The British Oak Global Institute (BOGI) perspectives:
Online learning or distance learning is a popular alternative to traditional on-campus, in-person learning. In 2015, Research and Markets forecasted that the online education market will reach $330 billion by 2026—and given the major impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the brimming and overheated war of Russia and Ukraine that is gradually turning in to 3rd world war, as all world heavy weight countries are taking sides, for it’s likely that online programs will see even greater growth. The COVID-19 pandemic and other global crisis ranging from health crisis, terrorism, coups, natural disasters and territorial conflicts etc, has demonstrated what a practical, sustainable model online learning is. It keeps education accessible during a global public health crisis, natural disaster, war, or other circumstance where students and faculty can’t travel. It can serve students across a wider geographic range, bringing in voices from across the country—and beyond. The online learning environment also promotes a better work-life balance. In this interview, I will outline the advantages of online learning and how you can leverage them to foster your personal and professional development.
1. You don’t need to relocate
With online classes, you don’t need to move to a different city or commute long distances in order to attend the program of your choice. You can stay where you are and keep your current job while you work toward enhancing your career with an online college or graduate degree (However, some programs require fieldwork experience, which may necessitate relocation.)
On the other hand, if you want to become a digital nomad—someone who embraces a location-independent, technology-enabled lifestyle—online education may allow you to do that too. You can watch lectures and complete your coursework wherever you are—whether that’s at home, in a café, or on an exotic beach.
2. Online learning makes it possible to keep your job
Many graduate students can’t afford to take time off from work. Or they want to keep working on career advancement while staying in their current position, improving their credentials and applying their learning on the job. So if you want to continue working at your current job while earning your degree, online education is a great way to go. You don’t have to choose between school and work—you can do both.
3. It’s easier to concentrate, participate, and achieve optimal school-life balance
Since different people are productive at different times of day, online learning allows you to work at the time when your brain is most engaged. Also, some people have trouble concentrating and participating in crowded classrooms. Online learning can make it easier for students to focus and for more introverted students to chime in with questions or ideas, which can help boost their confidence and positivity.
Whether you’re a full-time or part-time online student, the online learning experience allows for a much more flexible schedule. Some elements may be synchronous: You may need to attend live lectures, demonstrations, or discussion sessions. But many elements will be asynchronous, meaning that you can complete them at your own pace, learning at the time of day and in the place that works best for you.
When you’re more in control of your schedule, time management goes more smoothly. It’s easier to maintain an active social and family life while earning your college degree or graduate degree. It is possible to have it all: education, professional development, and a vibrant personal life.
- WHAT IS BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM AND ITS ADVANTAGES “Blended learning, also known as hybrid learning, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials e.g the BOGI advanced learning management system (ALMS) and class rooms for interaction,
EIGHT (8) CORE ADVANTAGES OF BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAMS
- Blended learning is equitable
While everyone still gets the benefits of face-to-face instruction, some of your students will thrive with instruction delivered online. Think of:
- students with physical disabilities or conditions that are difficult to accommodate in the classroom
- students with ASD who are sensitive to noise and distraction
- The introverts who’d rather die than put their hand up in a class discussion.
Blended learning gives all these students equal opportunities to succeed in an online environment that is generally quieter, safer, and more easily adapted to individual needs.
You might find your more “social” students get more done without classroom distractions, too!
- Blended learning develops technological soft skills
Your students might be able to navigate YouTube with their eyes closed, but can they compose a formal email? Or keep track of several hundred Word documents without confusion?
Blended learning equips students with these technological soft skills – the ones they need to live and work in a digital world.
It’s not just employers who expect basic technological literacy, either. Even paying a phone bill these days requires some digital savvy, making it important for students to develop it now.
- Blended learning is cost-effective
Cost-effective? Even with the price tags on LMSs and software packages?
Yes.
A blended learning model can cut school or department expenses purely by reducing the need for costly physical resources. For example:
- A subscription to a learning program removes the need for textbook sets.
- Digitally hosted resources mean you no longer need an enormous photocopying budget.
- Fewer classroom and school resources will be needed if students learn from home part time.
- Blended learning is flexible
Because blended learning isn’t confined to the classroom, it provides the flexibility you need to handle the disruptions that come with school life.
Last-minute assembly called smack bang in the middle of your lesson? No problem. Just upload the content to your LMS for students to access outside of class.
Student home sick? They won’t miss out. Link them to a recording of the lesson or even just a copy of the PowerPoint you went through with the rest of the class.
- Blended learning can bring parents on board
Parents have a vital role to play in their children’s learning – but many will admit they don’t know what goes on once they’ve dropped their children off at the gates.
In a blended learning strategy, parents get to be part of the learning journey. They’ll see their children learning online at the dining table and be able to log into the LMS or online learning program to see just what’s being covered at school.
With parents on board, learning finally becomes a joint effort between school and home – and the old “what did you learn at school today?” conversation takes on new meaning.
- Blended approaches can make personalized learning a reality
Personalized learning sees every learner taught in a way that caters to their individual interests, strengths, and weaknesses.
Unfortunately, in traditional face-to-face instruction it’s just not feasible to run individual learning programs for 25 students at the same time.
But when blended learning is delivered online, it is.
You can upload personalized instruction online ahead of time, instead of struggling to give multiple instructions for different learners all at once.
Students can use learning programs that are paced according to their personal level of ability.
And no one is confined to a brick and mortar classroom. With the flexibility of online instruction, blended learning allows every student to thrive in the learning environment that suits them best.
- Blended learning can boost engagement
Blended teaching allows for engaging digital activities that are colorful, interactive, personalized and – honestly – more fun than a worksheet.
But the classroom is still open between online learning sessions, so the spirited class discussions and group activities that bring everyone together won’t disappear.
The result? A classroom where learning can take unlimited forms, and the next rich, novel task is always just around the corner.
Learn what the research says about technology and student engagement here.
- Blended learning keeps classroom connections alive
Blended learning doesn’t replace the classroom with technology. Students still have access to the peer relationships, face-to-face teaching, and sense of community provided by a physical learning environment.
At the same time, a blended learning approach can leverage all the benefits of online teaching without the isolation and excess screen time. It gets the best of both worlds.
DR. ABDULLAHI KABIR OVANSA (IFMA USA)
President/founder British oak global institute
NIGERIA, BENIN REP, TOGO AND SIERRA LEON.