage social interaction, the same as students can expect when in physical proximity to their classmates, then this could help to keep them engaged.

Instead of logging on and launching straight into the day’s lesson, encourage students to spend time socialising before you jump into the learning materials.

You can also check in with students on an individual level, just like you would in a classroom environment.

Study tips for online students

When it comes to online learning, there are generally two types – synchronous (when you study alongside other students at the same time) and asynchronous (when you work at your own pace).

Both have their pros and cons. The main benefit of synchronous learning is that you’ll have the support of others in the exact same situation as you.

Asynchronous learning, on the other hand, means you can study at your own pace. You’re not locked into a strict study routine, so you can dedicate as many hours as you want to study each week. This means you can space your study sessions out, or you can power through and complete your online course in record time.

To learn more about online study tips, you can read out blog, ‘8 study tips for online students.’

Is online learning the future of higher education?

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us, if nothing else, that things are not as impossible as they seem. Teachers found ways to convert their lessons into an online format. Students grew used to learning online. While the ride has been far from smooth, and the rapid transition for many physical classrooms into an online environment has been difficult, the Australian education system was able to adapt and pivot in record time.

Does this mean that online study is the new normal? While it’s unlikely we’ll see our bricks and mortar classrooms disappearing for good any time soon, there has been a definite shift in attitudes and perceptions when it comes to online learning and how it can benefit students.

About Chloe Baird

Chloe is an Open Colleges alumnus who now works full time for OC as a Content and Copywriting Specialist. She is passionate about encouraging others to pursue their goals through education.

Tags: Learning strategies, online learning, student success