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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 the?past two years, major changes have been happening, says Tony?Maguire,?ANZ regional director?of?learning management software provider D2L.?
There is a heightened awareness of the importance of student experience, and universities’?adoption of new?digital?solutions is now driven by what Maguire calls vice-chancellors’ “large transformational visions”.?
For those?universities not?already?undergoing a digital transformation?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.”?
As D2L helps?universities in Australia and?New?Zealand?onboard digital learning, Maguire says?that?“simplicity and lower effort to entry” is key.?That means helping universities quickly repurpose content from their legacy systems?with?their?new system, and providing tools to ensure?that?the student experience is “equitable”?whether students are in the?lecture theatre?or?online.?
“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 has?become a requirement,?more and more?institutions have found?that?a 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 from?non-academic experts,?have proved popular.?
The emergence of micro-credentials in Australia have?enabled students to take short, blended courses for a few hundred dollars that can stand alone or “stack” into a larger qualification.?Students?can now,?for example, obtain a?master’s for?about?half the usual cost, in less time?and?in a way that fits around?their?working?hours.?
Maguire believes?that?in future, more students will be learning online?while working. He?anticipates that?internships and?research placements?will increase,?as?students?“learn and earn”. This model?also offers?value?for businesses, not least?through?research relevant to their?interests.?
Blended learning will?also?enable?those already in employment to?upskill,?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” at?THE?Live ANZ 2020.?Register for free.?
