Online Learning: Is It Transactional Or Transformational?
Transformation vs. transaction is a widespread debate in both education and leadership. When it comes to the value proposition, modern learning institutions present these two central values. Understanding the differences between transformational and transactional values can help you determine where you stand as a student. However, it is still possible to join learning institutions seeking both. Over the last few decades, the trend has been shifting from transformational to transactional for various obvious reasons. Online learning, for instance, predominantly operates by offering a transactional value. Here is a brief overview of these two categories and how they relate to online learning systems.
What is a transformational value in education?
As the name suggests, transformation involves a particular element of growth or progressive development. It boils down to the learner's perspective when they are joining an institution of higher learning. In a transformational experience, scholars pursue higher education, expecting to become someone else or fit in a new category of people. Regardless of what to choose as your major, a transformational experience involves growth, new insights and perspective, travel experiences, and personal transformation. By the end of the experience, one expects some transition into a new person more experienced in various aspects besides their major.
What is a transactional value in education?
Transactional models work in a slightly different way. In this experience, the student gets into a transactional agreement with the institutions of higher learning. After the end of the course, the student is the same person or nearly the same. However, they have a new skill set, accreditation, or are part of a network. It is prevalent among adult students who enroll for higher education programs to gain a skill, get certification for job promotion, or learn something new. Unlike transformational experiences where the student molds into a new person, transactional experiences focus more on the skill or value sought.
Online learning
Thanks to rapid advancements in modern technology, particularly the internet, more education curriculums, and conventional premise-based learning setups are available as online models. Online learning management systems have been around for a while. According to studies, online learning tools are progressively becoming a requirement in various undergraduate programs. However, while the concept is not novel, the technologies that support it demonstrate incredible evolution.
Today, several online learning platforms use various technologies to create an environment for seamless, integrated learning. They thrive, more so, considering the support from other online technologies that support fee and transaction processing, examination, and accreditation. As such, online learning has a structure that is more in support of transactional value than transformational value. Here are two more areas where learning another language favors those seeking transnational experiences.
Packaged modules and skill sets
Online learning offers everyone the opportunity to enroll in a module or course. There are numerous online courses in virtually all fields with only a few exceptions. Unlike traditional universities where one goes through years and levels, online modules allow you to pick up a skill at any level, with the examination, and accreditation. You can become an HVAC professional, locksmith, entrepreneur, programmer, author, or any other field you like. If you are thinking about something, there is probably an online course that offers training on the subject. You can choose to learn specific elements and get an examination for those areas instead of covering the whole curriculum.
Learn on the go modules
Online learning makes it possible to learn whenever, wherever. You can schedule your course to meet your needs, which is ideal if you are an employee. Online learning also comes in various forms, including full courses, crash courses, eBooks and video tutorials, and membership training forums, among others. There is a lot you can achieve with online learning management systems.
Video lesson makers, cross-platform LMS plugins, and lesson flow that emulate classroom environments and guidelines are only a few tools available through interactive video learning. There are several other types of online learning management systems, and most allow you to sign up, learn, and get accreditation from anywhere. This makes online learning very attractive for anyone looking to gain a new skill set or increase their competence in the workplace.
Is it possible to have both transactional and transformational online learning?
The past few years have seen a change in perspective regarding the relevance and importance of conventional higher learning institutions (colleges and universities). Today, more traditional colleges and universities such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and MOOCs have online modules and courses. This naturally expands the transactional scope of the institution as it attracts more people who are merely looking to acquire a skill set of accreditation in a particular field.
According to experts, online learning has the potential to offer transformational experiences. It all depends on the technology available to the institution. Emerging virtual reality technologies and online live interaction applications provide various tools that can improve the efficiency and adequacy of modern LMS. What's more, the majority of those who seek online learning services already interact with other online systems for different aspects of their lives. This includes social interaction, gaming, news, music and entertainment, shopping, and even working.
Providing transformative experiences online requires combining all these aspects to create a symbiotic online environment for mimicking the traditional classroom course module. That is:
- A means for delivering the online course - documentation, tracking, reporting, administration, and accreditation.
- Interactive learning - instant communication, live sessions, and forums.
- Post-learning engagements - social media, online seminars, and idea development, networking.
Summing up what amounts to a transformative experience is quite overwhelming. Since online learning management systems are merely software applications, emulating a transformational experience requires in-depth comprehension of what reinforces transformation values in traditional learning systems.
Conclusion
Online learning is a perfect example where education propositions a transactional value. The challenge is for learning management system designers and developers to innovate systems that can deliver a transformational value through online platforms. As it stands, the transformational aspect of online learning is not entirely straightforward. However, there is evidence of change, as one can acquire a new skill set. This process can influence ways of thinking and open up new perceptions and ideas. Debates around the topic receive justification from both sides of the argument. Nonetheless, when it comes to the essential elements of traditional transformational value proposition, online learning systems have a long way to go.
