Tag Archives: Learning

Education, News

Students prefer online learning to avoid socialising, despite careers concerns

A new independent survey among more than 1,000 UK adults who have completed academic or professional courses during the pandemic has found:

·         45% said they prefer online learning because they do not have to socialise

·         62% added that online learning is much more convenient than in-person learning

·         However, 39% believe their longer-term career prospects will be worse because they received some or all of their education digitally

·         The majority (56%) crave more innovative and engaging technologies

 

Learners are favouring online tuition because they do not have to interact with their peers, despite the challenges that come along with remote learning models, new research from Soffos.ai has revealed.

The global producer of AI-powered EdTech solutions commissioned an independent survey among 1,086 UK adults, all of whom had undertaken educational or professional courses since March 2020. It found that just under half (45%) of those surveyed prefer online learning because they do not have to socialise with other people face-to-face.

The majority (62%) said online learning is much more convenient for them than in-person learning. This figure rose to 76% among the PhD students surveyed, while 67% of those studying towards professional qualifications also expressed that online courses were a better fit for their lives.

However, Soffos’ research also uncovered serious concerns. Almost half (47%) of learners said the quality of education they received diminished after the onset of the pandemic, as a direct result of the shift to online learning. A further 39% voiced fears that their longer-term career prospects will be damaged due to receiving some or all their education online.

When asked about the specific challenges associated with online learning, 54% said that skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving are harder to develop in remote settings. Similar numbers (53%) stated that online discussions and debates are less effective than ones held in person, with 51% saying they feel less creative when learning online, as the format is typically more structured.

Looking ahead, the majority (56%) of learners believe their institution should work on developing more innovative and engaging technologies to improve their learning.

Nikolas Kairinos, CEO and founder of Soffos.ai, said: “Online learning has become an introvert’s haven throughout the pandemic, and this is a truth we can all empathise with, to some extent or another. After all, learning from the safety of our own homes at a time of global crisis has provided students with flexibility and vital education continuity – not to mention some much-needed peace of mind. That said, the merits of peer-to-peer learning and in-person instruction should not be understated, nor should educators overlook the challenges students face when learning remotely.

“Education means more than just reading books or ticking off assessments. These are important, but learners must also have access to a range of opportunities that allow them to flex their creative muscle, engage with fellow students in spirited debate, and, more generally, prepare themselves for the world beyond academia. 

“Institutions should therefore prioritise the development of advanced digital solutions that take these more complex needs into account. Only then will we be able to keep up the impetus for online learning, so that students can reap the benefits in life after Covid-19.”

News

Festival of Learning: A third of adults can’t afford adult education

The biggest barrier to British adults continuing their education is cost, with more than a third (35%) saying they’re unable to afford to study, while almost a fifth (19%) say they don’t have time.

A YouGov survey of 2,109 GB adults commissioned by distance learning provider The Oxford Open Learning Trust found that, although more than two thirds (69%) of respondents said they could be motivated to learn for any type of new qualification – from GCSEs to PHDs and industry certificates – only just over a quarter of Brits (27%) are likely to actually do so.

The other barriers that Brits said most commonly stop them from studying are that they don’t have the time to devote to it (19%) and feeling that another qualification would be unnecessary because they feel they are educated enough (18%).

As well as respondents also saying that they lack the motivation to study (17%), the same number also said they lack the energy. Many Brits also commented that they deem themselves too old.

The research also revealed that many British adults would be happy to continue learning if they felt they could. Receiving a boost to their pay packet is only the third most common incentive, agreed by three in ten (30%) of  Brits, whereas 42% would be more likely to take a course simply out of their own general interest in the subject.

 

The five most common issues that stop adults from continuing with education in the future are:

1.    Lack of affordability (35%)

2.    Time constraints (19%)

3.    Not needing any further qualifications (18%)

4.    Lack of motivation (17%)

5.    Lack of energy (17%)

 

Greg Smith, head of operations at Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “The fact that so many would like to study further but don’t feel that they can, points to a lot of misconceptions that people have about adult education.

“For those who think they’re too old, adult learning isn’t only about furthering a career – it’s also extremely beneficial in terms of mental health. There’s evidence to show that, not only does keeping the brain active combat depression and anxiety, but also helps prevent dementia in later life and boosts confidence.

“Studying for a new qualification with a distance learning course is also vastly different to a classroom, and can be spread over a longer period to fit in with your current work or lifestyle.

“The initial cost is often far outweighed by the benefits of gaining a new qualification, through an increase in pay, a promotion or a career change.”

