Module 2: Strengths, Limitations, and Issues of Distance Education
Blog - Elements of Distance Education Diffusion
Communication and collaborative interaction are creating more effective learning experiences and giving distance education an identity of its own distinct from F2F (George Siemens, 2002). reminds us that there are new tools, and increased use of multimedia, and a growing comfort with online communication. There are online tools available today that are used to facilitate interactions among learners (Laureate Education, Inc.). Online learning uses technology like threaded and unthreaded bulletin boards as well as streaming videos to influences the interactions between students and teacher as well as student to student. Other technologies such as the SIS systems and WebCT are being used to create more time for communicating with students. Improvements are also being made in student-content interaction. Students of distant education are now being provided with discussion forums that are designed to meet their needs. They are provided with the regular content type discussion form as well as a student to student only forum (Siemens, 2002).
Another way to improve the student-content interaction is by providing students with asynchronous and virtually material and assignments that could be completed online. Student-to-student communication can be improved by using the Blackboard to set up discussion forums and virtual classroom. When the class is developed and presented correctly, the student and teacher can work toward an ideal degree of interaction through students and teacher talking, sharing ideas and working together while working toward a common goal (Siemens, 2002).
I agree with Lynne Butkiewicz when she states in her blog that “the potential of distance education is growing rapidly. People are starting to realize that f2f communication isn’t the only way to communicate.” Charlotte Vaughn reminds us on her BlogSpot that “the instructor of distant education courses must create an open and supportive environment so that students can enhance their interactivity and be more willing to discuss freely within the group.”
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References:
Butkiewicz, L. (June 30, 2010). Educational
technology. Retrieved on March 26, 2013 from waldentechnology.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html
Laureate Education, Inc.
(Producer). (n.d.). The Future of Distance
Education [Video webcast]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Siemens, G. (October 8, 2002). Interaction - eLearnspace.
Retrieved on March 24, 2013 from www.elearnspace.org/Articles/Interaction.htm
Good post Roger. I agree with you that Distance Education and the ability to connect and communicate has progressed at a rapid rate. However, I believe that it could use a couple of modifications to increase its efficiency within the program to assist students. I believe some type of time constraints should be put in to create a window when all the students in that class are online for the purpose of exchange for discussion and especially for group work. I believe some type of IM (instant message) service built into the school network could benefit students as well. This would give students a direct line to their classmates in a more efficient manner. Last a video component like Skype could also enhance the communication process for student to student and student to professor. It could also be used for group work as well. There are many individual tools that are available for use in the enhancement of communication in Distance Education but i believe a uniformed policy and tool could take the process to another level.
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