The Misconception about Distance Education

When we look at ways to advance in higher education, we know that a lot of colleges and universities are offering varying fields in which a person can obtain a degree online. We also see that online opportunities are becoming one of the most popular options of today. When we picture these facts, what experiences do you think are suitable to encourage learning of the intended topic and which previous experiences can be utilized?

Distance Education's Best Kept Secrets

Face-to-face instruction is still a valid delivery method in support of distance-delivered courses when possible. Many assume that there is no need for face-to-face instruction in distance-delivered courses and hope to avoid the “real time” constraints of face-to-face contact. Still, some of the best distance-delivered courses have well-integrated components in which teachers meet directly with students—individually, in small groups, or with the entire class. If personal interaction between the teacher and students is deemed an important course component, it is critical to meet as a group as early in the semester as possible. Experienced distance education faculty report that the student comfort level in using technology increases significantly if the students and instructor meet early in the course and develop a personal working relationship.

Depending on how the course is delivered, it may be physically impossible to bring the teacher and students together. Nevertheless, it is better to rule out personal contact as impractical or instructionally irrelevant than to fail to consider it in the first place. When the logistics can be successfully navigated, teachers and students alike are rewarded by well-planned and highly interactive face-to-face contact.


Reference

By Barry Willis http://technologysource.org/article/distance_educations_best_kept_secrets/

The New Horizon for Distance Education

As we move forward in time, new innervation's are always being kept in the forefront. In the field of distance education, schools of higher education must prepare the same similar way. Recent reports show gadgets like smartphone's, notebooks, and social media are seemingly shaping the way campuses of higher education, faculty, and students operate throughout the field. Can we assume that electronic devices are already taking hold of many campuses? Or can we say that we are slowly moving away from the traditional face to face in the classroom to more of a virtual classroom online?

Computer Technology and Education

With the emergence of computer applications and software, how can we define the huge role they play in the advancement of technology and education? With distance education becoming more and more common in many schools of higher education, a student can learn at their own pace and level using today’s digital and computer technology. At this rate, a student can take as much time as needed on coursework they don't understand and spend less time on materials they do understand. As we define distance education, we define it as schooling through the use of computers, social media, digital technology, and collaboration. Today, we have so many different types of applications and factors that make distance education effective although the use of computer technology can be limited. With so much research being studied to improve distance education, I feel we must first understand how this system works and what it takes to maximize the learning potential of every student.

Problem Based Learning: What and how do Students Learn?

First we must define how students learn using problem solving and critical thinking techniques. We must first understand how students learn when faced with complex problems. By teaching students to solve problems using a designed based model, they are taught how to think and solve problems using real life experiences. Research states that students learn through the experience of solving problems. Through an institutional standpoint, Problem Based Learning has successfully gained instructional support for over three decades. The focus of learning is centered on developing a viable solution to define a problem. By working in groups, we find that students can collaboratively identify how to go about certain situations and what they need to do in order to solve a problem. Research shows that little has been done outside of education for Problem Based Learning since the emphasis is centered on self directed learning. Through this approach alternative assessments must be developed to understand the instructional method in which students learn collaboratively to solve problems.

Reference

Hmelo-Silver, C. (2004). Problem-Based Learning: What and How Do Students Learn? Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.springerlink.com/content/j360715xw085866r/

Technology in Education

When learning something new, one important concept is accessing prior knowledge which is one major factor in the process of acquiring new information. For example, when we add the term constructivist learning to a computer based society, I look at it as schooling through the use of computers, social media, digital technology, and collaboration. This is the new error of the next generation that is slowing transforming the outlook of the future. Today, we have so many different types of applications and factors that make education effective but our use of computer technology is still lacking behind others and we must work harder to grow professionally in this area.

Reference

Bass, L. and Ritting, L. (2009). The University of Rhode Island. Technology in Education. Retrieved October 19, 2010, http://www.uri.edu/personal/lbas2219/