1.4 Will online teaching and learning be education's saviour?
The pandemic certainly tested the capabilities of education and learning online. Many teachers and students, with minimal preparation and no choice in the matter, had to pivot from classroom to online environments. This pivot certainly allowed the concept of education to continue remotely, but with variable efficiency and student/teacher experience.
Some students will appreciate the remote education model, particularly those with work/family commitments, some disabilities and neurodiverse conditions, as well as other student groups with access to the equipment and infrastructure required to study online successfully. The costs of studying online can often be lower than traditional f2f courses.
Online education is not accessible or desirable by all. Studying alone requires a lot of willpower and it can be hard to stay motivated with only asynchronous engagement. Online education requires certain digital skills, access to equipment and the internet in order to study efficiently. Rarely does online education form communities when compared to 'brick' universities and it doesn't include other benefits that come with f2f experience outside the education itself (social skills, friendships, expanding social knowledge, idea sharing etc).
Richard Andrew Ogden Post 2 in reply to 1
• 10 February 2025, 12:55 PM • Edited by the author on 10 February 2025, 12:59 PMHi Lina,
You raise some good points, and I agree that online learning will never appeal to all, indeed there are aspects of learning online that I like, but these are balanced by aspects that I can't seem to get to grips with, and therefore, don't like as much. The same could easily be said for past experiences of face-to-face learning during the course of my life though.
Likewise I cannot see that online learning will ever be available to all, not until access to technology and connectivity becomes equitable across the globe. And this would require conscious re-investment of any profits.
Without doubt though, as I see it, online learning is something that won't be going away, and continues to be forecast to grow.
Now, I concede that I haven't looked into who commissioned the study, and what their motivations were, nor have I explored how the research processes came to it's figures, but as recently as 2022 'Research and Markets' continue to support previous predictions that the MOOC market is expected to grow up to 7x by 2027.
In the current climate where Universities are widely reporting 'struggles', that sends a message to me that organisations will need to adapt and strengthen their approaches and attitudes towards, plus their creation and delivery of MOOCs. Recognising that done well, they tick many of the boxes of education provision, accessibility, and opportunity for more people. 
Hi Lina,
I agree that online learning will not replace f2f learning any time soon.
Unfortunately covid threw education into a massive online learning experiment that I don't think it was ready for and has unfortunately put a lot of people off.
My personal opinion is that a hybrid blend of online and face to face learning is best for most people so they get the best of both worlds.
I also think with the growth of smart phone use in the global south, moocs and other online learning have the potential to reach people who would struggle to attend a bricks and mortar university.
Michelle Hennelly Post 4 in reply to 3
• 11 February 2025, 11:40 AM • Edited by the author on 11 February 2025, 11:50 AMI agree with you. Many pupils and education providers were not prepared or equipped for taking all teaching and learning online during covid.
Although as you pointed out, different types of learners preferred this way of accessing education and have found the transition back to f2f difficult. with some becoming completely detached from the educational system completely.
There is the other side as well, where some students have experienced mental health issues due to the total detachment from social interaction during covid and traditional pedagogical methods.
I think this is my view as well. It gave the opportunity of being forced to do something different which was so alien to the norm in a short space of time, which is good for forcing change quickly as humans tend to resist change. However, on the other hand that sudden change also meant it was an experiment which consequently meant it was rough around the edges which did disengage many.
I agree with Lynn - face to face learning is still needed in some contexts and perhaps the circumstances of the individual learner is relevant.Perhaps adult learning will be most impacted, given the cost of attending a brick university away from home.
As Covid showed, it is not just about the learning of knowledge but the full experience of working and learning from others including socially. Community can be developed online but will always be harder.
I think that online has been a game changer in the education in the world. Online learning platforms like MOOCs. LMS, Video conferencing and virtual classrooms have emerged as important tools for education. They offer easily accessible educational content and courses, transforming the way knowledge is distributed.
- Has online education been education’s saviour?
I don't know whether or not online education has been education's saviour but apparently some predictions about its impact haven't come true. I agree with the comments here that say COVID kinda threw everything off kilter a bit so that might have been a factor.
I do think that online education is a massive win for society. Improved flexibility and accessibility for learning can only be a positive, especially given the broad range of learning available and the need for improved digital literacy in the workplace.
- Does it offer more desirable choices?
Yes, it does for some. Seemingly endless choice, flexibility, access to expert knowledge, low cost or free - these are all desirable aspects of online education. Others will prefer a traditional face-to-face approach. My thinking is that a blended option offers the best of both worlds
- Which innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way?
MOOCs have certainly opened up opportunities for creating networks for cooperation, collaboration and co-construction of knowledge which is a wonderful thing.
- Can innovation benefit some, while disadvantaging others?
