A short description of the current state of online learning with some predictions on emerging technologies and modes of learning.

1. Brian Mulligan BE, MED,
Programme Manager, Online Learning Innovation
Centre for Online Learning, Institute of Technology Sligo
Online Education
The Present and the Future
Technology and Accounting – Thinking Ahead,
Institute of Technology Sligo, April 12th, 2019

2. An overview of existing and emerging
learning technologies
A glimpse into the future.

3. Online Learning from IT Sligo
www.itsligo.ie/online
• Since 2002
• ~3000 online students
– No funding!
• Award Winning!

4. Online CPD
School
leavers
Technology
Enhanced

5. 5 15 30 100
200
300
450
600
700
850
1000
1100
1400
1700
1950
2400
2880
3456
4147
4977
5972
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
6600
Actual enrolment achieved >3,000
STUDENTS
+1%
Y E A R S
Meeting the KPIs for
Online Development
Growing online CPD is not difficult!

6. Demand for Lifelong Learning is Growing
More complex workplace
• Ease of access
• Lower cost
• Specialties

7. Take a simple approach:
Evening Classes - Online

8. Simple video
Production Methods

9. IT Sligo Facilities

10. Things you might find in an online course
• Live online classes
• Short (and long videos)
• Multimedia
• Reading materials
• Links to free materials
• Quizzes
• Assignments with
feedback and grading
• Online simulations
• Discussion boards
– with or without instructors
• Face to face meetings
– College visits, practical
laboratories, local meetups
• Home lab kits / field
exercises
• Remote lab access
• Supervised Exams
– F2F or online

11. • Virtual Reality
• Augmented reality
• Artificial Intelligence
– Data analytics identifying opportunities for
intervention
– Adaptive learning systems
– Generating learning content
– Advisors

12. Adaptive Learning Systems
Monitoring
Human intervention
Analytics

13. Adaptive Learning Systems
Personalisation - Mastery
A system that “learns”

14. • 300 AI students
• Trained to answer based on prior
responses
• Only answers if confidence rate >
97%
• Frees humans to do more
complex technical/philosophical
inquiries
• Teaching award
Bots
As
Teaching
Assistants

15. ANT text or video
Semantic
engine
Active
learning
wildfirelearning.co.uk

16. A biased glimpse into the future?
• Impact on “modes” of learning
• Some trends changing how people will choose
to learn

17. Cost reduction
• Decrease in cost of -
– Delivery
– Development
– Support
• F2F part-time will mostly disappear.
• Online will be dominated by large providers

18. • Can assessment and certification be free?
– MC Quizzes, Peer assessment
• Can we certify learning from MOOCs?
moocs4all.eu

19. 19
IT Sligo MOOC
Introduction to Lean Sigma Quality
Youtube Video: http://youtu.be/d2YSkH8xzXY
Also: Employability Skills, Transition to Third Level, Coding

20. Alternative Credentials

21. Can campus education
change?

22. The empire strikes back?

25. “Pathways to Masters”

26. Full-time post-secondary
education may shrink

30. Can they show what they have learned?

31. Will employers trust
online certificates?

32. Earn and Learn

33. “Grow your own engineers!”
• BEng (3 years) Mechatronic Systems
– Aimed at new secondary school grads
– Work-Based Learning
– Option for further studies
• Full 3 years in the workplace
– 24 hours per week
– Credit awarded for work
• Online study
• Also €500k grant for “Home-based”
learning

34. Some shots in the dark!
• Lifelong learning >>> Fulltime education
– Online and blended
• Costs will come down
• Automation and AI will be important
• College accreditation will be less important
• Less school leavers will go to college fulltime.
– Apprenticeship + WBL
– Alternative credentials and online distance learning
Thank you!
Brian Mulligan
elearngrump.blogspot.com