The following blogs were commented on by me:
1. Dave Harm's Blog
http://daveharms.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/module-2-post/#comment-47
2. CwTurners Blog
http://cwturner2002.wordpress.com/
Monday, September 27, 2010
Module 2: Global Diversity in Distance Education
I agree with the statements George Siemens stated in the video. George Siemens talked about how distance education has moved to a point where meaningful relationships are being made. The location of the learners within the class is not an issue anymore due to the online tools that are available. The learners within the learning community have become comfortable with the thought of distance education and the thought of communicating with people from other parts of the state/world. Distance education allows for great opportunities when communicating with others from around the world. The learners get to see things from a point they may not have ever had the opportunity to experience prior to distance education.
Global Diversity has become a prominent part of distance education. With so many universities offering online courses and so many learners taking advantage of this type of higher education, we are able to have a more diverse group within a class. Some learners that may live in a rural area may not have the same experiences as someone that lives in a urban area but with the tools that available and distance education being available, these two types of learners are able to be in the same class, sharing their experiences and learning from one another.
There are a variety of tools available to make global diversity a part of distance education. One tool is the fact that so many universities have courses set up through an online program that allows the learners to chat with one another, have discussions over specific topics and share general thoughts and information about themselves. Another great tool that is available are programs like Skype. This type of programs allowing people to chat, view one another live from their location, etc. The learners could actually have a conversation with one another and see one another while being in different parts of the world.
Siemens, G.. (n.d) "The Future of Distance Education" Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved September 20, 2010.http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4449103&Survey=1&47=6857070&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Global Diversity has become a prominent part of distance education. With so many universities offering online courses and so many learners taking advantage of this type of higher education, we are able to have a more diverse group within a class. Some learners that may live in a rural area may not have the same experiences as someone that lives in a urban area but with the tools that available and distance education being available, these two types of learners are able to be in the same class, sharing their experiences and learning from one another.
There are a variety of tools available to make global diversity a part of distance education. One tool is the fact that so many universities have courses set up through an online program that allows the learners to chat with one another, have discussions over specific topics and share general thoughts and information about themselves. Another great tool that is available are programs like Skype. This type of programs allowing people to chat, view one another live from their location, etc. The learners could actually have a conversation with one another and see one another while being in different parts of the world.
Siemens, G.. (n.d) "The Future of Distance Education" Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved September 20, 2010.http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4449103&Survey=1&47=6857070&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Module 1 Blog Comments
The following blogs were commented on for Module 1:
1. EDUTechSpecial
http://chadwickeds.blogspot.com/2010/09/module-1-blog.html#comments
2. EDUC 8842
http://daveharms.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/educ-8842-blog-1/
1. EDUTechSpecial
http://chadwickeds.blogspot.com/2010/09/module-1-blog.html#comments
2. EDUC 8842
http://daveharms.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/educ-8842-blog-1/
Friday, September 17, 2010
Module 1: The Next Generation
As distance education students we are all aware that this is the "Next Generation" to eduation. As adults, we all have busy lives and we some how have to find a way to fit our desire for higher education into this schedule. Distance education will not be "fading in the near future" but instead will continue to grow and replace more of the traditional face-to-face courses.
Simonson (2008) mentioned the fact that distance education will never be able to offer the same as face-to-face instruction, but instead that the instructions should be equal. I feel very privelaged to have participated in a number of distance education courses, even when I was enrolled at a university in my home town. The opportunties that I found in my distance education courses versus face-to-face instruction were beneficial. I wasn't as resistant to share my thoughts in opinions in the online courses, where as in the face-to-face courses, I often sat there and allowed everyone else to do the thinking, whether I agreed or disagreed.
Huett, Moller, and Foshay (2008) talk about key areas in which distance education can be improved. These areas affect the students ability to retain the knowledge and the impact they have to a technological society. Students and teachers should have a sense of collaboration in their online course and feeling that what they learn can be transferred to their everyday life.
I do agree with what is being said by all parties but I also think that there needs to be an imaginary line between a person's professional life and a person's personal life. I have a facebook page and I often have students wanting to befriend me but I chose to not have that connection due to the professional aspect and respect I want from my students. I do not ever post anything inappropriate on Facebook but I don't want my students to see the more casual side of me.
References:
Simonson (2008) mentioned the fact that distance education will never be able to offer the same as face-to-face instruction, but instead that the instructions should be equal. I feel very privelaged to have participated in a number of distance education courses, even when I was enrolled at a university in my home town. The opportunties that I found in my distance education courses versus face-to-face instruction were beneficial. I wasn't as resistant to share my thoughts in opinions in the online courses, where as in the face-to-face courses, I often sat there and allowed everyone else to do the thinking, whether I agreed or disagreed.
Huett, Moller, and Foshay (2008) talk about key areas in which distance education can be improved. These areas affect the students ability to retain the knowledge and the impact they have to a technological society. Students and teachers should have a sense of collaboration in their online course and feeling that what they learn can be transferred to their everyday life.
I do agree with what is being said by all parties but I also think that there needs to be an imaginary line between a person's professional life and a person's personal life. I have a facebook page and I often have students wanting to befriend me but I chose to not have that connection due to the professional aspect and respect I want from my students. I do not ever post anything inappropriate on Facebook but I don't want my students to see the more casual side of me.
References:
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008a, May/June). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 1: Training and Development). TechTrends, 52(3), 70–75.
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008b, July/August). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 2: Higher Education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66–70.
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. & Coleman, C. (2008, September/October). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63–67.
Simonson, M.. (n.d) “Distance Education: The Next Generation” Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2010 http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)