Digital transformation – The post COVID-19 world of e-learning – Some key players and challenges.
COVID-19 has propelled education into a world of online learning that will continue, even after the pandemic, as students are now in a much more digital world where they have and will have to communicate virtually with people around the world in different time zones, hold online meetings and thrive with technology. These same students will find themselves in the job market, which is also transforming, as according to the article The Seven Principles for Driving Workforce Skill Development on the Connected School website “workplaces are being disrupted by the transition to new digital business models, automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analysis.” The growth of precision agriculture is one example that is intensifying demands for e-learning for farmers.
Who is concerned?
All of us! This transformation is affecting the global learning market. However, some players play key roles in it, for example “leaders in education, technology and public policy must work together to design smart tools and systems that will characterize the future era of democratized digital education.”
Unquestionably, teachers have had to adapt and implement a range of strategies to improve their practice. They have had to use both pedagogical and technological skills, for example, by using gamification techniques in online training modules. Teachers have also had to improve by adopting more integrative approaches, encouraging student engagement through synchronous tools while using inclusive practices to ensure they build community with each other and with learners. Educators, according to, are key partners, as they influence the first steps in helping the next generation of learners embrace this reality.
Learners are at the heart of e-learning, as they are the ones who must be trained and must evolve in a more digital environment. Their involvement is more important than ever in order to maintain their motivation. This is why they are strongly involved in learner-centered training strategies as in the following examples:
- The flipped classroom in virtual mode with interactive video capsules.
- Micro-learning where learning is rapid using short content where the learner is in control of his training by progressing at his own pace.
- Mobile Learning offers a better continuity of training and a better retention of learning that gives the learner the possibility to follow short courses available anywhere and anytime.
Employers also have a key role to play, as the world of work is changing faster than workers, increasing the need for employee retraining and development. According to the article Seven Principles for Boosting Workforce Skills Development, employers can put in place measures to train and develop their workforce. They can drive the skills development of their work teams by setting clear goals for employee skills development, establishing a competency framework within the organization, aligning training and development efforts with strategic priorities, and creating individualized pathways while remaining agile.
Suppliers to the technology industry also play an important role. They must meet the demands of this new world of digital learning with new products that school systems and businesses must use imaginatively. As Kimberly Archuleta, CEO of Avance Learning Solutions, presents in an interview about findings on the burgeoning industry, her company and others in her field are proud partners in this transformation. They recognize the importance of this transformation for their clients, who need to increase creativity and employee engagement within their organizations.
This digital transformation of learning brings with it significant challenges. For example, this change is difficult for some teachers to resist. In order to be able to take on their new roles, Weber suggests a number of changes in the mindset of teachers so that they move from thinking about just surviving the transformation to thinking about how they can thrive in their work. There are other challenges in the choice and use of technology, not to mention the increased use of social networking. We can see that this can raise many issues, including ethical issues. Teachers must define their objectives, know the impact of a platform and the context in which it will be used before choosing it.
In conclusion, as De Laubier says:
