Hi there I am a full time mature student at the University of Sheffield England and i am in my final year reading social policy and sociology. One of my modules is about the internet and society and I have chosen to research distance learning for this module. Anyway what I would like to know is how new technologies have enhanced the distance learning experience, if at all. Whether distance learning could be seen as a threat to traditional universities. I would also appreciate some input on the social aspect of distance learning and whether it is an isolating experience and what forums like this add to your experience. I know its rather a lot to ask from a newcomer, but even if you could just give me your opinion on part of it it would be a gift. Thanks
My guess is that a large majority are like myself. If it wasn't for distance learning, I wouldn't be taking any courses at all. An isolating experience?? School is not a major part of my life and I really do have a life. I guess I just organize my own keggers and panty raids. Toga party of one???
Go to encarta.com - they have an e-learning site, there are several articles about this. The quotes are from some members here, and you can ask specific questions based on that. Your questions are very broad, and I think some here (like me) could write for hours on it. Do you have any specific questions. Otherwise, yes technology helps, DL is not a threat, this forum helps in many ways. I know, not much help, so any specifics?
Debs, Welcome to Degreeinfo. A few rambling thoughts: In my opinion the greatest enhancement provided by the Internet is the speed at which we can now communicate. It's also an incredible research tool, especially when used to access online libraries. I do not think distance learning is a threat to traditional universities at this time. I think for the most part, DL students are a different group than traditional students. I don't know for sure, but I think most DL students are older, employed and pursuing their studies on a part time basis. Many if not most traditional universities now offer some form of distance education. I think DL does have more potential to be isolating for a younger student, just beginning collegiate studies. However, assuming most DL students are older, employed and pursuing their studies on a part time basis, a little isolation is probably a welcome thing. It provides an opportunity to do some research. Degreeinfo is a diverse community of people with an interest in distance learning, but we will discuss almost everything else too. I enjoy reading Degreeinfo because it demonstrates the potential of DL.
aic: "I believe Dr. Bear would be the best person to answer this guy's question " Dr. Marina Bear might be, since she's the only one in the family to have done a degree by distance learning (MA, Dominguez Hills). She was very glad to have the opportunity to do a degree while we were living in a very isolated place . . . but she really really missed interaction with others, and vowed she would do her doctorate in a very traditional on-campus way (and did). During the 7 y eaers I was involved in marketing the Heriot-Watt distance MBA, the most common reason, by far, that people did not finish was time. Despite the best of plans and intentions ("I will spend 2 evenings a week and all day Saturday...") life happened. Crises, visits, opportunities, illnesses, whatever. It was very rarely failing exams or inability to understand the work.
Originally posted by debs Hi there I am a full time mature student at the University of Sheffield England and i am in my final year reading social policy and sociology. One of my modules is about the internet and society and I have chosen to research distance learning for this module. Congratulations. You should be commended on furthering your education. You have come to the right place. There are quite a few knowledgable people on this forum. Anyway what I would like to know is how new technologies have enhanced the distance learning experience, if at all. Technology has always played a major role in the distance learning experience. In the 100+ years of distance learning in the U.S., the technology used to deliver instruction has evolved from print-based correspondence, to radio, television, video telecourses, ITFS (instruction television fixed service featuring one-way video and two-way audio) to videoconferencing (two-way video and audio) to web-based. Technologies now allow learners a full range of multimedia experiences, rapid feedback, synchronous or asynchronous (i.e. real-time or time-delayed) communication and anytime/anywhere learning. Whether distance learning could be seen as a threat to traditional universities. Certainly, distance learning has been seen as a threat by some traditional universities and by certain faculty groups. Many traditional universities opposed the accreditation of the University of Phoenix (even before it offered much in terms of DL) and have opposed the acceptance of distance learning degree programs (particularly at the undergraduate level). I would also appreciate some input on the social aspect of distance learning and whether it is an isolating experience and what forums like this add to your experience. A good deal of research is being done in this area. There is some indication that the ability to be judged based upon your writing and work, rather than your beauty and skin color, presents some advantages. Many learners who are uncomfortable asserting themselves in a classroom setting, find that they are albe to be quite competent when they can check what they say before hitting the "send" button. Much work is currently being done in the area of online "learning communities", that are designed to address the issue of isolation. Some of the research on interactivity in distance learning has shown that many learners feel that the lack of face-to-face interaction with their instructor has not hurt them at all academically. I know its rather a lot to ask from a newcomer, but even if you could just give me your opinion on part of it it would be a gift. I hope that some of this is useful to you. Research in mediated/distance learning and instruction has been conducted since before the 1920s. I cannot even give you the tip of the iceberg here. Thanks You're welcome and good luck in your studies. Tony Pina Faculty, Instructional Technology California State U. San Bernardino
Welcome and good luck!!! You asked, " how new technologies have enhanced the distance learning experience, if at all?" Obviously, the Internet is the new globally accessible instantaneous communication vehicle. It has changed a lot and many traditional universities are offering many of their regular courses by independent study online. The following link is to Louisiana State University (LSU) Independent Study. LSU is a very traditional land-grant college. It now offers a wide-range of courses, taught by its regular faculty, online. http://www.is.lsu.edu/college/cours...course_list.asp You asked, " Whether distance learning could be seen as a threat to traditional universities?” Of course, SOME traditional universities will see it as a threat; others will see it as an opportunity. Some will run and hide; some will adapt and evolve. Some will whither on the vine, others will thrive. For a peek into the future, one of the best examples of adaptation and evolution is this master's degree program at Florida Atlantic University. This program offers the opportunity to earn a Master of Forensic Accounting degree either in the classroom on campus or online or in any combination you desire. http://www.masters-in-forensic-accounting.com/ You asked, "whether it is an isolating experience?" Personally, I find it greatly empowering! I offer referral to the following thread on this forum for an example of another who obviously does too. http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13023 You asked, "what forums like this add to your experience?" I refer you yet again to: http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13023 And http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12797 For testimonials as to the impact forums like this one has on distance learners. Good luck and best wishes for success on your journey! Please keep us posted on your progress and experiences. It is how we learn from each other. Your questions have obviously caused much reflection from many of us!
