Moller, Foshay, and Huett (2008) mention that distant learning is becoming a popular choice for professional education, mid-career degree, and lifelong learning. Many of us are in this class for the convenience of being able to work at our own pace around our jobs and family. There are obviously benefits to usage of the Internet and any new technology. Educators need training and solutions to evolve the next generation into distant learning. Many educators are not trained so they use a craft approach. They design and develop the course based on what has worked in the traditional classroom and put it on the web. Simonson (2008) states that online students and traditional students learn in different environments. Therefore they should have the opportunity to learn appropriately. Online students should learn through equivalency. That means learning through a variety of experiences that are tailored to their environment and situation. Moller, Foshay, and Huett (2008) agree that online learning allows for strategies not possible in a traditional classroom. Educators must reexamine the process of learning. They need to prepare online learners to focus on thinking, creativity, collaboration, and dialogue. They must also reconsider what constitute instruction. Traditional learning controls and manages the educational experience, while online learning has more social collaboration and learner to learner communication. Educators must adjust to the course development, control of the learning process, collaboration, and intellectual property rights. Online education is more work than traditional classrooms. Teachers feel that student evaluations will be lower than traditional classroom students. Online courses carry a stigma that reduces the credit given to teacher for the work they put into the classroom. Yet a study by the National Education Association (2000) showed that seventy five percent of faculty had positive feelings about online learning. They liked the flexibility and felt that there was more individual student participation. The asynchronous communications allowed for more think time to formulate responses and make greater connections (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008).
Moller, L., Foshay, W., Huett, J. (2008). TechTrends. Vol. 1 (4)
Moller, L., Foshay, W., Huett, J. (2008). TechTrends. Vol. 52 (4)
Simonson, (2000). Making decisions: The use of electronic technology in online classes. New directions for teaching and learning. 84 (29-34)
http://libraryguides.waldenu.edu/educ7102
Tracy, The convenience of gaining course credit without interruption to my home and family life is the precise reason that I chose to obtain both my MEd and EdS through an online degree program. I feel that it is very important for online programs to encourage (and require) collaboration among learners and that instructor feedback is imperative. I feel that as teachers who have completed their degree online perform as well as, if not better, than teachers who obtain degrees from face to face institutions, distance learning will gain the respect that it deserves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Beth,
ReplyDeleteI think I would scare people if they saw what I look like when I am posting late at night. I don't wear make up and am usually am wearing pajamas. I am comfortable.
Tracy
Tracy
ReplyDeleteI agree that distance education has made it much more convenient and obtainable for adults to continue their education. I also agree that educators need to re-examine the process of learning in a distance education setting. It is much more work than it would be in a face to face classroom but it also has more convenience than a face to face classroom. Maybe if there were more discusion opportunities through skype or something similiar versus paper after paper it would be more effective.