With affordable internet access in the remotest of places, rising affordability, and awareness for learning and skilling, the opportunities for online learning are astonishing
The rapid advancement of technology in recent years has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, and education and skilling are no exception. Online learning with the aid of technology offers immense potential to enhance learning experiences and expand access to education. However, along with the opportunities, the education industry is facing some significant challenges too. Let us explore some key challenges which the industry is facing today and discuss effective strategies that can be employed to overcome them.
Instructor-Driven Learning Models
The traditional instructor-driven learning models to impart knowledge often limits the potential for personalized learning and the learner’s motivation, thereby slowing down the progress in learning and skilling. Another limitation of this model is the unavailability of expert trainers at several locations. This challenge is faced by academic institutions throughout the globe. These are some major challenges which the industry should be concerned about; there is a need for learner-driven interventions and pedagogy. By leveraging technology, learner-centric solutions can be developed that empower students to take charge of their own learning journeys. What’s needed is Learner Experience Platforms that provide the learner with full access to complete course-related information, such as a learner dashboard, learning schedule, self-paced learning content, LIVE sessions, etc. These pedagogical frameworks should place emphasis on self-guided exploration, adaptive learning, and interactive content delivery.
Assessments and Feedback
Accurate and timely assessment is crucial for gauging student progress and identifying areas of improvement. Conventional assessment methods are often time-consuming, subjective, and lack real-time feedback. This calls for assessment models which can identify individual strengths and weaknesses and enable educators to tailor instructions to each learner’s specific needs. Such assessment models must offer objective evaluation, personalized feedback, and adaptive assessment.
Learner’s Engagement
Maintaining student engagement is a persistent challenge in the education space as passive learning experiences can hinder motivation and knowledge retention. On most online learning platforms, the learner feels like a drop in an ocean, with very limited to no participation in the learning process. This challenge needs to be addressed with the implementation of a variety of engaging and immersive learning techniques. Learning platforms must incorporate interactive live sessions, assessments, batch group engagement, and other related delivery services, which ensures that the learner always feels engaged with learning throughout the programme. Collaborative learning methodologies that encourage peer-to-peer interaction, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving, result in a richer learning experience. The power of technology-enabled learning provides micro-level data related to learner participation and behaviour in each of the learning activities. This in turn can be used very effectively in understanding the development areas and guiding the learners accordingly, which is not possible in the conventional model.
Constantly changing requirements of the workplaces
With the constant growth in technology and its adoption in workplaces, courses are becoming outdated faster than ever. This creates a need for constant updating of the syllabus as per the technological changes in the industry. Companies should strive for continuous improvement by investing in research and development to keep their programs updated with industry trends and requirements to adapt and refine their strategies as per the evolving educational needs.
Lack of resources
President, NIIT Digital and Growth Initiatives,
NIIT Limited
Another major challenge in the industry is the lack of resources at several locations. This challenge can be tackled with lower hardware prices and high speed, reliable internet access to all locations at affordable rates. The learning and skilling industry should also provide mobile-friendly content for such groups, which can be accessed through mobile devices.
With affordable internet access in the remotest of places, rising affordability, and awareness for learning and skilling, the opportunities for online learning are astonishing. But growth always comes with new challenges, and since education and skilling are two very important factors for the progress of the nation, it is the responsibility of the industry to address these challenges in the best possible way. With 40 years of experience, NIIT has successfully tackled such challenges by prioritizing learner-driven interventions, revolutionizing assessments, fostering learner engagement, and now, by offering a comprehensive digital platform. By embracing emerging technologies and continuous improvement, the industry can contribute to shaping the future of education and empowering learners worldwide.