I think any advancement in society inherently holds the potential of benefiting some and disadvantaging others at first. Inequity should be addressed with gusto so that the many are advantaged and not just the few.
Significant points have already been discussed and I quite agree with you that online education may not be able to, neither replace f2f learning nor will it be completely accessible till the time every remote place on the Earth is digitally connected.
While there have been innovations in technology, innovative classroom teaching/learning methods are also being designed. So, I guess the idea of "disruption" or "crisis" itself needs further deliberation. Why does (traditional) education need a savior, in the first place? COVID led us to online education but if it were powerful enough, how many of us would have returned to f2f education? Evidently, f2f has something that online education lacks... A blend of both might be a good idea. Also, does online education impart the same skills as f2f?
Online education offers convenience, flexibility, self-paced learning for sure. But as mentioned in one of the posts, despite all virtual connections, one studies alone and I guess we'd miss the laughter, mischiefs behind teachers' back, etc. What do we remember today when we look back at our school/college/university days?
Innovation may benefit some and disadvantage some. One example is the language that is used. We are a multilingual world with many recognized and many "unrecognized" languages. Most online education is imparted in English, some portals have the option to translate material (limited number of languages, AI translation is questionable), what happens to our multilingual world? Why do some languages have to take the center-stage in education?
Whether innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way is debatable. If we have powerful AIs which could answer our questions, will we have the inclination to personally study, delve more or take a course about a certain subject? How much of education will be in practice? I wonder if it is disruption or embracing the changing world..
Sharing my reflection for this section.
Has online education been education’s saviour?
I worked for a primary school during the pandemic and when we had to switch online it was a novelty for most of the students and had mixed receptions. The set-up presented a good challenge for colleagues and myself to think up various ways to keep our young learners engaged as well. That said, I do think for that time it was a vital alternative for when in-person classes were not possible as the children were still getting access to their education which is the main thing, so in some ways the platform saved the day.
In my opinion though and in agreement with my fellow learners in this forum, the platform used for teaching will totally depend on the learners’ needs and resources. Combining the best features of online and in-person learning is most likely the best way forward.
Does it offer more desirable choices?
Online education can offer more desirable choices not only because of its accessibility and cost-effectivity but also due to the scope of topics it can provide. From the traditional to the niche, diverse types of learning and interests can be very close at hand. Self-directed learning is also promoted using this platform so learners can have ownership of what they want to learn and how they want to learn.
On the other hand, some learners might still opt for a face-to-face or a more structured setting though. And as emphasised above, blended learning is quite possibly the key for a wider range of learners to maximise their studies.
Which innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way?
Open educational resources (OER) have had a positive impact on education. Students, educators, and administrations have benefited from these free and openly licensed learning materials as they are cost-effective, easily accessible, and support collaboration. Due to these features, OER as a whole can promote social justice and equity in education.
Can innovation benefit some, while disadvantaging others?
This is a fair statement. There will be an imbalance in accessibility and resources when implementing innovative ideas or platforms at some point. This shouldn’t stop us from trying to find the best way forward in enhancing education but instead should be a basis on how to further improve methods of teaching and learning.
I'm going to agree with several of the answers above; during Covid teaching shifted to online platforms because there was no other choice rather than following an best-fit analysis.
Ideally, online education is able to offer many things that traditional learning cannot by learning 'on-demand', where the student is able to study whatever they want, wherever they are and at a time that suits them and their responsibilities.
The really disruptive innovation MOOCs offer is cost. Traditional courses can cost the individual a sizable amount where a MOOC is able to give the individual the opportunity to study at a much reduced cost. On top of that, the opportunity to study with a wide range of individuals from a variety of location which can deepen the opportunities for collaboration outside of being present at a physical place of learning.
Innovation can benefit some, while disadvantaging others. Course design relies on equitable access to resources whether they're physical (computers / laptops / tablets / phones) and digital (access to a reliable and stable internet connection) all of which will vary wildly depending on location. Other barriers to learning such as language availability and learning style will also affect an individual learner's experience.
Has online education been education’s saviour? Although it may not necessarily have been education's "saviour," I believe it has enhanced some forms of education. I think it is easier to switch to online learning in Higher Education as opposed to primary and, to an extent, secondary education (in the UK system). COVID definitely put things out of sync for students and educators alike, pushing people into situations they hadn't planned for. Many students who were just starting primary school suffered from the lack of face-to-face teaching, with parents struggling to fill in as adequate teachers in the meantime, coupled with some families having less suitable access to the required technology.
Does it offer more desirable choices? For me personally, I do think online education offers more choices and the flexibility for lifelong learning. Equally, I enjoy being able to learn at my own pace but with the peace of mind of an online tutor being available. However, I can appreciate that for some people (and even for some subjects), face-to-face learning would be preferred, leaving a blended approach as an ideal outcome.
