Top Three Online-Based Learning Trends

Introduction 

The evolution of online education has been tremendous in the past decade. It has seen several private institutions and even public universities indulging in offering courses-based online, and this has created convenience for students who would like to remain at home and earn their diploma or degree. Notably, many students have resorted to online learning, especially those who have proximity to the college since certain things may require the physical presence of a learner. Numerous positive technological trends are currently implemented by various educators based online most of which are concentrated on offering proper education while economizing on the cost and time. The virtual learning environment, mastery learning, and project-based learning are among the top trends in online education that works to improve the learning outcome and economize the education cost. 

Findings 

There is no doubt that online education is on the rise currently with various non-profit based platforms as well as universities getting involved in the same. Having noted the need for a web-based platform, different organizations would then go for a better way of making learning experience fruitful. Something worth noting is that the world is rapidly changing, and new things emerge in line with education, which would prompt every person to embrace change. Otherwise, one would be considered outdated. 

In a study, Galindo (2014) denoted that virtual learning environment (VLE) saves time for educators and minimizes the money that may be used in organizing learning activity for students. It means that teachers can plan to deliver the teaching process online without having direct contact with students (Vermylen, Wood, Wayne, & McGaghie, 2017). The widely used material is a computer or portable laptops since most students can attain it remotely. In some cases, the use of audio or video conferencing can be used to reach students remotely. 

In another study about project-based learning (PBL), Han, Capraro, and Capraro (2015) found out that it fosters the integration of what students learn theoretically in class into real-life situations. It involves finding solutions to life complex problems while applying what is taught in the classroom to find answers to more complex issues in life. For example, Gary (2015) denotes that use of social media can be used as a project, especially for marketing students, to apply platforms such as Facebook or Twitter to integrate lessons from class into practical use. The proponent of PBL is in line with what John Dewey believed in “learning by doing” and that teachers are just representation of society and work to provide the right influence to the learner and help them capture the same. 

First discovered by Benjamin Bloom, mastery learning offers the students ability to retain learning outcome and promote the expansion of knowledge (Yudkowsky, Park, Lineberry, Knox, & Ritter, 2015). In specific settings such as healthcare, learning with use simulation offers a chance for learners to master step by step technique on doing particular medical procedures (Huda, Haron, Ripin, Hehsan, & Yaacob, 2017). For example, the nurses and doctors would easily master particular protocols and never deviate from it. 

According to Martín-Gutiérrez, Mora, Añorbe-Díaz, & González-Marrero (2017), employing various technologies such as video conferencing and simulations promotes faster understanding of crucial concepts in education. The students would easily understand principles and apply the same when handling complex real-life problems (Bayne, 2008). Specifically, mastery of language ensures that one is fully conversant with the specific contents on the study before advancing further. To promote it, educators often insist on testing mastery capacity of their students to gauge if they have a full concept of the topic. Otherwise, one would not be promoted to the next learning stage. 

Top Trends of the Industry 

There are several other trending innovations in the online education that has been in place to improve the outcome of knowledge among the learners. The changes have been instigated by the urge to encourage more natural and proper teaching process to those willing to use online platforms. Among the many trending technological approaches in place, PBL, VLE, and mastery learning has been selected for further analysis in this paper. 

Virtual Learning Environments 

It is a web-based technological method in which educational institutions make use of available digital tools such as a computer to reach students remotely while delivering teaching materials. In the process, the participants are often arranged in cohorts, roles, and sometimes individualized to provide the required teaching. As a result, the educator would then present learning resources, class activities, and various interactions necessary within a given course structure. At the same time, VLE is used to offer authentic assessment stages to students, report on participation, and integration with other institutional systems. In brief, VLE allows for content management, real-time communication, learner engagement, and curriculum mapping and planning. As one of the most trending innovations, it is economical, permits educators to deliver teaching processes without a necessity of knowledge on web authoring expertise, and provides automatic results integration into student’s portal system. 

Mastery Learning 

Before moving on to the next quest for information, a student is mandated to acquire a specific level of knowledge about a given topic. It is done with the use of specific tests to evaluate the level of attained topic understanding. In most cases, time is a prerequisite to provide focus on instructions so that different students can learn the same information and achieve the needed mastery ( Dennis, 2017) . In the event of failure of students, then a shift of responsibility comes into play in that it is blamed on rogue instruction provided rather than the ability of students to grasp the concepts. Methods of reviewing the mastery learning outcome can be with the use of part-task training method, curve, simulation practices, and feedbacks. In the last concept, the human trainee or simulator can be used to gauge and comment on the learner’s outcome. In most cases, continuous feedback offers more proper training. 

