The future of online learning must balance innovation and values
Online learning may seem new, but it’s older than you think.
The field’s predecessor, distance education, dates back centuries. From Sir Isaac Pitman teaching shorthand by correspondence in 1840, to lectures broadcast on the radio in the early 1920s, to the early 1990s when colleges and universities took advantage of the emerging World Wide Web and began teaching education programs online , which develops with technological advancement.
In the early days of the Internet, online learning was also an adjustment for students. When Bellevue University launched its online MBA program in 1996, students were mailed floppy disks containing the software they needed to access coursework. A student called us for help and after some troubleshooting we discovered they hadn’t taken their new computer out of the box!
But online learning came into the spotlight in March 2020 in the biggest way. In Nebraska, then-Gov. Pete Ricketts points out 1,095 public schools serving nearly 320,000 students K-12 students are attending classes without students in the building. Most of these schools, plus Nebraska’s private schools serving more than 43,000 students, have moved to online learning. Now, with the exception of the occasional remote learning day due to inclement weather, nearly all elementary and middle schools are back in person most days.
The figures show a different picture of college attainment. Although demand for online education has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, research conducted through the Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE) program shows that the market in the higher education sector has not yet reached its peak. Considering that only 24% of public four-year schools and 8% of private four-year schools say they use online learning “extensively,” there’s plenty of room for growth. A recent CHLOE report states Enrollment in online courses is growing faster than on-campus courseseven on-campus students are demanding more online options.
The big tech figure in the room is artificial intelligence, which is accelerating universities’ transition to online learning. Artificial intelligence, especially generative AI tools like Chat GPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft CoPilot, are already being used by students of all ages in living rooms, conference rooms, and classrooms.
While early narratives about AI in education were more bleak and pessimistic, and focused on scenarios where students used AI to cheat or avoid doing homework, this did not reflect its innovation and potential. I don’t see AI as a threat, but rather encourage us to shift our perspective and see AI as an educational tool—similar to using calculators in advanced math classes.
At our institution, where 96% of students learn entirely online, artificial intelligence is a tool that allows us to support teachers, especially in new and exciting ways. We are currently exploring the use of artificial intelligence to complete time-consuming tasks, such as grading lengthy assignments or logging information into multiple systems in seconds and minutes. The time saved can be used for the part of the educational process we value most: the teacher-student relationship.
Learners also benefit greatly. Many public and private universities in the state have implemented AI-powered chatbots to help students with daily administrative tasks. Lincoln, Omaha and Millard public schools use artificial intelligence-powered platforms to personalize instruction. These platforms can instantly analyze a student’s progress along the learning journey and quickly adapt content to meet student needs.
Enhanced by artificial intelligence, the future of online learning is very bright. Bellevue University believes that online learning has not stood still but continues to evolve, benefiting learners in densely populated areas and rural counties. We want students to be able to move seamlessly between different types of learning environments, regardless of time, location, and platform, helping them achieve their next educational goals.
Don’t just imagine a future where student teachers learn to manage disruptive classrooms through immersive online learning technologies, or where avatar-based augmented reality interactions are as ubiquitous as laptops, or where smart online tutors can one day be available at scale Providing valuable feedback For hundreds or thousands of students, we can use artificial intelligence to take online learning to the next level.
The technology exists, but it will take visionary partnerships across the state among educational institutions, companies across industries, and people from all backgrounds to create a world where online learning and artificial intelligence meet our needs in Nebraska. The future of human needs and values.
