Reflection

Reflecting on these last 8 weeks…

We have end the course with the views and future of perceptions of distance learning in our society. Taking into account the societal forces in the world, including the advocates for and skeptics of distance learning, I will be considering the following: perceptions of distance learning in the future, as an instructional designer be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning, and how I will be a positive force for the continuous improvements for improving the field of distance learning.

Perceptions of distance learning today is all over the place where many think distance learning is a great concepts, some believe that it lacks creditability, and some are on the fence and not sure what side to go to. As technology and the continued development of distance learning, society and the future of distance learning will become a norm. I believe that distance learning will be just as prominent as students graduating high school and going to college in the fall, but it will just be a choice of distance education or the traditional face-to-face environment. In addition, distance learning has been undergoing many studies where the instruction is being analyzed by its creditability, integrity, and effectiveness. Therefore, these perceptions from students, instructors, and society being improved will enhance the effectiveness of distance learning where the perceptions will be very minimal in the next 5-10 years.

            As perceptions of distance learning dwindle away, being an instructional designer we will be improving the societal perceptions of distance learning with continued professional development, longitudinal studies, and the use of classic research to ensure that instructional design of distance learning is being developed with the most effective and essential techniques of instruction. In addition, the use of technology and course management systems will be used to optimize the instruction and objectives of distance learning.

            Distance learning has come so far from when it was used through the postal services to the use of technology in today’s society. Instructional designers will continue to go through professional development, education, and collaboration with subject matter experts to eliminate the perceptions of distance learning and enhance the experience of distance learning where the future of distance education will be just as we see a high school student graduates and we assume they will be attending college, but now it will be a matter which path will the go down the tradition classroom of college/university or distance learning.

Exploring Open Source Software

Open source software is a way for educational information, courses, or applications to be distributed free of cost. Open source “is intended to be freely shared and can be improved upon and redistributed to others” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009, p. 256). The potential that open source has on the educational and/or business environment is vast considering many institutions have the ability and support to create and manage the open source software. The majority of institutions that optimize their exposure via open source software are capable to do so because they already have technical and support staff to manage the software without collaborating with a third party.

Upon exploring various open source software such as MIT (http://ocw.mit.edu/html ), Standard (http://itunes.standard.edu/ ), and Yale (http://oyc.yale.edu/ ) I found Yale’s site to be very appealing due to its simple, user friendly attributes. The site allowed me to navigate through Yale’s open source in an efficient manner. The instructional design is excellent. The font, contrasting colors and tabs are obvious and straightforward creating a confident and comfortable experience for a beginning user such as myself. The technology considerations, especially with the links and tabs, are easy to use. The consideration of the learner has been taken in to account. The learner is able to use the software. Yale’s site design and layout are done very nicely. Institutions such as Yale are able to offer and perfect open source for educational and personal gain. In addition, Yale can offer free open source because they already have technical support staff in place that can manage open source software applications”(Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009, p. 256).

During my exploration of Yale’s open source, I put myself in to the shoes of a distance learner with a specific course such as Spanish-Portuguese. Distance learning is a unique and powerful learning experience that is possible through the Internet and World Wide Web. The instructional design is essential in bridging the gap between learner, instructor, content, and technology to create an effective and efficient learning environment. I discovered a very usable site that maximized the planning process of the instructional designer and most likely collaboration with SME (subject matter expert) in the Spanish-Portuguese department. The course homepage contains a brief disruption of the department in addition to an informative paragraph about the instructor. The user is able to navigate to the course with access links embedded into the description. As an instructional design, the use of hyperlinks built into the introduction allows the distance learner to immediately move to the next step without confusion or having to decipher the next step in utilizing the links. Thus, the instructional designer is planning for a variety of learners.

Overall, the instructional design seems to be the product of an in-depth and through planning process. In addition the open source, especially the Spanish-Portuguese course, has be through the ADDIE process, collaboration with SME and instructional designer to ensure the learning experience is effective. “Thus, an instructor who wants to create a quality learning experience for all members of the class, with the ultimate foal of learning as the outcomes, will be certain to account for these variables in planning” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009, p. 129).

