Module 1: Distance Education
According to this module's assigned readings, vodcast, and discussions, it is easy for us to understand and appreciate the advantages of distance education. Dr. Simonson (2008) states, "distance education is not identical to face-to-face education, but it is equivalent." This correlation of the two provides us with a foundation as to what is meant by the term Equivalency Theory as mentioned in the vodcast. Essentially, both face-to-face learning and distance education should be designed with the same learning outcomes even if there may be different learning experiences to meet those outcomes.
Distance education provides learners with the opportunity to learn on their own time and pace. The days of having to adhere to class times and commuting back and forth from campuses are long over. Distance education is providing students with the skills they need and how they need them. "Distance learning is rapidly becoming a popular choice for continuing professional education, mid-career degree programs, and lifelong learning of all kinds" (Moller, 2008).
Distance education needs to be able to keep up with the demands of its learners. There are an abundance of learners out there looking for quality distance education programs, however there are not a lot of programs that exist due to a lack of interest of those who would be willing to pioneer such programs. Unfortunately, distance education has be viewed in the past as an easier program and lacks the rigor that universities demand of its students. However, this is not the case with all distance education programs and it is time that they begin being recognized. As the articles alluded, distance education has the potential to be great modes of learning and will do so if there is enough faculty buy in. On the other hand, Dr. Simonson doesn't find buy in necessary. He feels that distance education is here and is rapidly becoming the way most effective and efficient means by which to learn.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Distance Education: The Next Generation. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4930714&Survey=1&47=3145888&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1.
Distance education provides learners with the opportunity to learn on their own time and pace. The days of having to adhere to class times and commuting back and forth from campuses are long over. Distance education is providing students with the skills they need and how they need them. "Distance learning is rapidly becoming a popular choice for continuing professional education, mid-career degree programs, and lifelong learning of all kinds" (Moller, 2008).
Distance education needs to be able to keep up with the demands of its learners. There are an abundance of learners out there looking for quality distance education programs, however there are not a lot of programs that exist due to a lack of interest of those who would be willing to pioneer such programs. Unfortunately, distance education has be viewed in the past as an easier program and lacks the rigor that universities demand of its students. However, this is not the case with all distance education programs and it is time that they begin being recognized. As the articles alluded, distance education has the potential to be great modes of learning and will do so if there is enough faculty buy in. On the other hand, Dr. Simonson doesn't find buy in necessary. He feels that distance education is here and is rapidly becoming the way most effective and efficient means by which to learn.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Distance Education: The Next Generation. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4930714&Survey=1&47=3145888&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1.
Moller, L., Forshay, W. R., & Huett, J. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(3), 70-75.
Moller, L., Foshay, W. R., & Huett, J. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(4), 66-70.
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. R., & Coleman, C. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 52(5), 63-67.
The evolution of Distance Education is necessary for learners to achieve a quality education. This is more important than the availability or access it provides world-wide.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the distance education market will be oversaturated as many for-profit institutions get into the field? There are many places like University of Phoenix (and gasp, Walden University) that do provide quality education, but at a significantly higher cost than their traditional schools.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought I have is why do distance education courses cost so much more when one would intuitively think they cost less to produce and maintain?
I like the idea of idea of both "classrooms" being equivalent. That is why I feel it is hard to teach online courses becuase you have to create instruction that will be exciting and fun for the students. Sometimes, it is hard to keep that excitement going, but as I'm learning with educational technology available, it is possible.
ReplyDeleteA comment on the charges of for-profit schools...they charge so much because they have investors to answer too. These types of institutions are expected to return a profit to the investors even if it is passing on costs to their customers. We pay for convenience first and secondly answering to investors, having a negative cash-flow is not viable.
I think that distance education can be difficult on both the student and the teacher. It is really difficult to know if the students are really engaged in the lessons when they are online versus face to face interaction. As a student, I find it difficult to keep up with assignments because it is easier to ignore the class rather than a face to face environment, where they take attendance and you have to interact with the professor face to face. With distance education tere is the benefit of not having to travel. Great post!
ReplyDelete