Making the teaching and learning process more flexible in an online university

Abstract

An online university can be a good setting to foster flexible education and to encourage active and informal learning. However, in order to benefit from this combination, training and proper implementation are needed. This paper refers to an educational experience carried out in an online university with a sample of 107 students studying Infant, Primary and Secondary education. It is comprised of an active learning proposal that aims to make online education more flexible by means of using different initiatives which are developed within the framework of the same subject. Self-regulation, autonomy, collaboration, interaction and informal learning make up a holistic approach focused on improving the educational experience of the students. By using an online questionnaire, it can be verified that the appropriate and frequent use of forums by the teaching staff is a fundamental tool for helping the students. Likewise, it can be concluded that the Edpuzzle platform contributes to the flexibility of the learning process, providing students with greater autonomy and self-regulation. In addition, the possibility of carrying out activities in pairs and the use of digital tools are also aspects to consider when aiming to make online education more personalized and flexible.