Resources:

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. NewYork: Pearson.

Selecting Technology of Distance Education

Scenario: Interactive tours

A high school history teacher, located in the west would like to showcase new exhibits being held at two prominent New York City museums to her students. The teachers goal is to have her students take a tour of the museums and interact with the museum curators, in addition, to see and critique two individual art pieces. As a novice of distance learning and technology, the teacher has turned to the districts instructional designer to make this learning experience happen. As the ID, what distance learning technologies would you recommend where the teacher can provide the most effective learning experience for her students?

 According to the media program, “The Technology of Distance Education” defines media “sharing are web sites that facilitate the sharing content and artifacts such as text, pictures, videos, presentations, and audio files.” Media sharing would be a tool for the history teacher to engage her students in a “tour” of the two prominent New York City museums where the students can explore the museums through the aspects of media sharing. In today’s society students of all ages especially high school students’ use technology like it is second nature. Thus, using media sharing will allow and require the students to learn using “effective communication requires an active audience” (2009).

Another technology that I would suggest to the history teacher is a blogging site. The objective of blogging stated by Technology of Distance Education “is to build an online community of interest around a blogger’s writing. Blogs, which are also asynchronous, may include text, images, or links to audio, video and to other Web pages.” Blogging would be an effective tool for the students to communicate and critique the two individual pieces of art. In addition, blogging would allow the students to interact with each other rather than sitting in a traditional classroom and the teacher prompting discussions.

I did some exploring on the internet using Google search where I typed the keywords “media sharing” and “media sharing sites”. I discovered a school website that has a few pages that are delegated to media sharing and multimedia project helpers. Another site that I discovered which is very similar to what I use in the classroom is Discovery streaming is TeacherTube. This site of media sharing allows the learning to come alive, in addition, to optimize the learning of distance education as well as hybrid classrooms.

http://www.warrensburgr6.org/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=10560

http://www1.teachertube.com/

Resources

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., ALbright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: FOundations of Distance Education. NewYork: Pearson.

University, W. (Director). (n.d.). The Technology of Distance Education [Motion Picture].

Defintion & Future of Distance Learning

Distance Learning

Distance learning is a working definition that changes along with the advances in telecommunication and demands of learning/training. The evolution of distance learning since 1833 can be observed on the timeline of distance learning within our week one video resources.

Through the various definitions of distance learning, the main idea of all is the separation of teacher and learner. However, the supporting details of distance learning may vary according to experience, profession, and technology. According to the textbook, Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education fourth edition identifies the main arteries of distance learning are: institutionally base, separation of teacher and learner via time zone or geography, interactive telecommunications, and the connection between learner, resources, and instructor.

After working, reading, and collaborating with classmates on the concept of distance learning, my knowledge and view of distance learning has evolved from what it once was. At first, I thought of distance learning as a diploma mill and watered down education. However, due to my professional growth, becoming a distance learner, and position as a Director of Education I have developed an understanding and need for distance learning. In addition, the learning is and maybe just as effective and efficient as a traditional classroom setting.

As a student of distance learning, my profession as an educator and passion for learning, I have a strong vision for distance learning. With the advances in telecommunication, need for flexible education, and budget cuts in K-12 education I agree with Dr. Simonson where he states that distance learning will continue to advance similar to a normal bell curve. Once distance learning reaches the top of the bell curve it will just need to be maintained with the improvements and need for distance learning.

In conclusion, distance learning, especially in K-12 education will continue to grow when traditional public schools are not meeting their AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) report and continued budget cuts. Therefore, more students will make the transition to distance learning where they are able to obtain better teacher student rations, catch up, or get the best education position. In addition, with the advances in telecommunication, the ability to interact with student through a variety of ways rather than just discussion board will enhance the learning experience of distance learners.

Resources

Simonson, D. (Director). (n.d.). Distance Education [Motion Picture].

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., ALbright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: FOundations of Distance Education. NewYork: Pearson.

Distance Learning MindMap