Project Based Learning 

In PBL, students actively explore real-world problems by applying the acquired knowledge. The learners would then be given a project to work on based on the information gained in class. In brief, it integrates knowing and doing. One would apply the mastered concepts in class to solve practical and authentic problems to produce the results that matter ( Yudkowsky, Park, Lineberry, Knox, & Ritter, 2015) . Certain things such as empathy, passion, creativity, resiliency, and drive cannot be found in the syllabus; therefore, learners can get the opportunity to integrate them with knowledge acquired from the program ( Cutucache, Luhr, Nelson, Grandgenett, & Tapprich, 2016) . In most cases, PBL depends on groups whereby students work together to accomplish specific objectives. For example, when the group is using technology to communicate with others, they do so in turn; thus, enabling work in turn while making viable choices. 

Important Emerging Issue and Meaning to Industry 

There is no doubt that fusion of technology into the school system has elicited significant merits in delivering information to learners. The students who prefer staying at home can access study materials remotely, and foster their education while doing some other things ( Cassidy, 2016) . Also, educators have an easy time since they can save wasted moments of having to meet students physically, especially when it comes to VLE. In the case of mastery learning, technologies such as simulations have been used among the surgeons in doing tasks which would otherwise be impossible. 

However, there emerging issues in online-based learning and associated technologies. Ethical issues arise such as the use of software in the learning process without the consent of the authors ( Huda et al., 2018) . Sometimes, users steal them without remitting required subscription. To combat it, the use of anti-theft software has failed to tackle it. Another ethical dilemma is to do with students as it reduces learners-teachers contact. As a result, students do not get some ethical standards required in the society. It means that providers lose a lot and they do not get deserved revenue from their products. Also, researchers note that students over-rely on the use of the internet and this derails the ability of learners to grasp practical skills. It means that students will not have the ability to use physical books and reading and research abilities may be in question. On the whole, due to remote operation among students, it is hard to control and advise students on the ethical use of computers. 

Conclusion 

The three top trends that are commonly used in the online learning process considered are VLE, PBL, and mastery learning. Generally, the institutions are embracing the three innovation due to the associated merits. However, there are ethical concerns linked to their use. One emerging issue of concern is reduced reading among learners. Also, the software providers incur losses when most of their software are used without their consent. Something of importance is that most students can acquire degrees or diplomas remotely, interact with an educator without having to meet up, and there is faster integration of student’s results in the school system. In the final analysis, however, online-based learning platforms have fostered the delivery of knowledge to students easily. 

References 

Bayne, S. (2008). Higher education as a visual practice: seeing through the virtual learning environment.  Teaching in Higher Education ,  13 (4), 395-410. 

Cassidy, S. (2016). Virtual learning environments as mediating factors in student satisfaction with teaching and learning in higher education.  Journal of Curriculum and Teaching ,  5 (1), 113. 

Cutucache, C. E., Luhr, J. L., Nelson, K. L., Grandgenett, N. F., & Tapprich, W. E. (2016). NE STEM 4U: An out-of-school time academic program to improve the achievement of socioeconomically disadvantaged youth in STEM areas.  International Journal of STEM Education ,  3 (1), 6. 

Dennis, M. J. (2017). Review 7 trends in higher education.  Enrollment Management Report ,  21 (6), 8-9. 

Galindo, I. (2014). Flip your classroom: Reach every student in every class every day. By Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams. Alexandria, Va.: The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.  Teaching Theology & Religion ,  17 (1), 82-83. 

Gary, K. (2015). Project-based learning.  Computer ,  48 (9), 98-100. 

Han, S., Capraro, R., & Capraro, M. M. (2015). How science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) project-based learning (PBL) affects high, middle, and low achievers differently: The impact of student factors on achievement.  International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education ,  13 (5), 1089-1113. 

Huda, M., Haron, Z., Ripin, M. N., Hehsan, A., & Yaacob, A. B. C. (2017). Exploring innovative learning environment (ILE): big data era.  International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ,  12 (17), 6678-6685. 

Huda, M., Maseleno, A., Atmotiyoso, P., Siregar, M., Ahmad, R., Jasmi, K., & Muhamad, N. (2018). Big data emerging technology: insights into the innovative environment for online learning resources.  International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET) ,  13 (1), 23-36. 

Vermylen, J., Wood, G., Wayne, D., & McGaghie, W. (2017). Raising the bar: applying a mastery learning approach to communication skills training.  Journal of Pain and Symptom Management ,  53 (2), 388-389. 

Yudkowsky, R., Park, Y. S., Lineberry, M., Knox, A., & Ritter, E. M. (2015). Setting mastery learning standards.  Academic Medicine ,  90 (11), 1495-1500. Retrieved from www.thebestschools.org/magazine/current-trends-online-education/ .