Web and Education as Disruptors of Traditional Education and Development of Future Students and Workers

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, the internet has evolved from being the web of content to being the web of thoughts and the web of things in business, communication, entertainment, and education. To stay competitive, higher education institutions have had to train students on the wide range of skills and experiences and to move to digital platforms to better meet the needs of students, employees, and organizations. This chapter provides an overview of the development of online education, the 1.0 to 5.0 phases of web development, and how the field of education has adapted to these phases. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of mobile learning such as MOOCs, course collaboration software, and how smartphones can be used in courses to interact with peers and faculty. This chapter then presents a case study illustrating how online courses can successfully integrate Web 4.0 and 5.0 technology. It concludes by discussing the benefits and challenges of adopting some disruptive technologies and on how educational institutions can meet the needs of the next generation of students.