 

Oxford Open Learning’s Top Tips for Adult Learners:

  • Make the learning experience as relevant and useful as possible. Draw on your personal experiences and link the subject matter to real-world benefits for your work and personal life
  • Make learning as engaging as possible to boost motivation. Use a variety of learning stimuli, such as images, activities, videos, lectures and podcasts to find what works for you
  • Breaking down information into bite-sized chunks can also help to make it easier to process, and don’t forget to take regular breaks to help you maintain concentration
  • Master your skills by playing an active role in your learning experience. Exploring the subject matter through self-study and active participation can help you to learn in a way that is meaningful to you
  • Let learning occur through mistakes. Trial and error can make the learning experience more effective, while the sense of overcoming a challenge can help to boost confidence

More advice on how to overcome perceived barriers to adult education can be read here:

https://www.ool.co.uk/blog/successful-studying-time/

 

Appointments, News

Fuse expands leadership team to support scaling growth

Fuse, the learning and knowledge platform for enterprise that ignites people and business performance, today announces the expansion of its senior leadership team with two significant new hires – a move that will help prepare the learning tech scaleup for its next phase of growth.

Learning industry veteran, Roberta Gogos, who previously held senior marketing roles at Docebo, Looop, and The Starr Conspiracy, joins Fuse as VP of Marketing and takes responsibility for leading the company’s strategic marketing at a global level.

Tom Ridley, who joins as VP of Sales EMEA, is equally ingrained in the learning tech industry having formerly held senior sales and customer success roles at Valamis and Skillsoft.

Commenting on the two new hires, Fuse CEO, Luke Oubridge, said: “Both Roberta and Tom bring with them a wealth of industry and functional expertise and their respective appointments will play a key part in supporting the business as we continue to grow and expand into new markets.”

Luke continued: “We have developed a product that is second to none and we have very ambitious plans for taking that to market over the coming months and beyond. Roberta and Tom – along with the rest of the fantastic talent we have at Fuse – will be pivotal to that and we’re delighted to have them onboard.”

Roberta Gogos – who first joined Fuse in the capacity of senior marketing consultant before assuming her new role last month, commented: “As an industry, we need to move beyond the course mindset and start facilitating human connection and knowledge sharing at scale. These are the learning experiences that drive people and business performance – and it’s very much the Fuse way. This is really what inspired me to join the team at this very exciting juncture.”

Echoing Roberta’s comments, Tom Ridley – who officially joined the Fuse team in June this year, said: “Fuse is on a mission to forever change enterprise L&D. The platform is highly innovative in the truest sense of the word and it’s set to transform not only how people learn at work, but how well they perform as a result. That’s incredibly exciting and I’m delighted to be leading the EMEA sales effort as Fuse continues to scale upwards and outwards.”

News, Training

Free online course for workers uses neuroscience to improve professional learning

A new course from specialist online training providers Virtual College is utilising neuroscience to help online learners develop themselves both personally and professionally in 2021.

At a time when many people are still struggling to effectively work remotely, this free course offers valuable insight into factors that can affect our attention, retention and productivity. Learners will also be advised on how to best work alongside these neurological limitations to get the best out of their brain and create a learning plan that greatly increases success.

The Neuroscience for Personal Development course is available for free on the Virtual College website. Included in the course is an in-depth look at ‘brain plasticity’ which is the process of how your brain actually grows and changes as you learn new information. The module also features a section on memory and attention, two factors which are incredibly important in maintaining productivity and staying focused on development.

As well as gaining an understanding of how the brain works and how this can actually limit learning, participants will also study the concept of holistic education. This is a relatively new approach that seeks to engage all aspects of the learner, including mind, body and spirit to explore the ways in which this approach can benefit personal growth.

The e-learning course concludes with advice on how to create a personalised plan of action, applying what you have discovered about neuroscience and development. Additional resources are provided to help with this task, along with proven techniques for making the most out of the brain’s inner workings.

This online course is being provided as part of Virtual College’s participation in the Department of Education’s ‘An Hour to Skill’ campaign, which seeks to improve the job prospects of people up and down the country by providing ways to gain new skills. This initiative encourages an hour a week to be spent on online learning using The Skills Toolkit resource, which features over 70 free online courses including several from Virtual College.

By offering a range of learning resources in everything from personal growth and wellbeing to basic maths and coding, the scheme hopes to boost the careers of anyone who has been affected by the uncertainty and disruption of the last year.

The ‘Neuroscience for Personal Development’ course is available to access from the Virtual College website here >

https://www.virtual-college.co.uk/courses/professional/neuroscience-for-personal-development

News

Brightspace now integrates with Microsoft Teams

Global learning technology leader D2L today announced that its Brightspace learning management system will now have a deeper integration with Microsoft Teams, a leading online collaboration platform.

Brightspace users with a Microsoft Teams license will now be able to seamlessly transition between both tools with the Microsoft Teams – Course Connector. This integration combines the strength and versatility of Brightspace as a learning platform with the power of Microsoft Teams to bring people together as colleagues and co-learners.

