I’ve just received an email in which the University of Sydney is encouraging everyone to undertake an online degree. How times have changed. Once learning online was seen as a marginal activity and not a “proper” degree. Now, an online course is seen as a way for many tertiary establishments to survive as well as to upskill efficiently and cost effectively.
An online course in Business English is no exception. Being online makes it easier for everyone to learn Business English.
There are a number of pros of learning a language online and virtually. One of these is that learning online is more flexible than having to rush into a physical classroom, or into a classroom-teacher situation. If a course is online, all students can learn at their own pace. People may have conflicting commitments- a person may want to stay at home and look after children for example- and being online means it is possible to make this commitment. Students may not attend a classroom physically because they may have health conditions that prevents them doing so.
Moreover, a student may not have the money to pay for a course that requires physical attendance. Many online courses are less expensive than they would be if there were a physical classroom and several universities offer cheaper courses online. In this way, online courses, as opposed to physical ones, can create more equitable outcomes and can ensure economically disadvantaged students get access to online learning, thereby creating more equitable outcomes. Our online Business English aims to achieve that.
An online course also necessitates that other classmates and teachers work collaboratively. Also, because students are likely to come all over the world then learning online is a chance to learn about different cultures. Horizons are broadened.
Participating in an online course also makes it possible for students to use the style of learning that suits them best – whether it is visual or via audio. Other options could be reading, quizzes, videos, or virtual reality or augmented reality (or everything connected to the metaverse). Through a combination of e-learning, virtual environment scenarios and augmented reality, learners can demonstrate their skills and knowledge. Students who are not academically inclined, or who may find academia is not for them such as people who are dyslexic, can transcribe using speech recognition software. For example, Gradescope, which relies on a combination of machine learning (ML) and AI to make it easier to grade, saves teachers and educators time and energy. By connecting the learning to a Learning Management System (LMS) learners can also review their performance and see where they have been successful and where they can improve. That’s possible on our Learn Business English course (www.learnbusinessenglish.net).
Most importantly, an online course is always up to date because it is easier to update than a printed course. It is also easier to set up and usually more cost effective. It is possible that an individual educational institution could provide any student who has access to the internet an opportunity to acquire a degree.
Learning online encourages lifelong learning as well. This is something I learnt a great deal about when I was co-writing the book entitled: “SeniorITy: how AI and tech can enhance senior living”. If a course is online, people of all ages are encouraged to learn.
As a result of the Covid pandemic, online education has taken on a new dimension, especially in China. Everywhere, and in China in particular, it’s become more acceptable to complete a university degree online. Learning online was once seen as ineffective but the Covid-19 pandemic changed that, since most people could access education online. According to a study carried out in 2022 citing China’s recent census, approximately 15 per cent of its population has a higher education. This percentage is considerably higher among the young, with a steadily growing percentage of the population attending college which, in 2020, stood at 54.4 per cent.
However, indications from our own anecdotal research shows that India is less accepting of online education than China, but is becoming more accepting of it, slowly. Statistics also show that in the US, enrolment rates have been declining for traditional courses. This is reinforced by a statement that says In a research report dated 17 May 2023 by Deloitte entitled: “Trend No. 1: College enrolment reaches its peak”, it states that enrolment rates have been declining in the US for generations. “Enrolment of traditional students has been falling for more than a decade, especially among men, putting pressure both on the enrolment pipeline and on the work ecosystem it feeds.” Now, India and China are predicted to surpass the US “as the front runners in educated populations within the next decade or so”, it states. The researchers believe that traditional campus teaching has probably “reached its peak”.
Research too has also taken on a whole new dimension, which means that it is now easier for students to work online especially with increased use of hyperlinks, which can be accessed online. Clearly, AI tools have helped, including such tools as are chatbots, collaboration software, and different ways of learning that could be incorporated into online learning platforms to make them even more effective and efficient. Interactive strategies too need to be employed when students are embarking on an online course.
Although online education can be useful and powerful, it is important to know how to get the most out of an online platform, especially with the rise in the importance of AI and its role in online education. However, overall undertaking an online learning experience benefits both the educator and the student.
For more information go to www.learnbusinessenglish.net