Defining Distance Learning

Before beginning EDUC 6135, my understanding of distance learning was instruction that was delivered over the internet without the face to face interaction.  I have been enrolled at Walden University for the past year and a half.  I have taken many courses online and find it to be more flexible and interactive.  I have learned about many new programs and implemented these new strategies and ideas into my own classroom.  Before starting courses at Walden, I attended a university, where I took all of my courses in a classroom.  I have realized that as an adult, juggling a career and classes for a master’s program is very difficult.  What makes my life easier is the fact that I can plan when and where I will complete my work for my online courses through Walden University.

Technology has dramatically changed throughout the years.  I can remember attending a community college in Michigan from 1998-2001 and my interaction with the internet or the computer was very minimal.  I took an online course through this community college and most of the assignments were sent to the professor via email and a lot of the programs were very basic.  Technology has come a long way since they have created distance learning through the phone and radio back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  The different platforms has lead out society to a more advanced and synchronized learning environment.  I have learned that through distance learning, many things can still be accomplished just as in a regular classroom.

My thoughts have changed since I began this course about the definition about distance learning.  Before I thought of it as teachers and students interacting through an online platform without the face to face interaction and at the student’s pace.  After reading through the resources this week and posting to the discussion board I would refer to distance learning as:
• The teacher and student are physically separate.
• Distance education uses technology to deliver assignments and to communicate with peers and
   instructors.
• Students are taught, assessed and given guidance by the instructor.
• Instruction must be accomplished through communicating with the teacher and the student.
• Learning may be done individually or in groups.  Learning includes using many different
   technological programs that will help the student accomplish his or her goals.

Distance learning continues to develop over time.  “Distance learning is rapidly becoming a popular choice for continuing professional education, mid-career degree programs, and lifelong learning of all kinds” (Moller, Foshay and Huett, 2008, p. 66). I can’t help but think of the advancements of distance learning in the future.  As technology continues to develop and grow, so will distance learning.  Providing students with a flexible schedule, interactive and engaging environment and the use of technological resources will continue to enhance learning and also provide convenience to everyone.  With that, technology will play a major factor in everyone’s lives.  Many people will continue to purchase new and improved technological items and integrate it into their personal lives as well as education and careers as well.

I think that distance learning will continually be a part of the educational process in the workforce as well as instructional design.  Educators, learners, trainers and instructional designers will remain current with the technological trends and try to implement them as much as possible into their curriculum, but there will be challenges as well.  “Educators in the distance medium are faced with new pedagogical issues surrounding student interactions, course content design and delivery, multiple levels of communication, defining new types of assignments and performance expectations, and different assessment and evaluation techniques” (Moller, Foshay and Huett, 2008, p. 67).  These challenges will be assessed by educators and learners and new ways of correcting these problems will continue to change as well.

Mind Map:

here is the web address to my mind map.

https://my.examtime.com/mind_maps/6605



References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Distance Education: The Next Generation [DVD].   Baltimore, MD: Author

Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). 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.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a
     distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.