Postsecondary institutions must learn how to scale online education in a way that reaches more learners while preserving the human experience that is at the heart of education, writes Annie Taylor (The Pennsylvania State University). The author discusses the essential “ingredients” for scaling online education effectively: faculty training, scalable engagement, standardized courses that leave room for creativity, technology that reduces faculty administrative burden, and on-demand professional development. Taylor notes that faculty and instructional designers must also collaborate to solve challenges that arise. “As institutions face enrolment cliffs, shifting learner demographics and ever-evolving student expectations, one thing remains clear: scale and quality are not mutually exclusive,” writes Taylor. “With the right systems, partnerships, and mindset, higher education can grow without losing its soul.”
