Distance Learning - Week 1

Distance Learning

What Is Distance Learning?

My definition of distance learning involves the combination of an asynchronous environment and a formal curriculum that is actively monitored by an instructor.For more details, refer to the mind map below.

Before This Week....

I thought that distance learning was a much broader concept. I used to think that it encompassed any form of online or non-traditional learning (i.e., anything outside of a classroom).  This included self-paced solo-courses, unevaluated information sessions, and online degrees.

After This Week...

After watching Dr. Simonson's especially helpful video in this week's resources, I realized that true distance learning must share the same rigors and standards or a traditional course.  The curriculum must be held to the same high standards and the students must perform at the same level. In order for the education to have any credibility, the students must be held to the same standards and must pass the same rigorous assessments as traditional students.  As Moller et. al argue, distance learning (or e-learning) must focus on quality of instruction (2008, p. 71)

The Future of Distance Learning...

The future of distance learning must first begin with imposing rigorous standards on what we choose to call distance learning.  Part of my own confusion stems for the ambiguity of the name. "Distance learning" would seem to imply any learning done from a distance.  I would suggest a more accurate term be used to refer to rigorous academic distance learning. Perhaps "distance education" would impart the professionalism and respect that distance learning deserves; people do seem to bestow the term "education" with more scientific credibility than "learning." Finally, Moller et. al. focus the summation of their article on the customization properties of distance learning.  Learners, they argue, "will come to demand greater customization of the learning process to cater to their individual interaction needs" (2008, p.75).  They realize that as distance learning progresses, it will behoove instructional designers and distance learning educators to embrace the rapidly evolving technological developments and implement these new technologies into their courseware.

Distance Learning Mind Map