EDUC-6135-1 Distance Learning Reflection

Reflection

Lisa A. Frey

Walden University

Instructor:  Deanna Romano

EDUC-6135-1 Distance Learning

Currently Distance Learning reflects both advancements in information technology and social communication networks that are applied to coursework in the education, business, manufacturing, military and non-profit sectors of our society.  Through the guidance of Dr. Siemens’ Laureate Universities 2010 video “The Future of Distance Education” I learned that as peoples’ comfort level with computer technology increases through frequent use in common situations, peoples’ positive perceptions  of media within education will increase, as well.  He mentioned growing that acceptance for Distance Education within, as he called it, the “Triple Helix” – education, business, and the government supports this. Through this course I have seen that all three of these entities have increased their utilization of Distance Education as, as Dr. Siemens mentioned, technology has advanced to where it is not only feasible to create courses that are clean and crisp, and easily seen and heard it is economically advisable, in many cases, to create courses where geographical distance is no longer a factor.

I agree with Dr. Siemens that within the next five to ten years acceptance of Distance Learning will increase dramatically.  Slowly, as our youngest generation of teachers becomes more “entrenched” in the classroom, I predict that they will be technology leaders, through Course Management Systems and through synchronous and asynchronous adaptations of course material.  These new instructors have never known a world where computers, gaming, and use of personal communications devices haven’t existed.  I believe that within ten to twenty years Distance Education will be the norm for many institutions.  One example that reflects my belief is that parents of students can access a course management system and track the progress their children are making in class.  With ten to twenty years I predict that teachers will regularly add URLS to reference for homework assistance and will have the ability to actually engage students in after school intervention programs, after the children have gone home and can be supervised by their parents.  Not only will future classroom teachers have a better chance of having parents help with homework, through this system, it will also be more cost effective for the school as students and teachers will not be on campus.

Throughout this Instructional Design Master’s Degree program our instructors have emphasized that our future clients will look to us to promote “goodwill” for Distance Education as we serve them with excellent course designs, good communications, innovative evaluations and attention to cost effectiveness.  I would add that, after completing EDUC 6135-1, providing an excellent initial orientation is certainly one of the components of improving societal perceptions of Distance Learning.  My rationale for mentioning this is through both the interviews I conducted about perceptions of distance learning and the discussions that were posted during Week 8.  While it is true that successful initial orientation was not mentioned, specifically, it is my contention that if a learner enters a course or program and finds the content confusing and the technology hard to navigate through he or she will probably not view the course positively, even if he or she completes it successfully.  “First impressions” do matter and as a designer I need to make sure that I must stringently design and evaluate the orientation components of my courses.

I will be a positive force for continuous improvements in Distance Education by continuously improving my design and communication skills; by conducting my personal and work habits with integrity; and by keeping current with developments in design and technology.  Several of my friends have mentioned that they don’t get much use from their Instructional Design Master’s degrees as  most of them were earned four or five years ago from local universities, because technology has changed.  It will be my responsibility keep current with technology.

References:

Gambescia, S., & Paolucci, R. (2009). Academic Fidelity and Integrity as Attributes of     University Online Degree Program Offerings. Online Journal of Distance Learning      Administration, 12(1).             http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring121/gambescia121.html

Laureate Universities Video Program: “The Future of Distance Education,” 2010

Schmidt, E., & Gallegos, A. (2001). Distance learning: Issues and Concerns of Distance    Learners. Journal of Industrial Technology, 17(3), http://atmae.org/jit/Articles/schmidt041801.pdf