The beauty of online
PRACTICAL skills are increasingly being taught online and advocates say this gives a far greater learning experience than the classroom.
Advances in technology mean online courses are no longer restricted to theorybased learning, with anything from make-up artistry to building and construction now on offer.
Online Education chief executive Anthony Mondello says experiences online rival face-to-face teaching.
“You name it and I think there’s an online course for it,’’ Mr Mondello he says.
“I would argue the online experience would be far greater than you would ever be able to experience in a classroom,” he says.
“It’s a superior experience because you can rewind [video demonstrations of a technique] and you can see close-ups of something that you would never be able to see in a classroom environment.”
Rachel Dal Santo from the Institute of Makeup Artistry, with instruction wholly online, says online learning involves great attention to detail.
“Make-up artistry, being a practical skill, needs to be demonstrated and [students] need to be able to see the brushstrokes and see what the industry standard is,’’ Ms Dal Santo says.
“In a class with other students, you can’t always see the brushstrokes up close.
“Here, the students get to see before-and-after photos [of a model with make-up] and they see in detail the way the make-up is applied.
“We also get students to send us before and after photos [of make-up they have applied] and film themselves while they are applying makeup so we can see their technique and their [adherence to] occupational health and safety [regulations].’’
Open Universities Australia chief executive Stuart Elmslie says students increasingly are turning to online study for its flexibility, but adds many OUA courses still have a “physical attendance’’ requirement when hands-on skills are being taught.
Jasmine Janabi, 27, says she was sceptical about learning make-up artistry online but says she was able to book her first bridal party just days after finishing the course and has since established her own studio.
“Not only are there some great creative tasks for us to complete but there is also a whole heap of support avenues – whether it’s asking your tutors questions or [consulting] the wide range of creative, like-minded peers, you always have people to lean on when you’re in need,’’ she says.