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Education will always be evolving and ever changing and education will evolve into the next generation in one way or another. There will be many factors involved with moving education on to the next step, some of those factors will be positive, and the rest will be a learning experience. “The enthusiasm and demand for e-learning development far outstrips the available supply of people with the competency to develop it” (Moller, Foshay, & Huett.2008). It will be very important that those who are developing educational information will be fully trained to do so.
Training professionals is very important when bringing education into the next generation. The problem with the next generation is the professionals bring education to the next generation may not be trained or have little training on the information they are attempting to convey.
“E-Learning allows for learning strategies that may not be possible in a classroom or other traditional environments” (Moller, Foshay, & Huett.2008). Offering e-learning is new inventive way for professionals to bring information to students of all ages from around the world. All three readings make valid point on distance education and all three reading I agree with all.
“Since distance education programs theoretically can serve remote learners as well as they serve local ones, even institutions with isolated services are in competition”( Moller, Foshay, & Huett.2008). Distance education is in such great demand that even community colleges are offering classes online. For example, my daughter was attending East Tennessee State University in 2007 and they had just started distance education at that time. The classes offered were through distance education but the students had to pay extra fees if they took a distance education courses. However, now the university has complete degree offered through distance education without any additional charge.
“Web-based instruction has the potential for never-before-seen levels of personal customization” ( Moller, Foshay, & Huett.2008). I agree with the above statement being able to have web-based instruction has enabled me to takes classes via the internet and still have time for a full time job and my family. Taking courses online may be hard at times but the benefits always outweighs the downfalls.
References:
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.
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.
Lou Ann
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the benefits outweigh the cons. I too have had experience in distance learning. While all my friends were working on their Masters in cohorts at our local colleges, I was sitting in my pajama's working on papers for math and reading as I did my Masters degree here at Walden.
I know my son attends ETSU here in Tennessee and he takes regular classes and online classes and he likes them both. He states that mostly his online classes are readings and then quizzes and papers.
I have found in my studies that our online classes can tend to be more detailed and have more work as we do not have the benefit of hearing teachers lectures.
“Web-based instruction has the potential for never-before-seen levels of personal customization” ( Moller, Foshay, & Huett.2008). I agree with the text and your summation of its importance. I think customized education is a very real possibility now.
ReplyDeleteUsing the internet, the potential audience is currently some 1.966 billion users. With this customer base, any class can attract an audience.
Lou,
ReplyDeleteYou make an important point -- education is changing and will continue to change. Distance education and the implementation of technology seems to be the road that education is on right now. This ties to another of your points. Education is basically a service and we are consumers of that service. In order to maintain the client base and get other clients, education has to stay current and meet the needs of its consumers. This also means being affordable. The possibilities are endless it seems!
Thanks,
Erica
The two I posted to were
ReplyDeleteErica
http://ericaeduc8842.blogspot.com/2010/12/module-one-blog.html#comments
and
Taryn
http://tarynhailstock.blogspot.com/2010/12/next-generation-of-distance-education.html
Lou Ann,
ReplyDeleteI am in complete agreement that in order for distance education, or the use of technology period, professionals must be trained experts in the use and field. I too remember my first quote-unquote distance education course and how the curriculum alone has evolved from simple posts in a discussion board to creating blogs and collaborating with classmates via Skype. The strategies which have evolved out of distance education alone are tremendous...but as stated in our reading, strategies are only as effective as the ones students use (Moller, Foshay, & Huett, 2008). I also love your point about the use of web-based instruction offering never-before-seen levels of personal customization ( Moller, Foshay, & Huett.2008). I was co-teaching a biology class where the teacher was able to take our students on a trip to the zoo while remaining in the computer lab. The students were able to view the animals in their zoo habitate as well as read information that otherwise one only walks past while visiting the zoo. It was amazing! Distance education, when used to its fullest potential, has the opportunity to take students where they never imagined being before.
References:
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.
Lou,
ReplyDeleteYou quoted a point made in the articles about distance learning allowing for high levels of customization in learning. I couldn't agree more. Not only does distance education allow us the flexibility of learning on our own schedules, but it also allows us great flexibility in choosing what we learn. There are a plethora of online degrees available through Walden and other universities that enable us to explore those things that truly interest and intrigue us.
I also think you bring up an interesting point that training is absolutely necessary. Do you think that there will be more learning opportunities for prospective teachers to learn how to teach in a distance education format as we progress into the future?
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI hate to say this but I am going too, as the older teachers move on out then I feel that the next generation will be the ones to put as step forward and change the way distance learning is taught.
I did not complete college until 1988 and during my college years I took two distance learning classes and how I hated these classes. I did not start my graduate program until 2 years ago, which made me 48 years old. I am one of the older generation and I love technology, but what about all of the ones who are older than me? Distance learning is changing and everyone who is an educator needs to change, but some do not want to change. This is where my daughters generation will change the way distance learning is taught.
I responsed to Erica and Taryn.
ReplyDelete