Remote learning has opened education up to a much broader array of students than ever before. Yet it comes with a distinct set of challenges. From no face to face interactions to multipurpose learning spaces, distance learners experience higher education in a completely different way to their in person peers.
A failure to support this group of students risks further isolation and the amplification of already prevalent challenges, ultimately fuelling the disengagement cycle as students feel unable to overcome the challenges blocking their route to success.
Understanding the challenges of remote learning
Some of the challenges associated with remote learning are somewhat to be expected. But are these challenges being overlooked simply because they're expected, rendering meaningful engagement and an effective learning environment as a privilege for in person learners alone?
Unsurprisingly, learning remotely is a completely alternate learning scenario to what many are used to. It can feel very different from what many consider the traditional university experience, creating a feeling of isolation.
On top of the technical challenges which come with distance learning, there’s also additional factors which may be the reasoning behind choosing a remote course. 19.2% of students have children and 39.2% are part time; both of which can result in additional challenges such as being time poor or having extra responsibilities, making online learning even tougher to engage with.
On the other hand, online learning provides unprecedented flexibility and accessibility, eliminating many barriers for students and allowing them to pursue their educational goals. Asynchronous online programs enable self-paced learning, which is crucial for those balancing education with work, family, and other responsibilities.
So, to ensure remote learning can be experienced to its full potential, let’s dive into some of the challenges in more detail, and explore how they can be overcome.
Challenge 1: Developing independent note taking skills
Being a remote learner means accessing the hidden curriculum at university can be even more challenging than it already is for other students. Not being physically at university means they can miss out on the shared experience of navigating academic struggles.
Discussions of what students are going through or struggling to grasp often happen organically after in person lectures. Many remote learners never get to be a part of this, leading them to not only feel isolated but possibly even less confident in their skills or understanding.
Likewise, note taking skills themselves are rarely taught explicitly, let alone note taking during online lessons. Glean encourages students to become more independent and confident learners by developing note taking skills which facilitate genuine learning, regardless of being in person or online.
Being able to add bullet pointed notes, tasks and definitions alongside the slides and transcriptions creates digestible notes which can be reviewed easily. Plus our handy Quiz Me tool generates quick multiple choice questions for students to actively recall and test their understanding.
In person learners can stay after class or find professors on campus, for remote learners communication can be asynchronous as almost all contact is via email.
Capturing and transcribing lectures also means that students have a reference point if they need clarification after a lecture or during studying, and if help is still needed from a professor, they can be really clear on which area they’re struggling with.
Challenge 2: Feeling disconnected from the learning
Learning remotely can feel disconnected. While online and distance learning courses have evolved to facilitate more seamless delivery and an inclusive environment, not being in a physical lecture hall can make it difficult to feel truly engaged and part of the learning experience, resulting in a lack of motivation.
Add on the multiple distractions of navigating different tabs, windows and possibly ineffective learning spaces, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed, and eventually, disengaged.
Using Glean’s chrome extension reduces the need to multitask, allowing better focus and clarity during online lectures. Using the chrome extension keeps everything students need in one place. No more flicking from the meeting call, to a notes page or physical notebook.
Not only does this help reduce the disconnect between the lecture and notes, but it means they’re less likely to be distracted by other things in the process, such as checking emails or social media, allowing them to feel more present in the lecture
Challenge 3: Screen fatigue and cognitive overload
Ultimately, screen fatigue is unavoidable, especially for students who have fully remote learning. When all your classes are online, there’s no escaping high levels of screen time throughout the day, but there are ways to ensure the time spent at a screen is impactful and engaging.
Glean can help remote learners alleviate cognitive overload which accompanies screen fatigue by creating simple notes which are easy to revisit, as well as reassurance that all the content is saved and transcribed.
By using Glean, students actively engage with the material through note taking, making it simple to highlight information which is important, requires extra reading or a task.
This active participation can help break up long periods of passive screen time, potentially reducing fatigue and helping students to better understand and retain information.
Key takeaways
While remote learners face a nuance of challenges, they aren’t insurable. Using Glean can help relieve some of the extra pressures felt by remote learners.
- Encourage the use of Glean’s chrome extension to make note taking alongside online lectures simpler and distraction free.
- Using Glean can help remote learners develop self confidence in independent note taking skills while making notes they can effectively study from.
- Recording and transcribing online lectures allows students to revisit any time they need to clarify or re-engage with content.
