Comparison contrast and summary of authors view point:
In the series or three articles by Moller, Foshay, Huett (2008, 2008, 2008), the authors discuss e-learning at various levels: corporate, higher Education and K-12. In the video by Simonson (n.d.), he provided a general overview of distance education and his view of the future of distance education.
Moller, et al. and Simonson have the same opinion with regards to the importance of changing the prospective of distance education. Distance education is growing rapidly (Simons, n.d) , but the general public and some of the administrators in the educational and corporate field do not understand the importance of differentiating between face-to-face education and the distance education. Therefore, it generates problems for educators and e-learners. Lack of qualified distance education educators creates an ineffectual learning environment which reflects poorly on distance education in general rather than the instructor’s specific method of instruction. With regards to distance learning: Learners do not know how to evaluate “poorly designed e- learning” (Moller, et al., 2008, May/June, p. 71) nor can they recognize the relative value of one school and that poor quality hurts everybody.
Moller, et al. and Simonson emphasize the economical factors which induce e-Learning growth. It is convenience for private or public corporate and educational sectors because it is scalable, available on demand, cost effective and reachable in developed and developing countries. All authors agree that e-learning is broken down to distance teaching and distance learning.
There are dissimilarities in the viewpoints of Moller, et al. and Simonson. Simonson states in comparison to Everett Rodger’s “S-shaped curve of adoption of new ideas” (Simonson, n.d.) that distance education is at the point where it will continue to grow and be incorporated starting from K-12 and beyond, but the paradigm will not change drastically (Simonson, n.d.). Moller, et al. (2008) emphasizes that in order for distance education to be successful, it must improve its learning models (p. 78)
My outlook:
I strongly agree with Moller, et al. (2008) and Simonson, (n.d.) that in order for distance learning to be successful, educators, educational administration, and business managers must reevaluate its understanding of what e-learning is and reevaluate its policies. I do not completely accept Simonson’s point that distance education is widely acknowledged, although it is widely used. In addition, in many brick-and-mortar schools distance education is still being undermined, measured up and forced to implement face-to-face modules. Not every educator can teach a distance education class while not every student can succeed in e-learning classes. Distance education classes have different dynamic, and both the educator and the student must understand that e-learning is not synonymous with “easy”.
Reference:
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, 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. Use the Academic Search Premier database, and search using the article's Accession Number: 33281719.
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May/June). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 2: Higher education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66-70. Use the Academic Search Premier database, and search using the article's Accession Number: 33991516.
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. [Study video]. Retrieved September 12, 2009, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=3206859&Survey=1&47=5050260&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1.
I thought you compared and contrasted the resources well.I appreciate your personal ooutlook section especially that in order for distance learning to be successful, educators administration and business managers must reevaluate its undersgtanding of what e-learning is and reevaluate its policies.As in my comments to Shane's blog, it is educators who are experts in education so these afre the people who should be doing the research and assisting business and others on distance education and not vice verse.
ReplyDeleteSandy
Thanks! I have to agree with your point.
ReplyDeleteOrit
Orit,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that not every instructor can teach online, nor can every student succeed online. However, I do agree with Simonson that online education is becoming increasingly acknowledged. Yet, I do not agree with him that we are anywhere near critical mass, since I do not believe that we have nearly the online population that we will have in the next few years.
My online division is preparing for what we are calling prime. We expect to have more than five times the number of students, sections, courses, and instructors in the next couple of years.
Kimberly
Also, you point out an interesting perception that online education is somehow easy. Why do you think some people have that perception?
ReplyDeleteHi Kimberly,
ReplyDeleteFirst to clarify that this is not my opinion!
The assumption that online education is easy because of many inept instructors and students. However, this standpoint is quickly changing after the realization that online classes require more work than face-to-face ones.
Hi Orit,
ReplyDeleteI like what you say when you comment that, "Distance education classes have different dynamic, and both the educator and the student must understand that e-learning is not synonymous with 'easy'." All too often, students think that an online course is going to be a piece of cake. What they find instead is that skills that they may or may not have developed before, such as organization and self motivation, or essential for success.
Instructors as well find that if they're not willing to be flexible and change as rapidly as distance education is changing, they are frustrated. As a mentor of new faculty at an online college, it is distressing to try to help an instructor who is floundering simply because of lack of organization or consistency from day to day.
References:
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, 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. Use the Academic Search Premier database, and search using the article's Accession Number: 33281719.
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, May/June). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 2: Higher education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66-70. Use the Academic Search Premier database, and search using the article's Accession Number: 33991516.
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. [Study video]. Retrieved September 12, 2009, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=3206859&Survey=1&47=5050260&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1.
You used the key words organization or consistency!
ReplyDeleteOrit
ReplyDeleteGreat work, very well organized.
You have some interesting points in collaborative learning and techniques.
I do believe Online learning in a collaborative learning environment is becoming a popular learning approach with the rapid development of web technology, However, there are recent report reveals online programs dropout rate is on the rising. What do you think is the problem?