Published on July 25th, 2018 | by Sunit Nandi

What Are The Recent Changes In The World Of Distance And Online Learning?

Distance and online learning provide access to any information any time you need it, thus it receives massive growth in the past few years. In 2015, it worth around $165 billion and is expected to exceed $240 billion by the year 2023.

And because it is in high demand nowadays, you can expect that distance learning will continue to evolve and change in order to properly accommodate people enrolling in it.

Here are some of the top trends in the world of distance and online learning to expect this year 2018:

1. Adaptive Or Personalized Learning

What one individual finds easy can be hard for other. Everyone is very different and has certain levels of understanding. So, being able to customize a learning package in order to suit the individual needs will become more common as the use of big data. Different learning management systems will comprehensively reveal more how a student interacts with the material.

Such information will create unique chances and opportunities to customized or personalized learning programs that will help learners to adapt to their educational path depending on their particular goals.

2. AR/VR Technology

Augmented reality blends computer generated information with the natural senses of a viewer while virtual reality creates a simulated immersive environment. Their rising popularity helps in the gaming industry and even on researches.

Now, AR and VR technology are also growing in the distance and online learning sphere as learning providers recognize their strong potential to provide a more tailored and in-depth program of study. Using AAR or VR allows a tutor to engage his or her students more deeply while building a more interactive environment that sparks the imagination of students and encourages deeper learning.

3. Video-Based Learning

Once upon a time, distance learning was all book-based. Scanning difficult papers and textbooks needed dedication, discipline, and concentration.

However, video learning came and has proven to provide a strong alternative to traditional classrooms with a teacher that stands out front. As a matter of fact, video learning can offer an even more experience since it includes slides, face to face instruction, interactions, animations and unlimited possibilities to rich media.

4. Gamification

Using games in education is not new. As a matter of fact, young children going to school are given games for lessons in order to fully understand their learning topics. But with online learning, the possibilities are endless.

Gaming increases retention of information and user engagement since playing a game gives students a welcome break to the stress of traditional learning methods.

Furthermore, games are used in order to explain hard concepts or to test the knowledge of a student in a less formal way. Games can be adapted for different levels of skills and created for any subject, making gamification an important tool that is available in an online learning provider’s arsenal.

5. Artificial Intelligence

The most overhyped technology from 2016 was AI or artificial intelligence. Now, this technology is also becoming popular in terms of online education. An artificial intelligence combines the reasoning abilities of the human mind and the processing powers of computers. It is already used widely in the tech industry to power products such as Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri personal assistant.

The managing director of Knowble (a start-up language tech whose products are built on artificial intelligence), Jozef Misik, predicted that AI will make a huge leap into the education industry. The falling cost of applications makes it possible for faculty to add them to their course.

6. Online Teacher Training

Because of the huge changes in the world of education, teachers are now being forced to learn more about the current technologies and undergo training in order to accommodate distance learning and provide their students with only the highest quality of online learning.

7. Official Degrees

Universities across the world are recognizing the benefits and possibilities of offering degrees for distance and online learning opportunities. These education courses allows people to achieve professionally-recognized qualifications like diplomas and degrees and helping distance learning universities to increase their reach and profits.

Some of the most reputable and prestigious universities in the world are now offering distance learning programs such as Harvard and MIT. This does not only benefits learners and student who previously can’t take degrees from these prestigious universities due to geographical grounds but also provides these universities with access to a more diverse student body.

Tags: distance learning, learning, online learning, recent changes, world

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.