Defining Distance Learning

Within the 21^st century, constant technological changes are never ending, such as in the speed in which technology is evolving around us.  For this specific reason, I think our education system, workplace, communities, and economy are all affected and induces change to the definition of distance learning and in the learning arena.  After high school, some people go back to school through distance learning where they find flexibility in learning essential information for future growth.  Second, the workplace is defining distance learning, due to the education system not preparing learners for the workforce, as it relates to technology.  Third, our communities need technology to be learned in more meaningful ways through distance learning.  I think the definition of distance learning changes with the technological and performance needs of people, corporations, the economy, to include meaningful contributions to society.  

 Even though I never have taken correspondence classes, I remember seeing them being marketing on the television.  Not knowing much about how it worked, in my mind it was very independent and self-directed; not how all young people would like to learn.  And, what little experience I also had on correspondence, it also appeared to be for dropouts and/or for older people.  I think I thought that because so many students were dropping out of high school.  I did not experience distance learning until I was in graduate studies.  The evolution started with common obligations, such as in chat discussions, group work and home assignments.  Then, it evolved into learning and using different types of media and working in learning management systems (LMS), such as Moodle and Webtycho to create information and in developing an online course as a class project.

 The week 1 resources in the course Distance Learning have influenced my personal definition of distance learning in training and development learning.  For example, as stated distance learning helps productivity, but evaluations and assessment are still needed to determine/measure transfer of knowledge.  As Rice (2006) has suggested, “the effectiveness of distance education has more to do with who is teaching, who is learning, and how that learning is accomplished and less to do with the medium.  Also, the Craft approach has influence my awareness into the many problems in using this approach to include the essential ways technology is not delivered,, and in the utilization of technology. 

 In explaining the impact that technology has on a faculty, I have been influenced with identifying with their opinions in being overworked, personally consuming activities and/or tasks, salary, and in needing intellectual property rights, as it relates to e-learning. In this week’s text assignment, the four components to the definition of distance education has influence my personal definition, such as distance learning is institutionally based, separation of teacher and student, interactive telecommunications, and sharing of data, voice, and video (learning experience).  It’s keeper in identifying with distance learning.

 My revised definition is a good one.  Before I thought more of distance learning as reading materials, submitting on time assignments, keeping up with instructions, student discussions, flexibility, interactive, asynchronous, LMS, and sharing of data, voice, and video (learning experience).  In combination, I would include distance learning as being institutionally-based, planned and systematic activities, telecommunications (media) using telephone, TV, and Internet, as well as intellectual separation of teacher and student in location and time.  

Vision of the future

First, I see a vision for more annual workplace web-based training.  My vision into what distance learning will be like in the future is more mandatory web-based refresher, as well as proficiency training in the workplace.  For instance, I think mandatory qualifications, such as in workforce classifications and annual security knowledge testing will be more accessible through web-based training.  In doing this, I think more PowerPoint, CDs, and u-tube formatted slides,  and illustrations will to utilize to accomplish successful refresher and proficiency training. 


I think the vision of distance learning will be more in demand within the education system, specifically among high school students needs and wants.  I know I would have loved to be able to take at least some of my high school courses at home.  I think distance learning programs will be more accessible for parent’s children entering head-start programs and in preparation for first grade.  Lastly, I also think of a vision that distance learning will have in inducing more benefits to all ages, disabilities, within the educational challenges of the 21st century, such as in differential learning, flexibility, and in pacing.

Reference

 Moller, L, Foshay, W.R., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education:  

implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends, 52(4)


Moller, L, Foshay, W.R., & Huett, J. (2009). The evolution of distance education:
     implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends, 52(5)


Simonson, M, Smaldino, S, Albright, M, & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at   
     a distance: Foundations of Distance Education (p.47). Boston: Pearson.