The Online Learning Experience: Perspective of the VET Sector

As students across Australia undertake their final assessments and schools wind down in time for the festive season, we reflect on how online learning has evolved since the start of the pandemic, and explore its impact on Vocational Education and Training (VET).

There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has effectively reshaped the way we work and study. Although most Australians would prefer to remain working from home, the same might not be said for studying from home. According to a survey conducted by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), more students in higher education preferred to return to face-to-face learning as soon as possible, rather than continue with remote learning.

The Challenges

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) across the nation, and indeed the wider VET sector, faced especially unique challenges in the transition to online learning. Given the nature of roles like hairdressing, nursing, horticulture, allied health - all hands-on, technical skill sets - it’s understandable that in-person physical instruction is just as invaluable to these industries as theory-based teaching, if not more so. Unfortunately, as we all know, recurring lockdowns throughout 2020 and into 2021 have made it difficult for RTOs (and education providers in general) to consistently deliver these face-to-face classes.

Another aspect of the remote learning experience that is unique to a RTO is its student demographic. Here at Fresh Futures, the vast majority of students we serve are anywhere from their late thirties to early sixties. Familiarisation with online learning platforms and tools may not come quite as naturally as compared to, say, your average tech-savvy Gen Z. This is where having highly trained educators who are passionate about what they do, and are willing to empower students to reach their full potential, can play a huge role in your own personal learning experience.

The Positives

Despite the challenges presented by online learning, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has commended RTOs both for their quick and emphatic response to the pandemic and for their commitment to continually improve the online learning experience for their students. It's crucial that they continue to remain adaptable to the situation, given its unpredictability - whether that means delivering courses fully online, engaging in some form of blended learning, or returning to physical classes altogether once the time is right. Even though studying online might not be ideal for some, the quality of your education doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t!) be compromised.

Some students find that they actually prefer remote learning due to its unique advantages. Participants in the aforementioned survey on their experience of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic reported:

• a greater capacity to self-manage their own time better than in a face-to-face environment

• improved retention, resulting in better learning outcomes

• enjoying flexibility in terms of types and outcomes of assessments

• enhanced learning as a result of studying at their own pace due to early availability of lectures, tutorial questions and overall content.

We're Here to Help

It's important to be selective with your RTO, and to do your thorough research into which institution will support you best throughout your educational journey. Our Fresh Futures Career Advisors are dedicated to helping you make the most informed decision possible, and we’ve streamlined the process by partnering with only the highest quality institutions in Melbourne. We’d love to have a chat with you to answer any questions or address any concerns you might have about studying online, so please feel free to reach out to us!