This article explains the reasons why Remote learning is able to compete with learning in person. We will also discuss the main advantages of remote learning (and cons), listing some useful tips. 

Remote learning is a well-recognised tool that adds value to traditional face-to-face learning. However, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has initiated the need for a transition to a fuller ‘Remote’ Learning experience. The efficiency of such a transition relies on the technology tools used, but also an organization’s learning infrastructure.

Ultimately, remote learning allows employees, managers and students to remain connected and engaged with content, while working from home.

The Remote Learning Experience

You would be well advised to consider the significant elements that might ensure remote learning is successful. These elements include time, communication, technology, and lesson design. Content has to be engaging, well-structured and organized to deliver an effective experience.

Using elements of gamification, rewards and social interactions among learners can significantly improve the learning experience. Remote learning can become even more effective than traditional face-to-face learning. In fact, the quality of traditional learning depends on a number of variables connected to:

i. the capacity of the teacher; and, simultaneously,

ii. the mood of the learners during the lesson.

Alternatively, the beauty of remote learning is that it can be standardized. In addition, learners can decide to engage in the content when they prefer.

Remote Learning vs Virtual Classrooms

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced schools, institutions and companies to adopt virtual learning strategies to ensure the safety of learners and teachers. Adopting virtual classrooms, to replace face-to-face classrooms, shouldn’t be confused with a proper remote learning approach. Indeed, virtual classrooms deliver the same output as that of a normal classroom. On the one hand, it has the advantage of enabling home learning, (from anywhere in the world). On the other hand, the disturbed concentration may be higher at home, than learning in a classroom. By contrast, a good remote learning strategy, which may also involve some live-streaming sessions, aims to keep the learners engaged, allowing them to choose what and when to learn.

Useful tips for an effective Remote Learning experience

Let’s look at how to start developing engaging learning content. Here we list some simple tips that can help significantly improve the quality of the learning experience.

I. Structure the content carefully. No one is willing to learn something that they don’t consider important in improving their knowledge and performance. Make the content attractive, short and straightforward. Leave out all minor aspects, which learners may consider not useful.

II. Use interaction. A wise use of interaction leads the learner to focus more on the theory aspects of a subject in order to then be able to interact more effectively with practical exercises. Learners will become spectators, not actors, if the content is delivered passively. The use of interactive features such as games, drag-and-drops activities, etc, will result in a more effective learning experience.

III. Include multi-media. A good mix of videos, audios, animations and images improves the quality of the learning content, which automatically becomes more engaging.

IV. Make sure that your content is compatible with mobile delivery. Content that can be delivered through mobile devices will allow learners to access it everywhere, and whenever they want, with extreme ease. See more about mobile learning mobile learning here and microlearning here.

V. Include assessments. Assessments can be used to give learners the opportunity to better understand the extent to which they are gaining insight into content. At the same time, they give employers and teachers a record of learners’ improvements and progress.

VI. Try to include social interaction in your learning delivery technology. Remote learning presents a safe alternative (during the current emergency) while we are forced to keep distances in our professional and social lives. Therefore, including social interaction in remote learning tools and resources becomes crucial and, increasingly, engaging for learners.

VII. Make the content adaptive. Adaptive learning is increasingly impacting the way we create content. Creating learning content that adapts to learner’s knowledge allows personalized and tailored learning journeys, based on learners’ individual needs.

Conclusions

The tragic Covid-19 pandemic has made it necessary to change the way companies structure learning paths. The emergency has boosted the adoption of remote learning, setting it up for wide adoption beyond the end of the current crises. Undoubtedly, developing an effective remote learning strategy has now become more crucial than ever. Let’s change the way we perceive the effectiveness of remote learning: the revolution has begun.