CONVENIENCE is usually the sales pitch of institutions that offer full online courses. After all, students can study anytime and anywhere and no longer need to brave the metro traffic just to get to a physical classroom. With its unsupervised nature, there is a prevailing notion that taking a course online is not for everyone.
For AMA University Online Education (AMA OEd), a platform that offers university level degree and short courses online, though online learning is unsupervised, each course is crafted to address the needs of different students.
“A typical course or subject has a number of modules and for each, there are materials in various mediums to cater to different types of learners,” shared Leohernard Quitaleg, head of content development for AMA OEd.
Content for modules are developed to go beyond the usual reading materials. “We have practical activities for kinesthetic learners who prefer a more hands-on type of method than just listening to lectures. There are also presentations and videos to suit every kind of learner,” Quitaleg said.
Courses offered by AMA OEd, for example, are designed with different types of learners in mind. Presentations are short but reflect key learning points. Different videos, especially for those taking creative courses, are available to help stimulate learning. Supplemental reading materials are also provided to help students understand the subject matter better.
“The idea is to really empower students to learn. Students can follow the modules that are designed to tackle information deeply. The other supplemental materials also help expand topics and give students a different point of view on the matter,” said Angelica Bruzola-Harris, an online course content developer for AMA OEd.
In lieu of a physical room, there is a virtual classroom that’s facilitated by a mentor where students can join in on discussions with other students. “Online students have shared that it’s really just like being in class—they get to ask questions and also hear their peers. They see me and their classmates through a screen,” said Josephine Casin, a computer science and information technology mentor at AMA OEd.
Since virtual classes are done within a shorter time frame, efficiency is a must for both students and mentors. According to Casin, this helps improve the communication skills of both the students and mentors. (PR)