Elements of Distance Education Diffusion- Module 2

Blog Post

by Shirley Brady

I agree with Dr. Siemens view that distant learning stands out all by itself because of its global diversity, communication, and collaborative interaction.  In this posting I will reflect on the communication distinctiveness.

Over the years with the many ground-breaking inventions in technology communication has made a drastic change.  The major strong point in communication is the internet.  This form of communication has aroused the curiosity of learners.  With its many capabilities it allows us to converse and correspond globally.   These new created inventions have truly made our lives easier.  The communication process is also convenient.

The online tools that are available today to facilitate communication among learners are email and instant messaging sites, blogs, storyboards, e-learning, virtual education, Skype, CBT(Computer-Based Training), IBT (Internet-Based Training), and WBT (Web-Based Training).  The variety of experiences made available for online learning give students the advantage of learning in exceptional ways.  This fosters versatility in a technological community and society that is constantly changing.

Response to Principles of Distance Education-Module 1

                                                               Shirley Brady

                                                     Distant Education Evolution

In the overwhelming response distance education is getting, the question is according to Moller, Foshay, and Huett (2008) is ; “Is e-learning truly a breakthrough or is it only the latest miracle which society promises solution to all the problems associated with education and training?  As we take a close look at distant learning it provides an opportunity for individuals who work outside the home, single parents, and people who want to continue their education at their leisure.  This is also a very strong plus for parents that home-school their children.  For the public school system this could be a nightmare.  I agree with Moller, Foshay, and Huett are accurate in their evaluation as they stated, “K-12 can benefit from the independence offered by virtual schooling, this same independence has the potential for negative impact.”   It is by belief distant learning like anything else has its pros and cons.  With continued research and collaboration we can embrace distant education as a possible solution over time.

Moller, L., Forshay, W., & Huett, J (2008, September/August). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web(Part 3, K-12) Tech Trends, 52(5), 61-66.