Distance Learning and the Future
Jim Finn, a technology pioneer in the 1960’s, talked about the stirrup as a source of change and how it has relevance to distance education. The stirrup wasn’t new but it was used in a new way that brought about change during the medieval period in history. The stirrup greatly increased the knight’s effectiveness that allowed the knight to stay in the saddle and be utilized as major weapon. For the next 600 years the mounted knights would dominate Europe until other weaponry was discovered. In distance education when new technologies emerge it’s not the technologies themselves that cause change but it’s the new way of doing things with that technology that brings about change.
Experts in the field of distance education generally agree that distance learning takes place when a teacher and a learner are separated in space and time. Desmond Keegan (1988) identified five main elements in distant learning. “The separation of teachers and learners, the influence of an educational organization which is not self-study or private tutoring, using a computer network to distribute educational content and provides two-way communication using a computer network to encourage communication between the students and each other and teachers. (Pg.36)” Distance Education, also known as online education, is not just improving education or sustaining it but rather is a disruptive methodology that is changing education. Dan Coldeway's four quadrants define a way to look at distance education. (Pg.9) Same Time, Same place (ST-SP) is seen in a traditional classroom setting. Different Time, Same Place (DT-SP) is found in a learning center or a multiple sections of a course. Same Time, Different Place (ST-DP) is seen in telecommunications or television and Different Time, Different Place (DT-DP) where students and teacher communicate at different times and is the purest form of distance education.
Research done by the Sloan consortium found giving learners control of their interaction with media and prompting learner reflection could enhance online learning. With the increase demand for online courses offered by higher education there is reluctance by some professors and administrators for this type of instruction. There is a concern that the quality of education will be diminished as well as jeopardizing the accreditation for the institution. Susan Lafky, an online German teacher, asked her students about their class experience. From the responses she found, “that with many students, a self-paced structure actually enhances independence, responsibility, and confidence. Computers and technology are just vehicles that deliver instructions. The best practices in online education include: Course design, interaction between instructor and student and among students, visualization of ideas and concepts and assessment designed to meet learning outcomes can influence achievement and effectiveness.
Traditional students as well as adults in transition need new ways to gain knowledge and training in order to be competitive. Countries around the world are embracing distance learning. According to Hanover Research, India approximately 24% of students are enrollment in higher education due to legislation that ensures higher wages to those who earn an online degree. South Korea is leading in Asia in online education due to their growing high-tech industry and fast Internet speeds. Africa has been identified as a potential market for the expansion of global distance learning. The political instability and economic depression have caused a decline in educational standards in areas of Sub-Saharan Africa were participation is less than 2 percent. In Saudi Arabia, women drive much of the interest in online education since they are not free to move around as they are in other countries. The U.S. is the leader in online education in the world today. Active military personnel and working professionals are two prime target populations for U.S. distance education institutions. A 2011 study by the Sloan Consortium found that 6 million students in the US are taking at least one online course, nearly one third of all those enrolled in higher education.
The future of distance education has many challenges ahead. Schools, businesses, and other consumers could end up paying more for broadband internet services, if plans from major telecommunications companies come to pass. “They want to be able to provide “tiered service,” guaranteeing that, for a price, some packets will get to their destination on time.” Our society as well as the technology is changing with the concept of Web 2.0. Daniel Nations in his article “How Web 2.0 is Defining Society” said, “Today, we aren't just using the Internet as a tool -- we are becoming a part of it.” Interactivity is the main component of Web 2.0. It’s focus is on user collaboration, sharing and social networking. Since we are spending more time in cyberspace one major concern is security.
The 21st century students have grown up using technology and it’s the norm to use social media to connect. It’s essential that faculty and educational institutions accept this paradigm. “The decline of the lone-eagle teaching approach - Rather than designing foundational courses on their own, faculty members will work with colleagues and instructional designers to develop simulations, animations, and assessment collaboratively. (Steven Mintz)” The concept of a flipped classroom is a new approach to teaching and learning and is the wave of the future. It allows teachers more flexibility to coach and mentor rather than being a lecturer. The use of technology, as demonstrated by the knights use of the stirrup to become a powerful weapon, when applied in a skillful manner will bring about major changes in society.
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