Many observers have remarked at the disruptive power of EdTech platforms such as Coursera and Udemy, anticipating that it could emerge as a professional certification platform and genuine knowledge sharing platform, particularly for employers or those seeking specialized knowledge. However, they often fail to fully address the learning experience gap, primarily because existing learning design and pedagogical approaches of online learning platforms don’t adequately replicate or enhance the depth of engagement found in traditional education environments.
It is certain that current strategies from the biggest companies in the EdTech industry seek to rightly address a growing social divide and bridge access to education to even the remotest parts of the world through the use of the internet. However, the strategy of using rigid courses with limited interactive methodologies for the student is a prime reason why dropout rates of Coursera courses over five years average 40-80%.
Perhaps the biggest problem out of this is the lack of a basic understanding of education, which is to provide quality resources and inculcate critical thinking skills among students. This is a major weakness of existing systems of online learning, which provide a surface-level understanding of the topic at hand and often leave the student uninspired to diligently continue to seek knowledge in that area. This could eventually stem from content not being student-based but rather educator-based. Lectures and videos totaling 12 hours through an online format with little ability to ask questions deem the subject material factual in nature, reducing personalization for the student. Ultimately, this reduces the interest of students and results in high dropout rates.
However, the drawbacks of online learning do not end here. Online learning suffers from a miriad of quality-related problems, which ultimately affect the learning experience of students. An article from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) identifies the lack of certifications and oversight as a problem that is responsible for lower quality standards that plague online learning platforms. A big aspect of this is that online learning reinforces the need for quality and qualified teachers, rather than negating it. Specifically, there is a need to employ teachers and instructors that are not only knowledgeable in their field but know how to modify course content to online methods of disseminating knowledge.
In this sense, it becomes imperative for edtech companies to adapt to the growing voice for positive change around companies and adapt innovative solutions that systematically address the growing dropout rates, learning experience shortcomings, and lack of quality content in the online learning sector.
