Learning is not a one-way street. It requires a constant interaction between teacher and student. Are current e-learning platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare making this interaction impossible? Moreover, from a platform’s point of view, the emphasis should be on effective learning and not solely on monetizing this interaction, isn’t it? At SkillʻOhana we are trying to redefine how this interaction is handled and how focus is brought back on creating an environment that is best suited for learning.
Not all students learn the same way. So, a teacher who understands different student psychologies and is able to adapt accordingly will be in the best position to connect with the student. This also means that a teacher needs to be given a certain amount of creative freedom to achieve best possible results. This could be one of the possible reasons why some teachers found that only 11% of the student graduate in their course on Udemy as compared to 91% for their more traditional online course (Source: LinkedIn.com). The availability of course work designed at top ranked universities on Coursera is a great learning asset. But is it possible that it suppresses creativity in smaller universities or around the world?
For successful learning, a good Teacher is central. And for this reason, rewarding the teacher consistent with their efforts is crucial. We at SkillʻOhana derive inspiration from what the word Guru (Sanskrit) signifies. Guru translates into remover of darkness, i.e., he should be capable enough to guide his students to correct knowledge. It signifies the important position the Guru holds in this interaction. And this is why we believe that the teacher deserves highest possible reward for his efforts. But teachers at Udemy may find that in certain scenarios they can only receive $0 from their own course work*. In one of the subscription models of Udemy, a teacher is paid by minutes watched. So, if someone bought the course and did not watch it then the teacher will not get paid. Our own review of Skillshare seemed to suggest that possibility of similar outcome for the teacher. Skillshare pays royalty based on its “per minutes watched” model for its teacher. And as was seen for Udemy, the teacher could be paid nothing in some situations.
E-learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Skillshare are great tools and important part of the evolution of learning. But the student-teacher interaction needs revolution to drive effective learning experience for both the student as well as the teacher. And we at SkillʻOhana are leading it!