Module 1 Blog Posting:
Topic: After reading the three articles by Moller, Huett, Foshay and Coleman, and listening to the Simonson video programs, compare and contrast the reasons these authors believe there is a need to evolve distance education to the next generation. Do you agree with their positions? Why or why not?
Response:
As Simonson (2008a) mentioned, distance education is not a new phenomenon. There have been many incarnations of distance education from correspondence courses to tele-courses from local community colleges. One thing he mentioned is that he does not see distance education experiencing a radical growth in the next few years. Also, he does not foresee distance course supplanting traditional education in face to face settings. I have to agree that this is something that will not happen as there are learners who still prefer going to class and sitting with fellow students in a live class. There is an experience in going to college where there is camaraderie between classmates and learning from professors while in a lecture hall or classroom format. Where I see distance education becoming more popular is with graduate students and working adults. Without Walden University and its online format, I would not be able to pursue my Ph.D. as I could not afford to give up my income and my job in teaching. As a working adult with bills and obligations, I need the flexibility to have classes online and distance education fills this need.
Moller, Huett, Foshay and Coleman (2008) discussed how distance education can be used to help students in K-12 settings. With mandates like No Child Left Behind requiring failing schools to provide alternative education for students, some proponents see distance education as a solution. This is one area I am not convinced will experience much success. Unfortunately, many students are not mature enough for the rigors of true distance education. Granted there are courses where students just have to click through assignments to get credit, but that is not learning. Ask the parents of most teenagers and they will tell you that the students just do not have the self-discipline and motivation to complete coursework that requires learning to occur. The authors call for instructional designers to answer the challenge of develop meaningful and engaging curriculum, but I wonder if this would actually solve the problem of distance learning in the K-12 setting. An exciting curriculum is not enough to entice a teenager away from other distractions like video games, Facebook, and texting their friends.
So what are the next steps in distance education in my view?
Higher Education:
Something I am worried about is the saturation of the market for distance learning providers. From for profit institutions to traditional schools offering courses, there are almost too providers, each with their own format. Some institutions are little more than diploma mills while others provide top notch education for adult learners. I see the market for these services growing, but the number of schools declining as the competition for students forces minor players out of the market.
K-12
There is potential to serve a specialized population of students who would learn best by distance education. What should not happen is just placing students in front of computers to save money on school budgets. Computers cannot replace a quality teacher with passion for their subject matter. This passion costs money. We are shortchanging our students when we, without offering them a choice, force them to learn on computer...even if they are not willing, or capable of doing so.
Ray
References:
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. & Coleman, C. (2008, September/October). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63–67.
Laureate Education, Inc . (Producer). (2008a). Distance education: The next generation [Video Program]. Available from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4930715&Survey=1&47=7102460&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Laureate Education, Inc . (Producer). (2008b). Equivalency theory [Video Program]. Available from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4930715&Survey=1&47=7102460&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
(In order to view the videos, you need to be a student at Walden University).
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Ray,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! Congrats on working on your Ph.D. I am sure you will do great! I have to agree with you on the fact of computers possibly taking over teachers' jobs. I, too, feel that teachers will always be needed and computers cannot do the job of human beings. I also agree that some people view distance education as a diploma mill. However, if anyone ever says that about Walden, I will kick their butt, because it is kicking mine right now. On the other hand, how do you propose to fix the "laziness" problem (as I like to call it) in our students today?
While distance education is a good match for students who have trouble socially, I fear that some subects are best taught in a traditional classroom. I would consider math one of those skills. I teach 4th grade and my students have trouble with undertanding concepts, vocabulary, and the logic behind solving math problems.
ReplyDeleteYou did a really great job with your post, Ray. I think that distance education is a great opportunity for students of all ages. I do believe that the future of education is headed in that direction. I live in Florida and there are a lot of high schools that are virtual schools. They stay at home or go to a computer based location and take all of their classes that way except for PE.
ReplyDeleteAngel Hobrook