Upon my initial enrollment into the OMDE 603 course, I knew what distance education was. However, I must say that I quickly realized how limited my understanding of distance education was. First, I had no idea that distance education dates back over 100 years! You see, distance education is quite thorough from financial aspects to technology and chosen research professional and leadership.
I've learned that the five generations of distance education include first (1) correspondence, (2) broadcast radio & television, (3) open universities, (4) teleconferencing, and (5) internet/web (Moore & Kearsley, 2012). This leaves me wondering how distance education would have evolved years from now. What's next with technology? You know how many movies now days frequently utilize the invisible tablets that can pretty much be made up to anything you want it? What if that were next especially to enhance courses such as chemistry and biology? Perhaps instead of actually using the traditional class lab for hands on projects, the instructor and learner could demonstrate everything though these tablets!
What are your thoughts on where distance education will be over the next 50 or so years?
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Distance Education and Pregnant High School Students
I remember being in high school, and I'd see everyone's reaction to the young ladies who suddenly had a huge belly. I had an associate who became pregnant at the age of 17. She liked school and actually did very well in her courses. However, it was something about the day everyone noticed her stomach. It's like she still mingled with everyone, but behind closed doors (on the bus) she seemed to be quite sad. She mentioned jokingly being an outcast. To make a long story short, I never saw her again.
Some schools in Prince Georges County (where I am from) have a daycare facility and actually do have night school as well, but the resources are very limited. In fact, there aren't many schools that offer this. My question is should distance education be made available to more high schools for issues that may arise such as pregnant under aged adolescents? I think it should be. I think that the there should be a program set in place with funding to support gathering the appropriate resources to run a successful distance education program for high school students. I think perhaps, it could be set up with asynchronous assignments based around the same curriculum and covering the same subjects standardized by the county board. I think this should be set in place, not to necessarily condone underage sex, while providing an out from the physicality of face-to-face classes, but to create and keep a certain tone within the schools. No one wants to feel embarrassed while attending school, and there shouldn't be a disruption to the environment either. To ensure that young adolescents who run into certain life issues, should be given as many opportunities as possible to graduate from high school and still prepare for college.
What do you all think?
Some schools in Prince Georges County (where I am from) have a daycare facility and actually do have night school as well, but the resources are very limited. In fact, there aren't many schools that offer this. My question is should distance education be made available to more high schools for issues that may arise such as pregnant under aged adolescents? I think it should be. I think that the there should be a program set in place with funding to support gathering the appropriate resources to run a successful distance education program for high school students. I think perhaps, it could be set up with asynchronous assignments based around the same curriculum and covering the same subjects standardized by the county board. I think this should be set in place, not to necessarily condone underage sex, while providing an out from the physicality of face-to-face classes, but to create and keep a certain tone within the schools. No one wants to feel embarrassed while attending school, and there shouldn't be a disruption to the environment either. To ensure that young adolescents who run into certain life issues, should be given as many opportunities as possible to graduate from high school and still prepare for college.
What do you all think?
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Asynchronous Vs. Synchronous Style Learning In Distance Education
It's no secret. One of the best things about electing to take distance education courses is the element of learning on your own time. Though this is indeed one of the best aspects of distance education, a lot of people don't realize that there may be some form of synchronous style learning involved. Most of the discussion forums are gathered using asynchronous teaching/learning styles. This means that you don't have to be signed on at the same time, reading the same material at once. The instructor can post the material to be commented on in threads, and this can be viewed at different times within the subject start-end date.
This all gets very interesting when it comes time for a group project to be completed, especially when half the students work, may be in different time zones, and have all kinds of other obligations. Well just like within traditional face-to-face courses, there are group projects assigned. This is no different within distance education courses. It's for a purpose, and it still ensures students are able to grasp the material and prove this through projects effectively.
Do I think synchronous style projects are discouraging? Not at all. Again, it enforces a certain level of determination. With distance education, it's all about determination. In fact, since it is a greater lax environment, or at-will per se`, maturity and a real will to learn plays an important part. So, what do the students do? They link up a lot of times through chat or email. The University of Maryland University College offers a chat service through their LEO platform, and this allows the students to have synchronous conversations. This serves a great purpose for tasks such as this.
