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Closing the gap Strategic opportunities to attract more adult learners

Closing the gap - adults in distance education

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Page 1: Closing the gap - adults in distance education

Closing the gapStrategic opportunities to attract more adult learners

Page 2: Closing the gap - adults in distance education

We know who our students are.

1.

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We know who our students are.Potential students• Older than traditional students• Working (51.75%) • Have a higher education degree

• 83.41% bachelor degree• 31.66% master’s degree

Existing students• Older than traditional students• Working (70%)• Have a higher education degree

• 30.65% bachelor degree• 11.29% a master’s degree

Source: Social profile of potential distance education students

Survey – 427 potential students (DistanceLearningPortal.com visitors)

Source: Social profile of adults enrolled in distance education

Survey – 1,773 students enrolled in distance education programmes (survey sent via HEIs and IDEAL mailing list)

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2. We can predict the future of distance education growth.

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We can predict the future of distance education growth.2.

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We can predict the future of distance education growth.2.

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3. We already have a diverse portfolio of programmes.

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We already have a diverse portfolio of programmes.3.

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4. We know why our students chose a distance study.

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We know why our students chose a distance programme.4.

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5. Our students are employed and can afford to study.

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Our students are employed and can afford to study.5.

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6.Our students are grownups and don’t need too much counselling or support.

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Our students are grownups and don’t need too much counselling or support.

• Self-directed learners (very competent)• New groups of students: include more diverse group, then they will

have different needs• Refugees• International students• Language barriers• Different educational backgrounds

• Struggle with time management; understanding with understanding academic requirements; struggle with technology• How do you know what kind of support students need?

6.

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7.

Our teachers are already experts in distance education.

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Our teachers are already experts in distance education.

• Enabling a change to pedagogy is one of the hardest tasks within an institution.

• Strong focus on “personalized learning” which meets the specific needs, interests, aspirations or cultural backgrounds of individual students.

• “Change must come from within the organisation, and, in particular from the professors and instructors themselves. It is the faculty that must see the need for change, and be willing to make those changes themselves.”(Tony Bates)

• Teachers can concentrate on their role as mentor, developing with students the skills of information management, understanding and questioning, critical thinking and knowledge application. Digital media can facilitate more active, problem-based learning.

7.

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It is easy to enroll at a distance programme at my HEI.

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It is easy to enroll at a distance programme at my HEI.

• Flexibility of enrollment dates• Deciding your own page• Openness – programmes – open learning attitude• “what does it mean to be “open””• Case study: the only UK and Finland demonstrate full openness

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It is easy for students to get their previous degrees or experience recognized at my HEI.

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9. It is easy for students to get their previous degrees or experience recognized at my HEI.• Finland – status of degree student can be obtained

after pursuing courses in open university• Germany – highest degree from the school system,

or degree from vocational sector; recognition of degree from vocational training

• Greece – graduation from secondary education; no systematic procedure for recognition of prior learning or work experience

• Hungary – school leaving examination certificate and enough entry points; no alternative admission; no systematic procedure for recognition of prior learning or work experience

• UK – “access diplomas” programmes; recognition of credit transfer from equivalent level of study elsewhere; accreditation of (prior) experiential learning

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My HEI is always involved in DE national policy

making.

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My HEI is always involved in DE national policy making.

• Finland – no separate open or distance teaching universities• Greece –mentioned with

“Education and Lifelong Learning” policy• Hungary – no DE on Master

level; no laws mentioning e-learning• UK – laws that indirectly

influence DE (QA framework)

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Recap1. We know who our students are. 2. We can predict the future of distance education growth.3. We already have a diverse portfolio of programmes.4. We know why our students chose a distance programme.5. Our students are employed and can therefore afford to study.6. Our students are grownups and don’t need too much counselling or support. 7. Our teachers are already experts in distance education.8. It is easy to enroll at a distance programme at my HEI. 9. It is easy for students to get their previous degrees or experience recognized at my

HEI.10. My HEI is always involved in DE national policy making.

Page 24: Closing the gap - adults in distance education

GET IN TOUCH

Carmen Neghina – Education Intelligence Specialist (StudyPortals)

[email protected]

Carl Holmberg - Senior Adviser, International Council for Open and Distance Education – ICDE

[email protected]

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JOIN OUR WEBINAR

11 NOVEMBER at 3 PM

To register: http://idealproject.eu/news/

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