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.