eLearning in the outback...how to study remotely
Australia is one of the largest countries in the world, with regions that are incredibly remote and isolated. Traditionally, students who lived in these areas had to communicate with their teachers via radio (remember those old TV shows about the School of the Air?!) and assessment tasks were sent by snail mail. When a student is physically isolated from their teacher, it’s an obstacle to learning that’s not easily overcome.
Thankfully, eLearning has transformed what used to be called ‘distance education’. Not only does it provide effective and efficient online learning tools for students and teachers, it is a far more engaging and interactive experience.
By simulating the traditional classroom experience online, eLearning creates a superior environment in which to study. Imagine an electronic whiteboard and video call that students can tune in and out of, where they can ask questions and share thoughts. It really is the perfect way to bring learners from far flung corners together and foster peer-to-peer development of concepts and ideas.
Another great plus of eLearning for remote students is its ease and immediacy; there’s a wealth of current information at their fingertips. Long gone are the days of outdated literature and hours spent at the library with an encyclopaedia! Assessments can be completed, submitted and marked online, meaning that results, feedback and (if necessary) resubmission can all happen so much faster.
There are also great benefits for parents of students. eLearning provides a line of communication with their child’s teacher and the ability to log in to track their child’s progress and grades.
eLearning is also suitable for remote students with special needs or different learning requirements. The online platform allows teachers to tailor lesson content specifically for a particular student and, if the student needs extra time to complete, allow the teacher to easily track progress.
It’s a fact… living in the outback is no longer an obstacle to getting a great education!
The distance part of education is no longer seen as an issue for RTO's the issue comes when there is Government requirements with original signatures or ID needed as part of the enrolment process. There are so many issues which complicate education at a distance, and it is up to the provider to ensure your course is not only at a LLN level you can achieve success, but also up to the learner to ensure enough initiative is taken. On your point about special needs, there is an interesting article by Mike Kent at: https://www.ncsehe.edu.au/publications/access-and-barriers-to-online-education-for-people-with-disabilities/ The article highlights how different learning needs as a result of medical or similar are tackled at a higher education stand point, and also compares it to a general population and compares success rate. Very interesting read, thanks Dean.