The Future of Distance Learning

                Distance learning is growing more and more acceptable in our society. Distance learning is not only for the working adults but it’s for everyone right down to k-12 education. Our society is rapidly moving toward distance education. Everything can be done online now from face-to-face conversations, banking, and shopping. It’s only right that education falls into place. Of course people will be a little skeptical about online learning. I was one of them. Distance learning will continue to win people over once people realize distance learning is equal to traditional learning.

                In 5-10 years, I believe people perceptions of distance learning will have changed for the better. The more technology continues to advance it will pave the way for distance learning to become better and better; in turn changing people perceptions of distance learning. Dr. Siemens, mentioned the several factors that causes acceptance of distance education to grow. The factor I feel that will change the perceptions of distance learning is the increase in online communication. Communication online is rapidly growing with things like Skype, messengers, and discussion board people are becoming more used to communicating online. Distance learning is driven by communication whether it be asynchronous or synchronous. The continuous improvement of online communication will be the factor behind changing people’s perception of distance learning. People need to know online communication is just as good as face-to-face communication.

                As an instructional designer I can improve societal perceptions of distance learning by constantly looking for ways to improve distance learning to meet the needs of all learners and advertise the benefits and awards of distance learning. Just like educators working in the traditional learning environment constantly are researching and looking for new ways to improve education for their learners, the same needs to be done for distance learning. Society need to know distance learning is always growing to meet the needs of all learners. Finally, advertising the positives of distance learning shows society what learners can gain from distance learning and it can provide a quality education for its learners.

                I will be a positive force for continuous improvement in distance education by using the latest technology to appeal to learners, collaborate with experts and other instructional designers, and most of all try to make the learner feel comfortable. Dr. Siemens, mentioned bridging the gap of comfort. Learners need to feel just as comfortable with distance learning as they do with traditional learning. Until learners are comfortable distance learning perception will not change.

                Distance learning will continue to grow and will be a norm just as traditional learning is. Eventually people will be less skeptical about distance learning. I believe that distance learning will never phase out or will replace traditional learning but, distance learning and traditional learning will work hand in hand complimenting each other and making education better.  

References

“The Future of Distance Education” Laureate Education, Inc.

Facilitating Distance Learning

Implementing distance learning does not have to be the hardest thing in the world but if not done correctly it hard for the trainer and the learner. At times face-to-face learning may seem like the only way to receive the proper training. Making the switch can be challenging but with some planning it can be done. Check out the Guide to Facilitating Distance Learning Facilitating Distance Learning

Open Courses

I reviewed AFAM 162: African American History: From Emancipation to the Present on Yale’s open source. The course is broken down into 25 lectures. The lectures are videos recorded by the instructor. Learners have the option of purchasing the books for the class and taking a satisfaction survey. The course materials are on a downloadable zip drive. Along with each lecture there are assignments. The course seems to be laid out and pre-planned especially for distance learning. Each lecture is prerecorded and separated into chapters. The learner can click on each chapter to start the video. There are really no assignment that have to be posted by a due date. The assignments are just reading or either a video. The course is designed to be flexible and carter to the needs of distance learners. I also looked at other courses like Freshman Chemistry. Freshman chemistry has assignments that are due. The assignment can be found on the instructor’s website. The courses does follow some of the recommendations for online instruction. The course is broken up into modules, using other methods to present information such as videos, and has some type of assessment. In the chemistry course the designer provided many ways to maximize active learning for the students by providing problem sets and a contact method to contact the professor. I think the open courses should add asynchronous discussion so learning taking the course can communicate and share ideas. Open courses are a good thing for learners that just want to brush up of material or learn something new without paying the price of traditional courses. It also, allows learners to become acquainted with online (distance) learning. References http://oyc.yale.edu/ Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

I chose example 2: Interactive tours. In this example a high school history teacher wants to show her class two showcases that are being held at two different museums in New York City. The problem is that the class in located on west coast. She wants to be able to show her students the art exhibits and have the students engage in a group critique of the art work. I suggest the teacher use interactive media to watch the showcases and use a blog for the group to critique the art work. To show the art exhibits media sharing websites or if the museum has an interactive tour that can be used. Media sharing websites are a good way to review work. It also has the ability for comments to be made. Interactive tours can also be done by the teacher pulling pictures of the artwork that need to be critique. An example of a teacher using interactive media is using teachertube.edu and PBSkids.org I think blogging such as using blogger.com can come in handy when each group is going to critique the artwork. Blogs can be private or public with the option to allow comments. Enabling the comments allows room for debates and futher critiquing. References blogger.com PBSkids.org

Defining Distance Learning

 

Prior to beginning my graduate work at Walden University I thought distant learning was an easier alternative to getting a degree or diploma. I had conversations with people that were working on degrees online and I received positive review. People liked the flexibility of the programs and the options to complete schoolwork on their own time. This is why I though online learning would be a piece of cake. I did research and looked at reviews for various online schools to find out what school would be the best school for me. I did not take into account the skills I need to complete my online degree. I needed skills like time management and self-discipline to complete my work in a timely manner.

I picked the distant education route because I wanted to obtain my masters but I also needed to work a full time job and have time for my daughter. I had a lot to learn about the world of distant education. I’m the type of person that is described in part 1 of The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web, “...given the lack of collaborative learning background of many learners, our educational system is producing learners who prefer, or are able only to interact with the content and/or the instructor, but not each other.” (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008a, p. 74) I love the classroom environment and being to interact with classmates and my professor; little did I know that distant learning would be an adjustment for me.

This week’s learning resources has helped me learn and think about distance education on a deeper level. Distance education is more than just logging on, completing your assignments, and flexibility. Distance education involves the use of different learning styles and strategies, learning becomes an ongoing event, and foster learning and ideas that may not be available in a traditional classroom setting.

Dr. Simonson gives his definition if distance education  in the video program: "Distance Education: The Next Generation", “distance education can be defined as formal education in which the learning group (teacher students, resources) are separated by geography and sometimes, by time.” (Dr. Simonson Distance Education: The Next Generation)

My new definition of distance education includes group learning, being separated by distance, and the use of instructional strategies and learning styles. My new definition of distance education: distance education is formal education with its students and/or teacher is separated by distance it includes students learning by the use of instructional strategies and learning styles.

 

In the future I see distance learning taking off and soaring. Distance education has proven itself beneficial to education. In the future I think distance learning will be including in tradition school settings and will change and advance to meet the needs of the ever evolving world of technology and to meet the need of everyone that uses distance learning.

Resources
Laureate Education, Inc. Distance Education: The Next Generation
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 1: Training and development). TechTrends, 52(3), 70–75.

 

Welcome!!!

Welcome to the world of Distance Learning.  Follow me and my journey through distance learning.