Education must inevitably change as students change. Specific approaches to education must evolve to meet the needs of the students as well as meet the learning goals of the educational milieu. Distance education must evolve and change due to rapid technological innovations that are taking place as well as the shifting needs of the glocal (global and local) context of the 21st century.
The four goals recommended by Anderson (2008) are learner-centered, knowledge-centered, community-centered, and assessment-centered. Any learning environment that utilizes these four areas can improve student experiences whether they are in distance or traditional education. Paloff & Pratt (2005) describe the need for institutions and educators in distance learning institutions must be learner-focused and highlight openness, flexibility & humor, honesty, the willingness to take responsibility for community formation and the willingness to work collaboratively as important aspects for success as online learners. All of these aspects of the learning process are essential to successful learning in whatever context it takes place. Distance learning's unique context is not a face-to-face learning environment; therefore a different conception of learning must be understood than in a traditional educational experience. Best practices must be researched to and be continually modified due to the technological and communication changes that occur in the societies that distance learning institutions serve.
References:
Ally, M. (2008). Foundations of educational theory for online learning. In Anderson, T. (2nd ed.), The theory and practice of online learning (pp. 15-44). Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University Press.
Anderson, T. (Ed.). (2008). The theory and practice of online learning. (2nd ed.). Edmonton, AB: Athabasca University Press.
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). The role and responsibility of the learner in the online classroom. Retrieved from http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/03_24.pdf
Micah - very well said re: education changing with the students (constantly evolving). If we don't evolve with the current trends and updated technologies, then we as instructors, will definitely be left far behind in trying to reach and actually teach our students. I find it hard to believe that there are still teachers out there who have not yet learned to turn on a computer-- aaaarrrghhhh! Makes me crazy, lol!
ReplyDeleteMicah, I'm glad that you wrote that distance education is different than face-to-face education. I do feel that educators are beginning to realize that as online education progresses.
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