The authors from this week's module seem to encourage evolving distance education to the next generation. Everything in life is becoming fast-paced including businesses, education, and careers. There is major growth in this field and needs to be taught to the next generation in order for them to keep up with the fast-paced future. Distance education draws all sorts of people including those who are not traditional students, and ones who can't afford to go to a college. They do warn though that distance education may become a dumping ground for credit recovery students. There may also be a lack of trained professionals, which could cause a major problem with distance education.
I do agree with their views because I believe distance education is growing to a point where it may be the number one way students are educated in the future. I don't think that it will replace face-to-face instruction, but I do believe it will come close.
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.
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May/June). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 1: Training and Development). TechTrends, 52(3), 70–75.
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, July/August). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 2: Higher Education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66–70.
Simonson, M. (2000). Making decisions: The use of electronic technology in online classes. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 84, 29–34.
Linda, do you think that's going to cause a major problem if Distance Education becomes a dumping ground for students? If you stop and think, the professionals won't be trained as well in distance education, and then they will be trying to educate non-traditional students who may not be motivated in the first place. Do you see that happening?
ReplyDeleteDana, I do think that it is a great possibility that will happen. I am worried about my niece who is in the 10th grade. She has not been a traditional student. Her mother has struggled with her to go to school. She has had to change school so much in the last year that she lost some of her credits. Now her father (they are divorced) is letting her take classes online. I feel like that was the wrong thing to do, but I don't have a say in it. Of course I did voice my opinion...LOL.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Do you think that all students should have experience with distance education before they leave high school? Some students think that they can handle a fully online course, but are not disciplined enough to work at their own pace. Some of my students find that they prefer f2f and are glad they had the experience of a distance education course.
ReplyDeleteLinda (and Tess): Admittedly DE is not everyone's best choice because they think it is a cop out for not going to school. We all know that DE takes a lot of self-discipline and structure to be successful. In many ways DE puts the responsibility on the learner - which in my "humble" opinion is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThe only drawback I can see for DE in the K-12 genre is the lack of socialization within a class/brick & mortar school. That could be easily overcome through F2F planned meetings or field trips, which I believe are part of a Homeschooling curriculum.
Chris W.
In what ways do you see DE not replacing F2F instruction?
ReplyDeleteTess, I do think that all students should have the DE experience before leaving high school, only to get a "taste" of it in order to know if it is for them or not.
ReplyDeleteDE will not replace f2f in many ways....one being different learning styles. Some students need that f2f instruction. Some students are not motivated enough to complete DE classes.
ReplyDelete