Access to high quality, brick and mortar colleges and universities are hard to come by in much of rural China. That’s why online remote learning, once riddled with diploma mills and fly-by-night schools, has become a mainstay for high-quality education in many parts of the country.
According to writer Terry Heick at Teachthought.com, e-learning opportunities are growing exponentially in China, especially in third-tier cities. Here are a few of the biggest trends in online learning to expect in the future.
1. Reaching the countryside
Historically, Chinese living in remote cities or small villages have had a nearly insurmountable education gap in comparison to the cosmopolitan cities. This is changing rapidly, as off-campus sites are being established to help students use online teaching resources and also maintain student communities. Also expect more rural enrollment in non-formal education, such as Massively Open Online Courses (commonly known as MOOCs).
2. More open and American focused
American schools still come out on top amongst international students. And although Wechat will always be king, expect even more English language online curriculum and possibly loosening of restrictions on sites like Facebook, which are loaded with endless educational resources not available to China’s massive student population.
3. All eyes on the Blackboard
Education technology company Blackboard is making huge inroads into the ever-expanding Chinese market. Currently available in over 270 Chinese learning institutions, Blackboard offers web conferencing, mobile apps, and organization tools, which structure online learning. Also equally helpful is access to Cloud-based online coursework. This way, students will be able to easily access the coursework on both mobile phones and computers without using physical memory, making uni feel mobile and a part of your daily experience.
Photos: uscnpm.org
