Where is Distance Learning Headed?

What do you think the perceptions of distance learning will be in the future (in 5–10 years; 10–20 years)?

In five to ten years the perception of D.L. will continue to rise. People will still choose the traditional route, but I believe older students will choose online learning to meet their lifestyles. We must look at where technology will be in the near future and then we can see where education is heading. According to Dr. Siemens, distance education will be impacted by new communication technologies, contribution by experts around the world, and increased use of multimedia, games, and simulations.

In ten to twenty years, distance learning will be succeeding. Distance learning will impact universities, but also the K-12 settings. Many corporate companies provide employees with the opportunity to go back to school with little to no tuition. In the future, companies will be looking for employees that have postsecondary education. Imagine companies providing their employees an hour a day to take an online course. Employees will be knowledgeable and equipped with the necessary skills to get the job done. In the K-12 setting, more online home schooling will be available across the country. Students in 9th -12th will be provided with more online courses to take outside of the traditional classes.

How can you as an instructional designer be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning?

As an instructional designer I can be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning by providing learners with the opportunity to the currency of instructional content and effective delivery of material. As an I.D., I will have the knowledge and skills of a broad variety of technologies. I will provide learners with the opportunity to take charge of their learning with my assistance and guidance. I will continue to research the value of education, new technologies, and instructional opportunities that will allow me to improve developmental skills for an online environment.

How will you be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education?

I will be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education because I will utilize the skills and knowledge I have acquired at Walden. I will be an advocate for online instructors in the field of distance education. I will seek guidance from professionals that provide quality-learning experiences and continuously improve my skills.

Reference: Laureate Education Inc. (2009). The Future of Distance Education [video]. George Siemens.

Converting to a Distance Learning Format

As our classroom are being transformed by technology, so is the way we teach. Imagine taking a traditional classroom or training workshop and converting all online. Where would you start? The following is a manual to give anyone simple steps and tips to consider when switching practices from a traditional setting to a modern setting.

Converting to Distance Learning Manual

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The Impact of Open Source

Before this week, I never heard of Open Course offerings. This is a great way for people who want to acquire new skills or knowledge but don't have the funds to get it! I have wanted to take some college level math courses to refresh my skills and knowledge, mostly because I have taught primary grades for the past six years. I don't want the credits, I just need some refreshers.

As I was skimming through all of the resources, I chose openculture.com. There is a plethora of options available for a wide range of subjects. I was excited just looking at the choices. This is even great for homeschooled children especially if he or she is advanced in an area. This site offers free courses, as well as, free audio books, movies, textbooks, and language lessons.

Does the course appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance-learning environment? How so?

I chose an open course on World War II History: An Open Harvard Course. This course was carefully planned and designed for traditional learning then made into an online learning experience. The learner has the option of watching videos or listening to an audio. Once the video popped up a list of Table of Contents were presented, as well as, a document of the course description.

Does the course follow the recommendations for online instruction as listed in your course textbook? This course followed recommendations to an extent for online instruction because the professor reads his objectives, goals, and requirements for this course. The student has the opportunity to move at his or her own pace and access available resources. But there were many elements missing for an effective online course. Compared to my courses at Walden, this course would be more effective in the traditional classroom it was set-up as. Basically, the class was videotaped and posted for review by others for free.

Did the course designer implement course activities that maximize active learning for the students?

The course designer did a great job providing videos and audio of the lecture to maximize student learning. The designer provided visuals of maps and images on a side panel view that was accessible during the video. The course was user friendly, which allowed student learning. However, my concern would be when does the interaction occur. What about discussions and questions, who will give those responses? There would be no feedback, so how would it work in a math class, as well?