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.