LOGGING IN TO LEARNING
MORE MODERN WORKERS ARE SIGNING UP FOR REMOTE STUDY, WRITES LAUREN AHWAN
ONLINE learning has finally emerged as the most popular way for workers to upskill.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed 55 per cent of those required to do work-related training last year did so online, an increase from just 19 per cent five years ago.
About a third of work-related training last year was classroombased.
While Covid-19 forced trainers to abandon face-to-face classes, RMIT Online interim chief executive Claire Hopkins believes there will be no turning back, predicting even more workers will opt for virtual training.
“The pandemic normalised online learning and how effective it can be,’’ Hopkins says.
“It’s the crisis online learning needed to shift it into a much more accepted mode of how you learn.’’
FIT FOR PURPOSE
Online learning has undergone a dramatic makeover to become a “turbocharged’’ version of previous offerings, which were generally limited to recordings of lectures given earlier in-class, says Hopkins.
She says a mix of online teaching methods are now used, including shorter videos, workshops and activities to keep learners engaged.
The refined offerings also better fit the busy lives of workers, she says.
“It’s designed to fit into short periods of time so, if you are on the train or on your lunch break, you can access it,’’ says Hopkins.
“It really fits well for working adults that cannot leave work (take time off for study), who are busy people with a full-time job and a family and may have elderly parents to care for, too.’’
SUPERIOR LEARNING
Hopkins says virtual learning allows access to teachers with a range of expertise from across the globe, rather than being limited to those within the same locality.
Tim Praill, chief executive of online education provider Upskilled, believes online learning provides far more skills than those detailed in a course outline.
To be successful, he says online learners must be self-motivated and good time managers – traits that are highly valued by employers.
Upskilled plans to document these skills in a letter of recommendation that it will provide to graduates, along with formal certification for the completed qualification.
“(The letter of recommendation) would really say to prospective employers that this person has spent 12 to 18 months completing a course, they have showed dedication and organisation and have developed all these soft skills, as well as the technical skills they learned through the actual course,’’ Praill says.
He says employers do not mind whether courses are completed online or face-to-face, so long as the qualification obtained is relevant to the company’s needs.
FINDING A FIT
The flexibility to fit study around everchanging work and family commitments has made online study easier and more enjoyable than Sarah Marshall expected.
The Sydney speech pathologist and mum-of-two recently completed an online nutrition course to help her with feeding issues that are linked to speech impediments in children.
The course is part of a range of new online offerings from Endeavour College.
“With a busy schedule and two children, the online study option was a more realistic and sustainable one,’’ says Marshall.
“There were periods of time when it was difficult to schedule study sessions due to increased demands in work and family.
“But I was able to tailor my learning to my needs and circumstances, increasing and decreasing my load.’’
Marshall says most of her study occurred in the evenings and she was able to join an online group that supported her to do her best and keep up with the schedule.
The course co-ordinator also helped motivate her by sharing podcasts, websites and articles relevant to the topics studied.
Marshall has now enrolled in a Masters in Health Services Management qualification, which she is also undertaking online.
“I would consider returning to face-to-face study when my children are more self-sufficient (but) it would have to incorporate a blended service delivery as I don’t think I could accommodate a full-time option,’’ she says.