Educause, a nonprofit organization focusing on the improvement of higher education, presented an article in regards to some of the concerns of online education. Over the years, there have been many obstacles the world of online education has come across, and we have had the online world attempt to defeat these obstacles. Educause has done some recent research as to what exactly these obstacles are. According to the article, one of the biggest dilemmas online programs face is the balance between satisfying the needs of the student (the individual learner) and the needs of the university.
Educause describes this balance, “Absolutely crucial is the distinction between the needs of individual learners and the needs of the institutions—colleges and universities—that are currently in the business of teaching students and awarding degrees.”
In addition, Educause begins to breakdown what the needs are of the student. Students, after all, are not all the same. There are three major “types” of students who are all involved in the online learning environment, and therefore it is important to recognize the three different motives of online students. There are:
“-Some want to learn simply for learning’s sake.”
For those who are learning, “just to learn”, there may be an absence of motivation. What online platforms may struggle with is accommodating those who do not have a particular degree in mind.
“-Others are trying to earn a certification that might help them in their careers.”
This type of motive is most common in online learning. Often those who are just coming out of high school or those who want to find a better occupation later in life find themselves at an online institution. People from all walks of life tend to be in search of a higher-education, even those who may have responsibilities that inhibits them from going to an on-campus university. According to research from Educause, “”non-traditional” students are especially likely to be limited in their educational options because of their location or work/family obligations. For many of these individuals, the choice is not attending a residential college or taking an online course; their choice is taking an online course or doing nothing.”
“-Other individuals who are currently attending a traditional college or university see MOOCs as a way of assisting them in the pursuit of their degrees”
In many circumstances, students who cannot afford on-campus universities or are wanting to find a cheaper way to complete credits want to utilize an online platform. This means that online schools need to find a method in which on-campus students can be accommodated for. This type of route requires an organized student-to-university communication system, which many online platforms struggle with today.
Educause leaves us with a question:
“Can MOOCs serve what are, in effect, two quite different masters—institutions as well as individual learners?”
At iQ technologies, we believe the answer is yes. There is a simpler way to accommodate students from all walks of life while still meeting the needs of institutions. When both the learner and the teacher are content, an effective learning environment is created.
For more information from the Educause article, refer to William G. Bowen’s article, “The Potential for Online Learning: Promises and Pitfalls”, here.