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.
Reference
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d.). The Future of Distance Education [Video webcast]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Comments posted on :
http://techlingualatina.blogspot.com/2013/03/elements-of-distance-education-diffusion.html#comment-form
http://dsprings2004.blogspot.com/2013/03/growing-acceptance-to-online-learning.html#comment-form
Have you ever used a video or speaking tools with a class? I always had a dream of tracking down an archaeologist from Pompeii to Skype with my class, but never succeeded. I envision great ways to connect experts in the field with classes.
ReplyDeleteMarie, you mentioned how so many online communication tools have been developed over the years. This is so true...I mentioned in my post how these tools are steadily being revised, upgraded, etc. I have a list of tools (about 60 of them) that were created on a wiki cogdogroo site that I keep posted through a link and have done so about the last year or two on my teacher/school blog for my high school students. This year when I reposted the link to my blog, I noticed there were about 60 more added to the site. They were also a few of the original ones deleted and/or upgraded to a newer and better site! So we definitely have to keep up because although we may consider these sites to be fairly new these experts Siemens referred to in his video who are creating games, mulimedia, and simulations online are constantly changing, revising, upgrading, and much more!!
ReplyDeleteHello Marie,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and George Siemens that distant learning has been greatly impacted by technologies that allow us to communicate. It is amazing how far we have come in the ways we now communicate.