First Blog Posting: The Next Generation of Distance Education
The equivalency theory espoused by Simonson, (Simonson,2000) is what gives distance learning credibility with face to face instruction. Students must have equivalent experiences in order to feel that distance learning can compete with face to face learning. In our fast paced society, more universities are offering online classes as a response to the needs of their student bodies and some are offering hybrids of distance education with varying combinations of both face to face and distance learning. Some universities are offering distance learning because of budgetary concerns. (Moller, Foshay, Huett, 2008. May). Some are making those offering to appeal to the student who is already in the workforce and cannot matriculate on campus. The isolation some students feel may limit the distant learning experience and cause some losses. However, the more credible distance learning becomes, the more schools and responding students will help with the evolution of the course designs and the more they will more to the next level.
Simonson, M. (2000,Winter) Making decisions: the use of electronic technology in online classrooms. New Directions for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved September 17, 2009 from Academic Search Premier Database;
Moller,L. Forshay W. &Huett,J. (2008.May) The evolution of distance education: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning 52 (3) 70-75. Retrieved September 17,2009. Doi:10.1007/s11528-008-1058-5.
Distance learning for advanced degrees is growing because of the time constraints we as adults have. Yes we can go to a university and sit in a class, but would we really be focused or would we be trying to figure out all that we had to do when we got home. When universities figured this out they had a gold mine so to speak on their hands especially in the past few years after all the bad press of distance education wore off.
ReplyDeleteA gold mine indeed, Shauna. Adults with busy lives need to be able to schedule learning like they schedule most things. The universities that can fulfill these needs adequately will find themselves on the winning side. Successful online students will certainly spread the word.
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