釦棗喝娶釵梗:泭
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As the coronavirus outbreak forces more teaching online,泭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,泭but in the泭past two years, major changes have been happening, says Tony泭Maguire,泭ANZ regional director泭of泭learning management software provider D2L.泭
There is a heightened awareness of the importance of student experience, and universities泭adoption of new泭digital泭solutions is now driven by what Maguire calls vice-chancellors large transformational visions.泭
For those泭universities not泭already泭undergoing a digital transformation泭when Covid-19 forced campuses to close, Maguire says anything 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.泭
As D2L helps泭universities in Australia and泭New泭Zealand泭onboard digital learning, Maguire says泭that泭simplicity and lower effort to entry is key.泭That means helping universities quickly repurpose content from their legacy systems泭with泭their泭new system, and providing tools to ensure泭that泭the student experience is equitable泭whether students are in the泭lecture theatre泭or泭online.泭
Their virtual experience of that, through polling, access to content, curated case studies and so on, will be the same, he says.泭
As digital learning has泭become a requirement,泭more and more泭institutions have found泭that泭a sub-par virtual learning experience can deter students.泭
Students also want to see a very specific, explicit link between doing the course, industry accreditation and a job, Maguire says. Courses co-authored with businesses, supported by industry placements and practical mentoring from泭non-academic experts,泭have proved popular.泭
The emergence of micro-credentials in Australia have泭enabled students to take short, blended courses for a few hundred dollars that can stand alone or stack into a larger qualification.泭Students泭can now,泭for example, obtain a泭masters for泭about泭half the usual cost, in less time泭and泭in a way that fits around泭their泭working泭hours.泭
Maguire believes泭that泭in future, more students will be learning online泭while working. He泭anticipates that泭internships and泭research placements泭will increase,泭as泭students泭learn and earn. This model泭also offers泭value泭for businesses, not least泭through泭research relevant to their泭interests.泭
Blended learning will泭also泭enable泭those already in employment to泭upskill,泭too. There is a very clear need and significantly growing demand quarter-on-quarter 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],泭he concludes.泭泭
Tony Maguire will lead the session Short courses, blended learning and reskilling adult learners:泭how to respond to Covid-19 at泭THE泭Live ANZ 2020.泭Register for free.泭
