Since March 2020, virtual learning has been put to the test - with the challenges of ongoing restrictions and lockdowns, universities have said goodbye to lecture halls and hello to online classes.
By 2010, almost all universities had already incorporated online learning into their courses, in the form of Virtual learning environments, where staff could share course materials and communicate with students. Pre-Covid, 95% of universities were already using virtual learning environments to ensure support goes beyond the classroom.
Now, virtual learning has not just acted as a supplement to in-person learning but has entirely replaced it.
The new era of learning
Even in a post-Covid world, online learning is here to stay.
For both universities and students, virtual learning is hugely beneficial:
Virtual learning allowed students to continue their studies safely during the pandemic.
Virtual learning has improved the accessibility of university education. Online classes allow those with work, family or caring responsibilities to pursue higher education, without the restrictions of a schedule.
Students can learn at their own pace and complete work whenever they can, without travel costs.
Virtual learning attracts new students to universities, who may not be able to attend classroom-based courses.
Virtual university offers flexibility that in-person courses can’t, attracting students across the globe.
The attention span challenge
According to a Basic Data Skills report (2018), 79% of adults in the UK possess the digital skills required to engage with virtual learning.
But virtual learning has its drawbacks. When working outside of a classroom environment, it’s easy to get distracted.
According to a 2019 study conducted by Kent University, online students are more prone to multi-tasking than their in-class peers.
The study reported 25% of online students are more tempted to browse social media, send texts and listen to music in online classes than in a classroom.
Academic success when remote learning relies on the student’s motivation and engagement.
How do we keep students interested?
A staggering 1.6 billion students have been affected by Covid-19. That’s over 91% of students across the globe. Higher education providers must do more to keep these students engaged online and deliver the best content possible.
A 2018 report by the Department of Education encouraged universities to produce interactive online content, rather than standard lecture slides.
Suggestions also included allowing students to study at a time that suits them, as well as boosting interactivity with games and virtual reality.
Our Solution: Zenconnect® Spaces
Using innovative mixed-reality technology, Zenconnect® Spaces provides universities with fully immersive virtual-reality stages, so lecturers can teach dynamic and interactive online lessons to students all over the world.
Universities will rely on remote learning for the foreseeable future - experts predict a six-month to five-year disruption to traditional classes. Even post-Covid, the popularity of online courses will continue to soar.
Enrolment in traditional university courses is declining by 1 to 2% annually, whilst the number of students taking some or all of their undergraduate course online is growing by 5% each year.
Remote learning doesn’t have to rely on simple video calls and presentation slides. The way we learn has changed - with cutting-edge technology, Zenconnect® offers learning spaces that hold attention with ease.
It offers an unrivalled return of investment for academic institutions, increasing student intake via distance learning programmes and attracting applicants globally.
Students will have the opportunity to network with peers across the globe and develop their own cultural awareness.
Virtual learning is the future of education – it allows for flexible learning, out-of-hours communication between students and lecturers and accelerated assessment feedback. More and more students are opting to enrol on online courses; the lower tuition fees attracting students all over the world.
With groundbreaking technology, Zenconnect® Spaces maximises student engagement and academic success, allowing students to become fully immersed in their lectures. Investing in remote learning will futureproof universities, giving them the tools to increase student intake and survive any future crisis’.
Find out more about Zenconnect Spaces, or get in touch to find out how we can help you with your educational needs.
