As Chisholm Online students across Victoria and Interstate buckle down for the year’s first study period, 80% are students returning to pursue further online studies. While Chisholm is well reputed for its proven, trusted and results-driven programs, is online learning arming students with additional outcomes beyond a qualification?

General Manager, Theo Teeder, takes a look this evolving learning space and speaks to two teachers to learn what’s driving demand for Chisholm Online courses.

Online learning in education and training isn’t new. In fact, components of e-learning – harnessing the internet to enhance learning beyond the traditional classroom setting – have been around for many years. What’s changed however, is the pace at which technological advances are impacting teaching and learning. New media tools are emerging and gaining popularity rapidly, challenging educators to constantly evaluate their teaching content and delivery styles to effect the best outcomes.

In Meaghan Lister’s paper on the trends of the design of online learning, published in the MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, she reports that students with better-designed, more personalised courses have higher engagement and better outcomes.

That’s what we at Chisholm Online take pride in creating for our students.

“Pull” learning Vs “Push” learning

Personalised learning is one of the top buzzwords in education; learner-driven or “Pull” methods of learning as opposed to a typically institution-driven “Push” learning agenda. At Chisholm Online, students take control of their learning, where they are not just consumers of content but active creators of content, through discussions and collaboration.

Anjali Mahendru who teaches a social media module for the Diploma Early Childhood course says students create their own content about the benefits of social media and post them on their chosen platform such as Pinterest and YouTube where they comment, discuss and support one another. The interaction makes learning interesting, engaging and fun. Such discussions often open up unplanned topics and issues that the community is keen to delve into.

Wayne Lens teaches construction and building. He explains that virtual class time can be engaging, particularly when people are more relaxed without the pressure of having to speak up to be heard. Discussions during webinars are particularly conducive to building rapport among members of the community.

Lens: “Online learning allows students to decide when they learn and how they learn. They can slow their pace to re-read materials, or listen to an audio, watch a video or read Power Point slides to expand on a certain topic. Students who are more comfortable with the traditional classroom setting often choose to watch a class lecture recording and take notes along the way, while those who are more vocal enjoy attending the live teacher facilitated webinars each week. The variety of available learning resources gives them options to leverage on their interest and experience.”

Dynamic content

Online communities are dynamic in nature. It is an active learning environment so there is freshness and variety depending on the interaction at any given moment. As Lens explains, additional supplementary content is often created during the course in response to student feedback on what they need in order to help them better understand certain concepts. Learning is prompt and timely, led by what students want.

Effective engagement

Online tracking and analytics allow teachers to see what resources a student has accessed and how much time has been spent working on a particular assignment. Mahendru says that by checking on the data each week, she is able to reach out to those who may be having difficulty getting started or require encouragement.

Mahendru: “We get to know our students very well through their social media posts, and also through discussions where they share stories and situations at their workplaces. There really isn’t a limit on communication. The channel is always open and topics can be discussed freely.”

New media-savvy

Being on top of new technology is crucial for today’s workforce. Online learning pushes students to explore the rich source of multimedia resources available. Lens and Mahendru agree there is often a remarkable increase in student confidence and expertise to use technology by the end of the course, with most students actively participating in webinars and adeptly navigating a variety of online tools and media.

The X Factors

A powerful online learning community thrives on enjoyment, motivation and contribution, where individuals are able to teach and learn from one another. They are also empowered by clear guidelines on learning expectations, and familiarity with resources through orientation and support. At Chisholm Online, we know what nurtures excellent results. Our classes remain small to ensure optimal learning; teachers facilitate webinars and engage with students daily; supported by a student engagement team that students can reach out for help seven days a week. The focus is on our students, in enriching their learning experience and their learning content to achieve job outcomes.

Find out more about Chisholm Online and our online courses.