For example, user enrolments will now be automatically synchronised between the two platforms. Also, Brightspace users will be able to create private channels for course sections and link back to their course homepage through a tab in Microsoft Teams.

“We’re incredibly excited to add a deeper Microsoft Teams integration for our customers so they can engage and collaborate much more easily using Brightspace as a central hub for learning,” says Chad Lane, VP, Product Management at D2L. “The COVID-19 crisis has seen a huge uptake in online learning. We’re constantly looking for ways to make the experience as engaging and rewarding as possible and offering integrations with collaboration tools like MS Teams is a positive step toward that goal.”

News

Children’s Solutions to Our Biggest Issues – Healthy Young Minds STEM competition winners announced

Announced today are the winners of Healthy Young Minds, a national competition where primary school-age children across the nation came up with innovative solutions to our biggest problems, including Covid-19.

Run by creative healthcare agency, Create Health, the competition briefs received almost 1,000 downloads and covered a wide range of ecological topics. Entries were uploaded in the form of photographs, videos and fantastic pieces of artwork, and the winners will be awarded with a variety of e-prizes that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Judges were from a variety of scientific, tech and creative backgrounds and included Phil Blackmore, Creative Director, Ruth Shallcross, Regional Mentor at the Primary Science Trust, and Lisa Freeman, Director at 18a Productions.

“It’s always fascinating to see how a young mind solves a problem”, comments Phil Blackmore, creative director at Create Health “This year’s entries have been fab. Not only have the ideas been wonderfully creative and pure in thought, they have clearly been influenced by many of the key messages put out there by the government – a reminder to us all that children absorb everything – and a reason why we should encourage STEM subjects.”

The winning entries included a brilliantly detailed drawing from Tanish depicting superhero Coronakid and his Coronavirus fighting superpowers. Winners also included some inspired creations for Dyson’s next big invention brief by Sam and Ben including Mr Snuggles – the calming bear for anxious children and robot D.A.V.E, the Dyson Automatic Virus Ender. A full list of winners will be published on the Healthy Young Minds website shortly.

Healthy Young Minds debuted in Summerhill Academy in Bristol last year, and saw another successful year despite facing the obstacles posed by UK Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The digital transformation of the competition provided a wider scope of talented and creative young minds with the opportunity to participate, and proved that the leaders of tomorrow are filled with ingenious minds and big ideas. Look out world!

About Create Health
Create Health is a pure healthcare advertising and marketing agency.
Fascinated by the opportunities presented by new healthcare technologies, treatments and methods of care, we exist to enhance the way these transformative ideas are presented to the people that matter.
Whether it’s patients, surgeons or the board of directors, we deliver powerful communications that influence mindsets, increase brand value and progress the world of health.

To learn more, visit https://createhealth.com/

E-Learning, Education, News

The Learning Partnership, Right for Education and Crystal TV join forces to launch online learning platform World Challenge Club for children during coronavirus pandemic

An Oxford-based education programme has launched an online educational programme alongside a pan -African charity and an African television network for primary school children across the globe to aid education processes during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Learning Partnership has partnered with Right for Education, the largest e-learning charity in Africa with 6.85 million learners across Africa, and Crystal Television, a major television production and broadcast company in West Africa headquartered in Ghana, to launch the World Challenge – primarily for children aged 6-12 – across Africa, with plans to launch localised series in Asia, South America and Europe.

Sponsors of the initiative include technology giant Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as engineering firms Rolls Royce and Arup. Further incentives include Rolls Royce and AWS offering future work placements to the competition winners when they are older.

The new platform is designed to create and increase participation and competition within school communities across a range of countries. Focusing on STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), the partnership is aiming to provide relief and support to families who have to resort to home-schooling during the pandemic.

The inclusive challenge enables families from all backgrounds and locations to take part from their own homes with programmes delivered to households via television or streaming services.

The World Challenge partners, have sought expertise in the respective fields, working alongside KarisMath, a leading primary Mathematics video learning provider with a library of 450 primary focused mathematics videos. The partners have also brought in Twig education – a leading primary science video learning provider with a library of thousands of science videos designed to support primary stage science learning – as a partner for the challenge.

The partners of the World Challenge Club will be collaborating with television networks across the globe, with sporting icons from different disciplines introducing and engaging families in the challenge. Each week will be sponsored by industry partners and the World Challenge will be shown regionally on television networks, with a focus on a specific sector such as mathematics or engineering.

Aulden Dunipace, Founder & CEO of The Learning Partnership, commented: “Families around the world are in lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and an extended lockdown period will only increase the difficulties for parents trying to home school their children and keep them engaged. This reality is more challenging where connectivity to the web is less universal and access to web-based virtual learning less democratised.

