Date
5-23-2025
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)
Chair
Chris Clark
Keywords
College students often struggle in traditional online learning environments due to a lack of personalized instruction and flexible resources that accommodate diverse learning styles. This one-size-fits-all approach can limit comprehension, lower engagement, and hinder academic progress. Many students also face barriers such as limited access to advanced tools, digital literacy gaps, and uncertainty about using new technologies like AI and virtual reality. This research explores how online education can evolve into a more customized and immersive experience by integrating AI-driven personalization, VR simulations, and flexible learning pathways such as micro-credentials. It also emphasizes the importance of providing technical support, addressing diverse needs—including those of students with disabilities—and fostering community to ensure equitable and effective learning outcomes.
Disciplines
Instructional Media Design
Recommended Citation
Poole, Wes, "T E C H R E V O L U T I O N - Navigating the Digital Classroom: Challenges and Opportunities of Online Learning" (2025). Masters Theses. 1311.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1311
Abstract
Research indicators confirm that that online learning is complex, with both challenges and opportunities to be found. There are several benefits to online learning, including flexibility, accessibility, personalized learning, and collaboration, but there are also many challenges associated with it. While equity and assessment are still major challenges, technology barriers are still present, engagement is limited, and communication is limited.
There is no doubt that self-directed learning, also referred to as online learning, provides innovative pedagogical approaches and also connects learners all over the world through self-directed learning. As a result, it is imperative that existing challenges be addressed, effective communication strategies be developed, and inclusive design be implemented to maximize its potential. By leveraging its unique opportunities and mitigating its limitations, online learning can transform education as well as successfully reaching every students needs in the 21st century.
