Module 2

EDUC 8842 Module 2

The prompt:

Elements of Distance Education Diffusion

George Siemens discussed the growing acceptance of distance education in today’s corporate and educational spheres, including three possible elements of distance education that are creating more effective learning experiences and giving distance education an identity of its own distinct from F2F courses: (a) global diversity, (b) communication, and (c) collaborative interaction. Do you agree or disagree with his view?

Select one of these three elements for your reflection in this module and respond to the following in your blog:

·         How has this element evolved?

·         What online tools are available today to facilitate these interactions among learners?

Find at least two blog posts by other educators on this topic and reflect on their positions in your blog. Include links to these other blogs as you critique their ideas.

The response:

Developing the skills for online teaching is a daunting and manageable task for the next generation of learners.  This can be magnified for the last generation of learners turned teachers as well!  Communication is an essential aspect of the process in either synchronous or asynchronous environments (Siemens, n.d.; Smeiser, 2009).  New technology will present new options and communication may be somewhat more subtle by adapting the existing technology like Facebook to educational needs (Yirka, 2011). 

Communication is essential for education and online communication is a logical next step.  The only limits we may face now are how and what and how we use the options available.  Facebook may be a marketers dream but as most tools, can have other applications as well as a stand-in for the teacher’s assistant with or without the alter ego (Yirka, 2011).

Seimens (n.d.) makes the case, which I support, that the technology will allow greater opportunity for communication and diversity of communicators.  The potential for communication is exemplified by our recent history with the ‘Arab spring’ and how society was changed by simple access to communication.  If it can bring down a dictatorship, what lies ahead for education!

 References:

Siemens, G. (n.d.). The Future of Distance Education. Baltimore, MD.

Smeiser, L. (2009, September 10). Becoming a Successful Online Educator: Distance Learning Educators Need to Do Their Homework |. Teacher Tips/Training@suite101. Retrieved from http://lynne-smelser.suite101.com/becoming-a-successful-online-educator-a144154

Yirka, B. (2011, August 18). Professor Finds Way to Connect with Students Through Facebook | Suite101.com. Teacher Tips/Training@suite101. Retrieved from http://bob-yirka.suite101.com/professor-finds-way-to-connect-with-students-through-facebook-a385102

EDUC 8842 Blog 1:  Module 1

The Prompt:

After reading the three articles by Moller, Huett, Foshay and Coleman, and listening to the Simonson video programs, compare and contrast the reasons these authors believe there is a need to evolve distance education to the next generation. Do you agree with their positions? Why or why not?

The Response:

The need to understand distance education, be the distance three feet in a classroom or 1000’s of miles away in another country, is that the goal remains student learning.  The goal is the same but the pathways are different.  This is the stepping off point for Simonson (2000, n.d.) when he discusses equivalency theory.  My parents always emphasized the concept when getting gifts for my sisters: the same but different.  Technology allows this idea to flourish, very different approach to conveyance but the same concepts and information to become part of the learners’ repertoire (Simonson, 1997). 

The capability of the technology needs to be balanced by instructional design, using the concepts of Simonson’s (2000) equivalency, but needs adaptation to a diverse set of students and individual need (Huett, Moller, Foshay, & Coleman, 2008).  Here’s the rub, making it relevant for multiple learning styles, often those who may be struggling in the traditional schools need something different than what they had, or they would have been successful in brick and mortar schools.

Both Simonson (2000; 1997) and Huett, et al, (2008) embrace the need for grasping the potential with technology and distance learning applications.  Where they differ seems to be on the application.  The idea of stylizing the information for the needs of the learner (Huett, Moller, Foshay, et al., 2008) is a focus while realizing the need to adapt the lesson to the medium (M. Simonson, 2000) cannot be left out of the consideration either.

The best solution should incorporate the best of both approaches to ensure the learner is actually learning.  As teachers, we need to remember the purpose for the applications.  Not using technology for the sake of using it, but using it in line with the outcome sought.  If we forget the learners, we will doom a generation in the increasingly competitive world in which we live (Huett, Moller, & Forshay, 2008; Simonson, 1997).

References:

Huett, J., Moller, L., & Forshay, W. R. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web., 52(3), 70-75. doi:Article

Huett, J., Moller, L., & Foshay, W. R. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web., 52(4), 66-70. doi:Article

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. R., & Coleman, C. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web., 52(5), 63-67. doi:Article

Simonson, M. (1997). Evaluation teaching and learning at a distance. New Directions for Teaching & Learning, (71), 87. doi:Article

Simonson, M. (2000). Making Decisions: The Use of Electronic Technology in Online Classrooms. New Directions for Teaching & Learning, (84), 29. doi:Article

Simonson, M. (n.d.). Equivalency Theory. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5260644&Survey=1&47=6207849&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Simonson, M. (n.d.). Distance Education: The Next Generation. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5260644&Survey=1&47=6207849&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

N J Sparling