Which innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way? OER's are a positive disruption to education, allowing students and educators to have access in resources they may not have accessed previously. The free and open sourced learning materials are easily accessible and foster collaboration among people (potentially even around the world).
Can innovation benefit some, while disadvantaging others? Yes – students who struggle with a lack of in-person support and may need more structure to their learning, as well as those who are hands-on learners may require physical interaction. There are ways to bridge this gap by providing technology access (e.g. Wi-Fi and offline resources), blending learning online and in-person learning, and ensuring there is a solid support system in place (e.g. mentorships).
- Has online education been education’s saviour?
I don't think it has been the saviour as such. Education in the main continues to be delivered face to face at schools, colleges, universities etc,etc. What online education has done however, is open up a world of opportunity to people who otherwise may not have had access to education.
- Does it offer more desirable choices?
It certainly offers up more choices. What might be desirable to one person, might not be desirable to somebody else. For example, distance learning isn't right for some people. Some people prefer to attend a brick uni or use paper and a pen.
- Which innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way?
Once, the rules around its use are established and the technology develops artificial intelligence will have a lasting and positive impact on education. There'll always be the need for a human input however AI will enhance the delivery of education and learning for all.
- Can innovation benefit some, while disadvantaging others?
If you are confident using technology and have access to the technology required then it will be a big benefit. However, for some technology such as a computer, laptop and internet access isn't affordable and for those in rural communities broadband internet and mobile data coverage is poor. The real innovation will be how do we deliver online education to all and overcome the barriers that currently exist for some people.
Thoughts on 1.4
- Has online education been education’s saviour? No, I think it has just given society a push in the direction of exploring the opportunities that online education can contribute and enhance the teaching. It allowed for access to flexibility of study and work, and opened up opportunities for working parents, thought being able to access studies or work from home.
- Does it offer more desirable choices?
I think to state desirable, narrows down the quality of purpose. Online learning give flexibility, options of recording and reflecting (it does not always have to happen in real time)
Some negative aspects of online learning, is physical connection and practical hands on experiments or tasks are reduced due to the focus of the learning being online.
- Which innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way?
Open learn (free courses)
Equality and equity is key, as it breaks done accessibility factors.
Technology to enhance and support learning disabilities.
Global perspectives can be attracted.
- Can innovation benefit some, while disadvantaging others?
Yes. If you live somewhere that you do not have access to internet that is fast enough to be online during the course.
You might not have the economic status to purchase the resources to enable learning from home.
- Has online education been education’s saviour?
Educations saviour is not 'online education', educational developments have many facets and it’s the combination of these that could be seen to disrupt. To be a saviour we have to look at the history of education, the changes that have taken place and how new ideas have not suddenly disrupted the status quo. Innovation has been assimilated into practice, often after a sceptical beginning. I have seen WhatsApp grow from a tool students used to communicate purely as a social function, to a platform for discussion including the lecturer, and even into the workplace with training for a ward team advertised on WhatsApp (and staff who are not on WhatsApp are seen as lacking).
- Does it offer more desirable choices?
Yes, the more options we have for education the better, although using every variety we can think of, all at the same time, leads to confusion and withdrawal of participants from the process.
- Which innovations will really disrupt education in a lasting and positive way?
AI has the potential for this. Considering the use of AI as a personal tutor, not answering questions but identifying where the participant has misunderstood the information, has powerful possibilities. But accessibility at present does not make it widespread.
- Can innovation benefit some, while disadvantaging others?
As this the AI example, for education to be disrupted there has to be access to the disrupter. I believe this takes time. For example paper is almost universal in its use in education, but even 100 years ago slates were still used for practicing writing, and completing work in schools. We are now slowly moving to laptops, with an expectation that students will have access to these (and finding that this is not always the case). So as educational methods and technology changes then the painful process of transition (with some having access and others not) will continue.
There's nothing to save
Education has existed before humanity systemized it. The idea of education is the learning process that humans engage in various forms.
We've mixed up education with assessments, accreditations and prestige - whereas in reality education is simple mindful engagement in the experience of being human and navigating the environment that you're born into.
Reflection, curiosity, compassion, kindness, creativity, lovingness, openness, transparency and generosity are all the desirable outcomes of an education system - sadly the wider system doesn't enable this to occur at scale.
I feel technology could allow this to happen - imagine teaching people how to have good relationships, be healthy, create resilient communities and solve global problems; now we don't have to wait for the government to authorise the existence of our organisation - we are able to use technology to build an educational experience that is accessible, universal and open.
You have made very good points. It is very exhausting to study online alone let alone the damage to the eyes. In some places, internet is never stable to allow efficient learning. I feel, a combination of physical and online learning done in an innovative way is what will may be disrupt the current education system