In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s higher education was largely assumed as an on campus experience. As technology improved, distance education began evolving from the exchange of documents and media primarily via postal mail to online exchanges.
During the 2000s and now in the 10s, the number of students in higher education taking at least one online course grew on an annual basis. It is reasonable to project that in the not too distant future a majority of students will complete at least part of their coursework online.
So What?
In less than a decade the percentage of students taking at least one online course nearly tripled. If a similar increase were to occur over the next decade more than 95% of students would take at least once course online each semester.
- What are the direct and indirect impacts of this shift in higher education related to the ministry and mission of your local congregation?
- What percentage of the adult participants in your congregation’s adult enrichment/discipleship/education programs attended at least one online offering in 2012? Does your congregation have any goals in place related to increasing online educational offerings and/or increasing the percentage of those participating in educational events who do so online?