Distance Learning

Defining distance learning...

The definition of Distance Learning is defined as institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated from the instructor, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek 2012).

My decision to participate in distance learning...

I attended one of the top universities in my state before enrolling at Walden University. I attended class for three hours, twice a week, after work, barely keeping my eyes open and my mind from wandering to the confines of my bedroom. Rote memorization played a huge part of my past educational experience, as hardly anything was retained after the homework assignment had been fulfilled.

Previously, like many other people, I thought that persons who participated in distance learning were lazy. I did not believe a degree from a distance learning program would hold as much weight as one from a brick and mortar school.  After I realized that I would benefit from returning to college, I began a long investigation of distance learning education compared to attending another brick and mortar school.  I  finally chose to pursue higher learning at a university that offered distance learning in the program that I was interested in.  William Rainey Harper, who concluded through his correspondence study that the students who prepared lessons in the correspondence school knew more of the subject in those lessons, and knew it better, than the student who had covered the same ground in the classroom. (Simonson,  et al.  2012).

Currently, as a non-traditional baby-boomer student attending an online university, I find that distance learning serves all of my characteristics and learning needs well. I notice that presently I am able to learn more effectively. I accredit this fact to being able to learn at my convenience and the ability to learn, anywhere, with whichever electronic device that I prefer.  In the future, I predict that many students and employees will learn many subjects with their favorite  2.0 web tool.  Being able to learn at their convenience from any location, or participate globally with others in the same learning community or from the same corporation that one works for will become common-place.  How much better can learning be?

A distance learning timeline...

Distance learning has evolved a long way from its inception in the 1800s when learning took place via newspapers. The rise of correspondence schools in the late 1800s allowed students to take courses via mail, when it was encouraged for women to study at home. In 1922, distance learning courses were offered via radio broadcast, and in 1934 television broadcasted distance learning which remained popular until 1964. Who would think that the telephone could be used to learn? In 1965, the University of Wisconsin initiated distance education for its physician students via the telephone. 1975 introduced distance learning courses using video tapes to distribute learning materials. The internet gave way to the first online courses using proprietary software for (DOS) in1983. (Simonson, n.d.)

By 1989, distance learning programs became available in two-thirds of U.S. states. 1993 brought virtual and completely online schools in the distance learning field for educators and learners alike. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become mainstream distance learning environments with emerging standards regulating the distance learning environment. Today, in 2012, there are many LMS, CMS (Content Management Systems) virtual, and distance learning educational facilities in existence. These entities exist to teach any subject that we desire to learn in K-12 or in higher learning institutions.

Distance learning in the future...

As Web 2.0 technology hosts numerous avenues for distance learning to be globally successful, online learning communities will become larger including people from distant global places who link with each other through blogs, wikis, social media, audio, podcasting, RSS syndication, data mash-ups and multi-media sharing. Students and trainees will expand learning experiences as they communicate with people from around the world who join distance learning communities in educational and organizational work place settings.

References:

Simonson, M. (n.d.). [video webcast] “Distance Education: the next generation” retrieved from
      http://www.waldenu.edu

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a
       distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.