A critical analysis of the developments and present status
indicate at least 20 visible trends in ODE and online education. These
are:
1.
MOOCs:
According to Class Central[1], by the end of 2019, 900 universities
around the world announced 13,500 MOOCs. 2,500 MOOCs were launched by 450
universities in 2019 alone. The MOOCs are being accessed by millions of
learners all over the world. India’s SWAYAM, latest to arrive on the
scene has registered 10 million learners.
2. OER: More and more countries and higher
education institutions are enacting OER Policy and setting up OER
Repositories. The Creative Commons OER policy registry lists 112 current and proposed OER
Policies from around the world. According
to one estimate, there are 1600 OER repositories that include online presentations,
course material, learning modules, podcasts, simulation tools, etc.
3. Discussion Forums: Both synchronous
(e.g. Webinars) and asynchronous discussions are hosted on
e-platforms like Google meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, CISCO, etc.
4. Blended Learning: More and more
institutions are blending online education with face-to-face interactions,
discussion forums, hands-on and constructionist practices.
5. Mobile Learning: With deep penetration of
Smartphones, mobile learning is increasingly becoming popular through mobile
apps, and innovative use of the handheld device to access online learning
material, participation in online discussion forums, and taking online tests.
6. Electronic Delivery of Learning Material:
More and more distance education providers are replacing the practice of postal
delivery of printed learning material with electronic delivery. Institutions
upload the learning materials on a platform for learners to download as
and when they need. Institutions are also sharing the savings on
the cost of printing with distance learners by reducing course
fees.
7. Online Examination and Assessments: More
and more online education providers are adopting online examinations and
assessments.
8. Application of Learning Analytics:
Increasing number of ODE institutions is adopting learning analytics for
learning diagnostics and improving course delivery.
9. Student Hub: Student hub as a
one-stop-shop for students for all kinds of information and support is becoming
a new trend in online education. The student Hub, in some
universities also provides an online interactive facility featuring
a discussion forum.
10. Personalization: To overcome
isolation in online education, an emerging trend is to provide personalization.
Besides personalization of educational content, media, pace and
assessment mechanisms according to the preference of the learner,
personalization is also being devised for breaking isolation, especially
for the hibernating learners, and those who are sliding back on
performance[2].
11. Integration of private providers on online
learning: The online education programs are dominated by private providers like
FutureLearn, Coursera, Udemy, Udacity, SWAYAM and others. An emerging trend is
integrating private providers in online education offerings of the
universities.
12. Nano-courses: Learners’ preference is
moving towards shorter nano-courses that can be completed within a few days or
weeks. More and more learners are shopping nano courses according to their
choice; and collecting badges and micro-credentials.
13. Micro-credentials and Badges: Learners are
seeking Micro-credentials as mini degrees in recognition of their evidence
of learning on completion of the online course, and not by participation
only. Badges are
also used as micro-credentials. The trend is shifting from
standard diplomas and degrees to the mini qualification of micro-credentials.
14. Beyond 18-23: Online education, especially
short nano-courses, is unlocking adult lifelong learning. More and more adult
learners, mostly in employment, have been taking online courses for
professional development and skill up gradation. Online education, thus, has
broken the age cohort concept for higher education.
15. Cross Border Delivery: Educational
delivery, conventionally restricted to the geographical boundaries, is
changing with cross-border delivery and cross border access to courses.
16. Changing Demography: More and more women,
members of the weaker sections, and minority communities are participating in
online education courses.
17. Participation of Global Organization:
UNESCO, OECD, COL, World Bank,
European Commission and other global and multilateral organizations have been
advocating the use of online education. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than one
billion people in the world will need to be reskilled by 2030. Online education is the
appropriate response to the challenge.
18. Policy Shifts of the Governments: More and
more country governments are indicating preference for online open and distance
education. The government finds it a low-cost response to the challenge of
educating the large mass of the young and adult population, especially at a
time when the governments are steadily reducing public funding of
education.
19. Faculty Role Changing: The role of the
faculty is changing from teaching face to face students to content
generation and providing online tutorial.
20. Mindset Shift: With the active involvement of global
organizations and country governments promoting online education, there
is a shift in the mindset for better.
[1]
https://www.classcentral.com/report/mooc-stats-2019/#:~:text=By%20the%20end%20of%202019,were%20launched%20by%20450%20universities
.
[2] I read a case in
a paper (missed the reference) where UKOU called up on the phone a registered
learner whose grades were going down. During the telephone call, the UKOU
counselor found that the candidate was passing through some difficult times at
home. Counselor advised the candidate to hibernate for some time to overcome
the personal problems, and then return back so that he may maintain his record
of good performance.