Distance Learning or Distance Teaching? Hi Debs " I would like to know is how new technologies have enhanced the distance learning experience, if at all. Whether distance learning could be seen as a threat to traditional universities. I would also appreciate some input on the social aspect of distance learning and whether it is an isolating experience and what forums like this add to your experience. " The first thing to appreciate is the difference between what is known as Distance Learning and what is really Distance Teaching. The latter comes from the campus mind set of the power centres in universities - they let in 'DL' programmes that are extentions of the pedagogy of the campus. Hence, many of the technologies you will associate with DL are about teaching (and their controls) and not about learning. I refer to: rigid schedules, set cohorts, set entry dates, continuous assessment regimes counting towards final grades, adopted textbooks not specialy written DL materials, 'course packs', library references (requiring access to a library or its online substitutes), online 'class' contact (difficult across time zones and not cost-effective if repeated for each zone), synchronous on line 'chat room' style 'tutorials', residential requirements or summer schools, campus visits, mix of invigilatred or uninvigialted exams, group work via web, and (UK) projects, video lecturers, CDs and other attempts to project campus features (in this case the least effective learning resource) onto the distance model. Distance learning - predominantly self-study - is about the learning process of mature adults (average age 38 rather than 18), specially written DL texts, cases, exercises, essays (ungraded in terms of final grade), web board contact for faculty questions and for all administration. The technology is devoid of spectacular bells and whistles (usually the result when learning is handed over to software technologists and not educationalists) and is about helping the student pass their exams. If the learning is purely for information and entertainment TV does it better. Students who want academic attestation of their fitness do not need what the campus mindset and IT designers want to produce for them. The output of University learning is examination and it is necessary to pass the exams to gain an award. The DL student wants to pass the exams and DL is about helping them do so by creating learning experiences that prepare them for their examinations. DT staff are about being teachers, the centre of the campus experience, in control of the student (do this, attend that, listen up, hear this, read that and, I'm sorry you will have tyo start again because you missed something I set for you!). However, as you are at Sheffield (England?) why not take a train ride to Edinburgh and spend sometime with a distance learning team at EBS, Heriot-Watt University? We have a modest reputation in DL and are tolerably known in the pedagogy.
Harry Truman is said to have wished for a one-handed economist (as economic adviser). Distance learning may be a threat to traditional universities but, on the other hand, it may increase the number of potential students for those universities. It's probably what is made of it.
To clarify Decimon's joke: the reason for wanting a one-handed economist is that so after making an economic prediction, he can't add "But on the other hand..."
After having done my bachelors the traditional way e.g. brick and mortar (BS Metallurgical Engineering (Mineral Processing) Michigan Technological University), my masters semi-traditional e.g. part-time night school (MBA - Management - California State University - Hayward), and now working on my doctorate by distance learning (PhD - Mechanical Engineering (Industrial Engineering) - Colorado State University), I will state that the DL route is the hardest and most time consuming. Trying to work full time (engineering project manager) have a life and take course, is very difficult. I just spent one very nice weekend stuck in front of my computer doing design of experiments problems using Excel and Minitab and then writing the results up. I have another shorter assignment due this coming Thursday (with a business trip to So Cal on Wednesday) and a lot of reading sandwiched in. My personal life and the yard work suffers (but only 6 months of course work left - should be done by the end of August). In talking with the other students in my program I do not think that it is hurting the full time program at all. The others in the program are like me, they could not do this on a full time basis and still maintain their life style. Actually one is taking a years leave of absence (single guy) and going to campus for the research and dissertation phase. There has always been a pecking order in academia, and now with the greater interest in DL it is broadening. What does hurt IMO is the perceived point that all DL are easy ways to “BUY” a degree.