The debate is whether or not students really prefer asynchronous style learning or synchronous learning.
What do you think? Is it a disappointment or disadvantage either way?
This all gets very interesting when it comes time for a group project to be completed, especially when half the students work, may be in different time zones, and have all kinds of other obligations. Well just like within traditional face-to-face courses, there are group projects assigned. This is no different within distance education courses. It's for a purpose, and it still ensures students are able to grasp the material and prove this through projects effectively.
Do I think synchronous style projects are discouraging? Not at all. Again, it enforces a certain level of determination. With distance education, it's all about determination. In fact, since it is a greater lax environment, or at-will per se`, maturity and a real will to learn plays an important part. So, what do the students do? They link up a lot of times through chat or email. The University of Maryland University College offers a chat service through their LEO platform, and this allows the students to have synchronous conversations. This serves a great purpose for tasks such as this.
The debate is whether or not students really prefer asynchronous style learning or synchronous learning.
What do you think? Is it a disappointment or disadvantage either way?
Web 2.0 Tools and Distance Education
So what about YouTube, Discussion Forums, and Facebook tools for distance education? Is it at all possible for someone to gain knowledge from utilizing these example Web 2.0 tools? I think so, but I also think everyone has a particular style of learning, or perhaps lean toward constructivist or objectivist theory. Heck, they probably wouldn’t even realize it at times.
I actually think that someone can bring up a subject through either of these, and spark real learning and scattered opinions of others. It’s happened! It happens all the time on YouTube. Someone does sort of a science experiment, and shares they’re results with the world. Different people may actually try the same thing and comment on their views, whether they be constructivist formed or objectivist.
I personally think the World Wide Web is phenomenal in getting learned knowledge out there all over for others to also gain. The downside is I also think some of these tools can certainly hurt the foundation of education.
Just a thought…
I actually think that someone can bring up a subject through either of these, and spark real learning and scattered opinions of others. It’s happened! It happens all the time on YouTube. Someone does sort of a science experiment, and shares they’re results with the world. Different people may actually try the same thing and comment on their views, whether they be constructivist formed or objectivist.
I personally think the World Wide Web is phenomenal in getting learned knowledge out there all over for others to also gain. The downside is I also think some of these tools can certainly hurt the foundation of education.
Just a thought…
Distance Education For Inmates??
Did you know distance education was available for prison inmates? Yep! Now, some of you all may have known this already, but I didn’t. My next question is, why on earth would distance education be available or even an option for inmates?
I really appreciate how much distance education has evolved, and the layers of research that has taken place. The development and technologies that support distance education is awesome. Not only that, but most people have probably elected for higher education via distance to support conflicting schedules, and having the ability to learn around everyday responsibilities. Why would this be made available to inmates.
The platform surrounding distance education involve both synchronous and asynchronous learning styles. Again, the level of thought that professors have put into choosing which style would best fit the field of learning for that particular subject leaves me only curious. By all means, education is important, and if it is taught, no matter to what audience, they should capture the full learning experience. So, how is it determined the way the course is set up for the inmates to really grasp the subject with research, readings, etc.? According to Adams State University, it’s program offers educational subjects from history to sociology.
My next question is who pays for this? I could have sworn grants and financial aid are not even close to being an option for anyone who is involved with crime. To my knowledge, this very question is asked on the FAFSA application.
What do you think about this?
I really appreciate how much distance education has evolved, and the layers of research that has taken place. The development and technologies that support distance education is awesome. Not only that, but most people have probably elected for higher education via distance to support conflicting schedules, and having the ability to learn around everyday responsibilities. Why would this be made available to inmates.
The platform surrounding distance education involve both synchronous and asynchronous learning styles. Again, the level of thought that professors have put into choosing which style would best fit the field of learning for that particular subject leaves me only curious. By all means, education is important, and if it is taught, no matter to what audience, they should capture the full learning experience. So, how is it determined the way the course is set up for the inmates to really grasp the subject with research, readings, etc.? According to Adams State University, it’s program offers educational subjects from history to sociology.
My next question is who pays for this? I could have sworn grants and financial aid are not even close to being an option for anyone who is involved with crime. To my knowledge, this very question is asked on the FAFSA application.
What do you think about this?
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