The Learning Partnership is experienced in delivering virtual, interactive programmes and by partnering with charities with such a large following in Right for Education and television networks such as Crystal TV and potentially others in different regions, we aim to make life easier for parents and deliver learning experiences to children that have a positive impact on our children’s education and future.”

Dr Susann Dattenberg-Doyle AfBPS, Founder of Right for Education R:Ed – “World Challenge Club is learning by doing, accessible for free in your own time, in your own home, and following your own interests. It inspires career planning in the opportunities of the world today.
The Challenge aligns these learning opportunities to subject learning in Science and Mathematics and makes learning democratic. Joining the WORLD CHALLENGE CLUB is joining a movement for global education and opportunity.”
Dr. Chief Crystal-Djirackor, President & CEO of Crystal Television Network, said: “Providing for teaching and learning through television have always been part of our programming policy since the establishment of the Crystal Television Network over twenty-five years ago”.

“Our partnership with Right for Education.org and The Learning Partnership.com, to deliver virtual learning to School Children across the globe, particularly in these times where COVID-19 is ravaging our world, is an extraordinary achievement and very fulfilling. Our greater joy is the opportunity provided for learners across Africa, who are able to network with other students around the world, as they aim to achieve their academic ambitions on a global playing field with equal opportunities. The World Challenge Club offers exactly the needed practical hands-on and activity-based learning to all primary age learners throughout the world and Crystal TV is glad to be a founding member of this global initiative”.

The World Challenge is set to run for a three-month period during the pandemic. Series one of the challenge is launching in mid-May, with a second series to follow in June and a third series will run throughout July.

The challenge can be accessed free of all charge globally at www.worldchallenge.club

Creative News, Healthcare News

Children asked to think big and creatively to solve issues that affect us all – Healthy Young Minds asks for “a dollop of imagination” in nationwide online competition

Launching today is Healthy Young Minds, a national competition where primary school-age children are asked to tackle today’s big issues using their imagination and creativity. Run by creative healthcare agency, Create Health, the idea is to harness the power of children’s uninhibited thinking to come up with never seen before solutions and inspire them to stick with STEM subjects.

“We’re on a mission to brighten up isolation and inspire every child in the nation”, comments Phil Blackmore, creative director at Create Health. “Healthy Young Minds is our initiative to encourage children into STEM subjects by unleashing their creativity and imaginations. Children have creativity by the bucketload, but often aren’t consulted on the big issues that they will likely face in the future. We think they should be.”

Healthy Young Mind challenges are available to download online at https://www.healthy-young-minds.com. Challenges will run throughout lockdown and will be topical, including some inspired by the Coronavirus outbreak, to ecological topics. Entries can be drawn, photographed, scanned, or designed on tablets and computers before being uploaded on to the site.

The first round of judging will take place on 21st May, with the best 20 entries being awarded with a variety of e-prizes that can be enjoyed during lockdown. There will be a second round of judging in June.

Healthy Young Minds debuted at Summerhill Academy in Bristol last year, where 400 children tackled the issues of dementia and air pollution. A judging panel included Dyson and Alzheimer’s Research UK, and four winners were chosen who submitted inventions including a robotic remembering dog and pollution eating clothes. The nationwide roll out follows an enthusiastic response.

Create Health is a Bristol-based strategic and creative marketing agency, which works with healthcare brands such as Thermo Fisher and ConvaTec. Fascinated by the opportunities presented by new healthcare technologies, treatments and methods of care, the agency delivers powerful communications that influence mindsets, increase brand value and progress the world of health.

News

The fun festive puzzle which will keep your brain working over Christmas

You can’t get away from nuts at Christmas: chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, or maybe just the family and friends who drive you nuts!

It’s easy to become focused on the food at Christmas, and who can blame you, it’s delicious! But spare a thought for your grey matter and give your brain a bit of a workout.

To help you, MTa Learning has hidden 5 green nuts, the kind you use with bolts, in and around the Christmas tree. It takes the average person 3m 18s to find them all: the same time it takes to eat a mince pie. How long will it take you?

Christmas may mean a welcome break from work, but it doesn’t mean our brains stop working. In fact, it’s a busy time with lots to juggle: whether it’s making sure you find the time to finish that big assignment, planning your calendar around all the Christmas parties, or organising a five-course festive feast for the whole family.

Problem-solving, planning and communication are all needed. But these skills aren’t just for Christmas. You need them in the workplace too and they can all be developed for peanuts using an MTa Kit.
They’re fun, engaging activities all backed up by theory (or mAcademia if you will), to improve and develop your soft skills.

So, stretch your brain and see if you can find the 5 nuts in this festive puzzle before you crack.

You can find the answer to the puzzle here: https://www.experientiallearning.org/festive-food-for-your-brain/