厂辞耻谤肠别:听
iStock
As the coronavirus outbreak forces more teaching online,听the region is uniquely placed to utilise new tools and micro-credentials to improve access and employability
Universities in Australia and New Zealand have been investing in digital learning for some time,听but in the听past two years, major changes have been happening, says Tony听Maguire,听ANZ regional director听of听learning management software provider D2L.听
There is a heightened awareness of the importance of student experience, and universities鈥櫶adoption of new听digital听solutions is now driven by what Maguire calls vice-chancellors鈥 鈥渓arge transformational visions鈥.听
For those听universities not听already听undergoing a digital transformation听when Covid-19 forced campuses to close, Maguire says 鈥渁nything that decreases academic burden, lowers the fear factor as universities quickly had to pivot to a remote model, and provides students with a more simplified view of their life is really important.鈥听
As D2L helps听universities in Australia and听New听Zealand听onboard digital learning, Maguire says听that听鈥渟implicity and lower effort to entry鈥 is key.听That means helping universities quickly repurpose content from their legacy systems听with听their听new system, and providing tools to ensure听that听the student experience is 鈥渆quitable鈥澨齱hether students are in the听lecture theatre听or听online.听
鈥淭heir virtual experience of that, through polling, access to content, curated case studies and so on, will be the same,鈥 he says.听
As digital learning has听become a requirement,听more and more听institutions have found听that听a sub-par virtual learning experience can deter students.听
Students also want to see a 鈥渧ery specific, explicit link between doing the course, industry accreditation and a job鈥, Maguire says. Courses co-authored with businesses, supported by industry placements and practical mentoring from听non-academic experts,听have proved popular.听
The emergence of micro-credentials in Australia have听enabled students to take short, blended courses for a few hundred dollars that can stand alone or 鈥渟tack鈥 into a larger qualification.听Students听can now,听for example, obtain a听master鈥檚 for听about听half the usual cost, in less time听and听in a way that fits around听their听working听hours.听
Maguire believes听that听in future, more students will be learning online听while working. He听anticipates that听internships and听research placements听will increase,听as听students听鈥learn and earn鈥. This model听also offers听value听for businesses, not least听through听research relevant to their听interests.听
Blended learning will听also听enable听those already in employment to听upskill,听too. 鈥淭here is a very clear need 鈥 and significantly growing demand quarter-on-quarter 鈥 for professional learners who have disposable income but they don't have the disposable time, nor are they close enough to universities [to sit a traditional course],鈥澨he concludes.听听
Tony Maguire will lead the session 鈥Short courses, blended learning and reskilling adult learners:听how to respond to Covid-19鈥 at听THE听Live ANZ 2020.听Register for free.听
