This week I’m attending the USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association) Annual Convention in Saint Louis. However, I am in Indianapolis! This group like many others is offering many of their sessions online for those who cannot travel to the physical meeting location. Attending utilizing streaming is an interesting concept. Unfortunately I am learning that some streaming services work a lot better than others and there are some drawbacks to trying to receive content in this manner.
The topics of the sessions however are about online learning. The variety of tools available for distance learning is truly mind blowing. From streams to web conferences to collaborative tools to podcasts to online communities, the information is staggering! Some of the interesting things I have learned so far about today’s learners:
• Some professors are dropping the audio components of their distance learning and only utilizing text chat. This is what their learners want.
• Students no longer use phones and computers (the way we “old folks” would think). They use mobile devices.
• Online learning platforms are behind when it comes to mobile access, yet this is what students are really demanding.
• Some colleges who do a lot of online learning have a library, but it has very few books!
I wonder how much universities will continue to evolve before my eldest child hits campus in three years. I suspect education as we think of it today will no longer exist!
It’s interesting to me to learn about online learning via online learning!
