New Methods of eLearning in Modern Universities

In recent years, eLearning became the standard of modern education. It’s used not only in schools but in organizations as well. Some of the most successful companies, in fact, rely on online education for the purposes of their training programs. Toyota, for example, has been relying on eLearning programs to train engineers and motor technicians since 2005.

But where does the innovation in eLearning methods come from? Yes; the companies make great contributions with their programs. The most innovative lessons, however, come from universities.

The traditional educational method at universities involves lecturing, discussions, and examination. The model has been criticized over a long period of time since it didn’t provide enough flexibility for students to study at their own pace.

Modern universities are doing their best to change that. By implementing eLearning, they are slowly adapting their education to the needs of modern learners. So how exactly is eLearning being infused into the traditional system? We can learn a lot from those examples, so let’s list the most important ones, shall we?

1. MicroLearning

Online lessons are great for people who lack time for full-time education. But do you know what their problem is? They don’t have enough time for a full online lecture, so they tend to procrastinate.

Just think about it: a full lecture can easily take over two hours. When someone is busy taking classes on campus throughout the day or working a daily job, they can hardly find that time.

Microlearning is a trend that solves that problem. In these courses, content is being provided in bite-sized chapters. Thus, the learners can make a daily commitment to the learning process.

Yes; they will still take a longer period of time to go through the curriculum. Still, they will develop the habit of learning that will push them forward. It’s much easier to follow 15-minute online lessons every day than to devote two hours to learning once per week.

To make this possible, universities and lecturers are repurposing existing online training materials into smaller lessons. They add engaging infographics, to sum up, the important information. Mobile apps, such as Duolingo, are very effective in pushing students to learn something every day.

2. Student-Centered Active Learning

Active learning, as a concept, has been present in theory for a very long time. But it’s not just theory. Thanks to online learning programs, we’re finally seeing the concept of active learning come to life. This is a method that guides the students towards learning objectives throughout their own efforts.

When online education was in its infancy, active learning was not an option. The learners would listen to lectures, usually as passively as possible. At one point or another, they would have to complete a written project, but that was not a hard thing to do thanks to options like writing services or hard creative work.

Active learning strategies changed that. Today, all high-quality online courses provided by top-ranked universities are based on that concept. The learners get a chance to engage with course materials and reach out to their peers whenever they need to. Plus, the platforms include discussion hubs, where the learners can ask questions, share thoughts, and simply engage in conversations.

The lecturers even send weekly emails, just to remind the students of what they learned and to invite them to ask questions or share opinions. That brings us to the next point:

3. Email Marketing is Crucial

Many people sign up for online courses but then forget all about them. That’s why email marketing is essential. When it comes to online education, the marketing part is not that aggressive. These emails have an informational approach. The course team sends them occasionally or on a weekly basis, so they can keep the connection with learners alive.

The messages are highly personalized. The student is being addressed by name, in a simple style, you wouldn’t expect from a professor. They send course updates, reminders to students who tend to procrastinate, and even kind of holiday wishes. With this approach, students can really see teachers as real people who care about the knowledge they share.

4. Writing is an Integral Part of the Course, But it’s More Fun

Universities haven’t gone beyond writing assignments. These projects are still needed as an evaluation method, but they also push students to research and express their opinions.

In online learning, however, writing takes a different shape. As an example, let’s take De-Mystifying Mindfulness, a course by Leiden University. The students watch interesting lectures accompanied by graphics. Then, they have weekly writing assignments that generally ask for their experiences and opinions. They can still find a writer for help if they need to. But these assignments are far easier to write when compared to traditional essays.

Another important aspect of these assignments is the peer-reviewing system. Each student gets to write an answer to the given question, but they should also review the answers of other students. The students practically grade each other, so the pressure for hiring pro essay writers is minimal.

In the traditional educational system, writing assignments have huge importance. They are more structured, more challenging, and more important in terms of contributing to the final grade. Since not all students have the needed writing skills, they have no other choice but to order professional assignments online. They are on a constant search for the best essay writing service, which would help them go through the courses with ease.

With the peer-reviewing method implemented in many online courses, we’re seeing a big change. Structured assignments are still needed, especially for MA and Ph.D. programs. Still, with this approach, students no longer see the necessity to rely on writing agencies like UK BestEssays.

Modern universities are setting the standards in the eLearning industry. They are teaching us not only through the lessons they provide online but to their entire approach to education as well. We’re finally seeing real changes that shift the traditional system towards greater flexibility. That’s a great thing for learners from all around the world.