The Next Generation of Distance Education

The Next Generation of Distance Education

There are numerous reasons why distance education should evolve to the next generation. “Distance learning is rapidly becoming a popular choice for continuing professional education, mid-career degree programs, and lifelong learners of all kind” (Huett, 2008). The reason distance learning is becoming so popular is economics and accessibility (Huett, 20008). Some significant benefits to distance education are broadening a variety of courses and increase student population without the expenses of building new schools (Huett, 2008). Distance education provides for independence and flexibility, which motivate many students to participate that have other responsibilities and inflexible schedules that may prevent them from attending a traditional classroom setting. Although unsure about the results Simonson believes that other reasons for the evolution of distance education include, increase student motivation to learn, distance education can provide equivalent learning experiences traditional classrooms, and distance education may offer increase returns on investments for colleges and universities (Simonson, 2008).

I agree with their positions and promote distance education because of the independence and flexibility. Distance education allows students to complete course work at their own pace and create a schedule that enables them to work full time, while pursuing higher education. Moller, Foshay and Huett state that, “As part of the process of mastering content, significant learning often occurs as a result of learner to learner communication. Distance education allows for this collaboration and communication to occur among students, which may increase mastering of content and learners actively engaging in the learning process.

References:

Huett, J., Foshay, W., & Moller, L (June/May, 2008). 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., Foshay, W., & Moller, L (June/May, 2008). The evolution of distance education: implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 3: K-12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63-67.

Simonson, M. (2008). Equivalency theory. Laureate Education, Inc. Baltimore: Author