EDUC 7102 Module 2

I agree with George Siemens that distance education is beginning to have its own identity (Laureate Education, Inc., n.d.).  The evolution of online communication has impacted the growth of distance education.  Siemens points out that if individuals establish a comfort level with communication technologies they will be more accepting of online learning.  Over the years, many tools and programs have been developed to support online communication.  Different options of writing for the purpose of communicating have evolved to a level where the information is transferred immediately through email, texting or instant messaging.  Other tools for communication also involve speaking or video which occur through the use of programs such as Skype, Face Time or Oovoo.  Technology devices help to drive the use of these programs that increases communication with individuals.  In agreement with Siemens, I also believe that as individuals begin to find a comfort level with communication technologies, they will be more inclined to accept and participate in distance education.  Click on the following link to find out how communication through Skype has impacted our global society. http://blogs.skype.com/category/social-good/#fbid=4fYx76hu9Vr

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d.). The Future of Distance Education [Video webcast]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

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EDUC 7102 Module 1

Distance education is changing the way we learn, whether we are in the corporate environment or the k-12 environment.  As with any new knowledge one hopes to gain and apply, it would be best to learn from experts in the field.  The expectation for the design and delivery of distance education is to provide learners with opportunities to explore an area of study without meeting the requirement of assembling in a physical location.  The benefits from experiencing distance education are abundant in comparison to a face-to-face learning environment. 

Moller, Huett, Foshay, and Coleman (2008) make valid points about the need to evolve distance education.  In their essay, they highlight training and development, higher education, and the k-12 environment, all important aspects of distance education.  I agree with the authors that it’s important to support the evolution of these areas regarding distance education so it can be an effective method for teaching and learning.  Often times in the k-12 setting, new methods and strategies are introduced with the expectation that they should be embraced.  Without the proper training from experts, it becomes a challenge to learn and implement a new tool simultaneously.  Adequate time for understanding and experimenting is imperative to the success of implementation.

In a taped interview, Dr. Simonson (Laureate Education, Inc., n.d.a) expresses his belief that distance education is getting to the point where it will reach critical mass, being widely accepted and utilized.  I agree with Simonson that distance education technologies will eventually be used in multiple areas of businesses, education and training.  Once again, this illustrates the need to support the evolution of distance education which I believe will lead future generations.  As distance education continues to be accepted and is proved effective, businesses and education systems will need to adapt in order to meet the needs of clients.

References

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. & Coleman, C. (2008, September/October). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63–67.

Laureate Education, Inc., n.d. (Executive Producer). Distance Education: The Next Generation [Video webcast]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

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

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Introduction

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