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As the coronavirus outbreak forces more teaching online,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,but in thepast two years, major changes have been happening, says TonyMaguire,ANZ regional directoroflearning management software provider D2L.
There is a heightened awareness of the importance of student experience, and universities’adoption of newdigitalsolutions is now driven by what Maguire calls vice-chancellors’ “large transformational visions”.
For thoseuniversities notalreadyundergoing a digital transformationwhen 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.”
As D2L helpsuniversities in Australia andNewZealandonboard digital learning, Maguire saysthat“simplicity and lower effort to entry” is key.That means helping universities quickly repurpose content from their legacy systemswiththeirnew system, and providing tools to ensurethatthe student experience is “equitable”whether students are in thelecture theatreoronline.
“Their virtual experience of that, through polling, access to content, curated case studies and so on, will be the same,” he says.
As digital learning hasbecome a requirement,more and moreinstitutions have foundthata sub-par virtual learning experience can deter students.
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 fromnon-academic experts,have proved popular.
The emergence of micro-credentials in Australia haveenabled students to take short, blended courses for a few hundred dollars that can stand alone or “stack” into a larger qualification.Studentscan now,for example, obtain amaster’s forabouthalf the usual cost, in less timeandin a way that fits aroundtheirworkinghours.
Maguire believesthatin future, more students will be learning onlinewhile working. Heanticipates thatinternships andresearch placementswill increase,asstudents“learn and earn”. This modelalso offersvaluefor businesses, not leastthroughresearch relevant to theirinterests.
Blended learning willalsoenablethose already in employment toupskill,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],”he concludes.
Tony Maguire will lead the session “Short courses, blended learning and reskilling adult learners:how to respond to Covid-19” atTHELive ANZ 2020.Register for free.
