Companies are working on ways to make online classes
better than the traditional classroom setting, according to a report in eCampus News.
One issue with online learning is it requires a level
of self-discipline that many students lack. Blended learning has been found to
be an important part of the online experience because it combines online with
face-to-face learning.
“We’re definitely seeing a trend over the last three to
five years of people moving to these blended, online, hybrid, flipped-classroom
models,” said Jennifer Ferralli, math product manager of the online
instructional platform WebAssign. “We’re seeing this across the different
disciplines, not just in math, but also in physics and chemistry. People are
trying to find different ways to connect with students to make classroom time
more effective and more efficient.”
Video helped support the flipped classroom concept, but
it’s been found that video works best with an interactive element. That is being addressed through mobile apps that allow faculty to drag and drop
material and learners to go on their personal devices to access the content.
Other online learning issues being address include identity
verification and cheating, auto-grading, and open learning management systems.
“We’re
starting to hear a real desire for online learning to turn the corner and be
focused on a mode of instruction that is inherently better than what we have
today in traditional education,” said Chris Walsh, CEO of the video-learning
firm Zaption. “People are starting to look at new tools and new opportunities
to create an instructional experience that is different, but hopefully better
as well.”
