Higher education intricately intertwined with technology
THE FUTURE of higher education is intricately intertwined with the use of technology and online learning according to Moses Motha, teaching and learning manager at Rosebank College, a brand of The Independent Institute of Education,
He says, “Technology will be used to integrate teaching and learning both inside and outside the classroom. It will be used to engage students by making lectures more interactive. At the same time it will allow lecturers to keep track of whether students understand the material. Technology will also help instructors offer a wide range of learning opportunities and types of information for students.”
Through virtual learning, learning can take place anytime, anywhere. Students will be able to access a ‘virtual’ space as an extension of their physical classroom. Examples include Moodle, WebCT and Blackboard.
He adds, “When looking at the current higher education landscape, we see that many higher education institutions have already started to implement the Blackboard system, or other learner management systems where students engage with content online. University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria are among those who have adopted Blackboard.
But, he asks, if everything goes online, how do we regulate the quality of education offered?
Motha believes there will always be space for face-to-face time between student and lecturers.
Love it or hate it, welcome it or fear it, technology has a large role in the future of higher education.
“For example, Rosebank College is gradually moving towards increasing the number of online activities. Obviously one cannot replace a lecturer as there will be times when there needs to be face to face sessions, the moderation of scripts, as well as the recording and capturing of marks. So one cannot simply say that online technology is going to eliminate the human element in the whole online tertiary education landscape.”
Lectures will however have to be technologically advanced, and this does present a threat to educators who prefer traditional learning methods.
“Educators of the future will have to advance their technological skills in order for them to become innovators of that sector,” he cautions.
Higher education institutions of the future will rely on students to take learning into their own hands. “Traditionally, students were led by the nose. The teacher would take the lead, but through online learning and the use of technology, educators are leveraging the student's ability to take their learning into their own hands. It is just a question of ensuring that students have good wind beneath their wings in order for them to be able to fly."
With such high demand for quality education, Motha anticipates that more private higher education institutions will be established. “In South Africa we currently have public tertiary institutions enrolling the majority of students but in the UK and US for example, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of private tertiary institutions.
“Love it or hate it, welcome it or fear it, technology has a large role in the future of higher education and the sooner tertiary institutions welcome this the better. Doing things differently, questioning the traditional methods of teaching and learning, and accommodating growing numbers - this is the time for profound change in higher education.”