Posted May 9th, 2017
By Kris Powers
According to the 2015 Survey of Online Learning conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group, the number of students enrolled in online courses has grown to 5.8 million nationally, reflective of a consistent 13 year upward growth trend. The survey also found that more than a quarter of higher education students (28 percent) are enrolled in at least one online course.
“The trend of increasing distance education enrollments in the face of declining overall higher ed enrollments suggests an important shift in the American higher education landscape, with contemporary learners leaning in to online options,” said Kathleen S. Ives, chief executive officer and executive director of the Online Learning Consortium.
According to U.S. News, here are five trends experts say students might see in online education in 2017.
1. Greater emphasis on nontraditional credentials: Companies in recent years have started offering credentials other than degrees to online learners, ranging from digital badges to showcase achievements, to various certificate programs that highlight skills and competencies gained from specific courses.
Many experts predict that in 2017, colleges and universities will become more involved in offering micro-credentials. Micro-credentials and digital badges are performance-based assessments that recognize learning pursued through non-traditional pathways.
Microcredentialing and badging were named 2016's disruption of the year because of their ability to quickly showcase what students were learning and what they could do as a result of their time taking courses. Obtaining industry recognized badges and certifications is one of the best ways for individuals to demonstrate skills to potential employers.
At universities, "I think there's going to be more focus on how to best serve individuals, whether they are new to education or whether they are returning professionals seeking different credentials or different learning experiences," says Karen Pedersen, chief knowledge officer for the Online Learning Consortium.
2. Increased use of big data to measure student performance: Because online students complete their coursework virtually, they leave behind an extensive data trail. Course providers and universities are able to collect this data "in really kind of remarkable quantities," says Richard DeMillo, executive director of Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for 21st Century Universities.
By analyzing students’ data, faculty will be better able to create and deliver an optimal learning environment for each and every student. Data collected will provide insights into the individual behavior of the students, including login time, participation information, time taken to answer questions on exams, which sources were used in research, etc. Using predictive analytics on the data collected can also give educational institutions important insights in future student outcomes. This will provide them the opportunity to better create learning environments that meet students’ needs.
3. Greater incorporation of artificial intelligence into classes: In an article written last year for Forbes.com, author Barbara Kurshan points out that: “Our world as we know it is running on artificial intelligence. Siri manages our calendars. Facebook suggests our friends. Computers trade our stocks. We have cars that park themselves, and air traffic control is almost fully automated.”
AI-based tutoring systems and student support systems that use big data and machine learning to suggest personalized, supplemental guidance to students provides an exciting way to transform education.
4. Growth of nonprofit online programs: According to U.S. News, students will have more nonprofit online program options available to them this year as well-known universities offer more programs. Many universities are adjusting to the realization that online learning is here to stay. They recognize that online enrollments are being driven by the growing number of students who seek flexible formats for courses, certification options, as well as degree programs. These students are turning to online courses to support career training and advancement, as well as to pursue advanced studies. In addition, students currently enrolled in on-campus programs are turning to hybrid or fully online courses as part of their course load.
5. Online degrees in surprising and specialized disciplines: The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently compiled a listing of the 20 occupations expected to experience the highest projected growth in employment to the year 2024.
As online learning continues to attract career changers, some experts say more degrees offered online in 2017 will focus on specialized areas.
Higher education as a whole should continue to further examine flexible degree programs, credentialing options, badges, competency-based learning, and alternatives to the traditional credit hour to help meet the needs of today’s student. This evolution of higher education will drive greater degree attainment and job placement, ensuring student success both in the classroom and beyond.
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