UoPeople Online Learning
From online learning to measurable organizational capabilities
A historical reflection on online higher education and its potential relevance to professional learning, distributed teams, and organizational development.
This article was written in 2020. Provider accreditation, tuition arrangements, educational offerings, and institutional claims should be checked against current primary sources before use.
From the beginning of times, the customs, history, religions, behaviors, and knowledge were orally transmitted and assumed to belong to the entire population although often managed by the elites.
University of the People (UoPeople) is the Education Revolution! It is the first non-profit, American-accredited, tuition-free online university dedicated to opening access to higher education globally. As an ambassador and MBA student (see my resume here), I can not recommend it enough.
UoPeople is Online-learning
Students perceive that online learning’s advantages include saving time, fitting in better with schedules, and taking more courses; however, it is commonly held that online-learning does not provide other advantages. Specifically, students don’t understand the value of class discussions and internal social media (O’Malley & McCraw, 1999).
UoPeople is a new Pedagogical Approach
In the past, distance-learning and online-learning paradigms were less appreciated; today, the relevant practices and mindsets are changed both in the academic and business world: “the appropriate use of technology is leading to significant improvements in learning and teaching across the sector and this is translating into improved satisfaction, retention and achievement”, (JISC, 2008). Indeed, interactivity of content and connectivity of people are the most prominent characteristics; the way and extent you employ these features add quality to the learning process giving you an edge and competitive advantage.
UoPeople is International Education
There is evidence that international education contributes to students’ intellectual and personal development. As a result, international education benefits the individuals who participate in these experiences and the nations from which they come or go (Cummings, 2001).
Historical context (2020): The original reflections and quotations are retained as an archival viewpoint. The business cases below describe evaluation designs rather than independently measured outcomes for University of the People or any other education provider.
Applications and Business Cases
The following applications concern the evaluation of online learning as an organizational method. They are illustrative decision cases, not evidence that a particular university or training provider has achieved these outcomes.
Workforce upskilling and continuing education
A small company considering remote training can compare asynchronous courses, facilitated online instruction, and classroom programs for the same competencies. Relevant measures include completion rates, demonstrated skill acquisition, participant time, training costs, and retention of knowledge after several weeks. Program enrollment or learner satisfaction alone does not establish improved work performance.
Onboarding and knowledge transfer
For distributed teams, recorded lessons and structured peer discussion may support consistent onboarding. A pilot can compare time to independent task completion, error rates, support requests, and employee feedback against a documented existing process. Data protection, accessibility, and uneven access to suitable devices should be considered in the evaluation.
Discuss a Learning Evaluation or Workforce Development Project
Compare Training Options Using Explicit Evidence
If your organization is planning online training, workforce reskilling, or technology-enabled onboarding, we can clarify the learning objectives, compare delivery approaches, and define observable measures of completion, skill retention, and operational usefulness.
For related methods, consult our Technical Resources and Substack. Research material is governed by our Terms of Use.
References and Further Reading
- Cummings, W. (2001). Current Challenges of International Education. Eric Digest. https://www.ericdigests.org/2003-1/current.htm
- JISC. (2008). Tangible Benefits of E-Learning. http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/bptangiblebenefitsv1.pdf
- O’Malley, J., & McCraw. (1999). Students Perceptions of Distance Learning, Online Learning and the Traditional Classroom. http://www.westga.edu/-distance/ojdla/winter24/omalley24.html
