Expansions in Distance Education Technologie - Research Paper Example

The future of distance education Technology changes with time, the more time progresses the more sophisticated technologybecomes. Internet is one aspect that enhanced and simplified technology the, corporations, school institution and other bodies are investing heavily in the internet. Distance education is very important as it has proven to increase social mobility and economic growth (Clemmitt). Regular school is now being replaced by distance education as more and more people opt for distance education. Mehotra et al. (ix) suggested that, “distance learning, or distance education, is not a future possibility for which higher education must prepare, it is a current reality creating opportunities and challenges for educational institutions; a reality offering students expanded choices in where, when, how, and from whom they learn; a reality making education accessible to ever larger numbers of persons” the benefits that accrue distanced education are numerous, and the critics’ sentiment that the system is doing more harm than good should be shunned. Distance education has seen enrolment increase over time, and the learners who are in underserved regions have the opportunity to access education. Education become assessable to the learners who found it difficult to attend a regular school due to time constraints and geographical issues. It is important to indicate that schooling in the 21st century strongly requires ICT techniques to be incorporated to the curriculum. Computer skill are well instilled to the students who practice distance learning as compared to the student in regular school. There are also very confined skills in matters such as critical thinking, independent learning, research, computer usage, creative thinking, problem solving, time management, and decision making (Barker & Wendel, 2001). Educationists have suggested that learning should be student centered rather than teacher centered, this is very achievable in distance learning since the student is much involved in the learning process as compared to the students in regular school system. There are numerous expansion in distance education technologies (Karaim). And for this reason curriculum developers have positioned themselves to make sure that the education system is better compare to regular education that is facilitated by a teacher. Distance education with the aid of technology is offering a similar interaction between a teacher and a student. It will be baseless to argue that teaching of subjects such as mathematics can only be done attained in a regular school. It is very possible to learn an abstract subject like mathematics can be tough through video conferencing, an instructor can video-record the methods and techniques that are used solving a mathematical problem, which can then be distributed distance learners. The only requirement is to make sure that the internet speeds are fast for video streaming, speeds of 20mbps are sufficient for any video streaming. Distance education or E-learning has the platform to manage and respond to the requirement of many students. The cost of online education is cheaper as compared to regular schooling, this is because the one can choose an open distance learning to enroll across the globe, unlike the regular school where one has to choose few schools that are within the locality of the student. Online learning is also a forum that ensures that the students focus much on their schoolwork. As stated earlier, E-learning equips the student with time management skills, this is effected during assignment where the student is supposed to complete the assignment on time. In terms of content and instructional method online learning provides the students with insightful thoughts that enables them to gain more interest in learning and tailor them to become more considerate citizens (Alcorn and Ezekiel). It is no doubt that the distance learning programs are very flexible and self-packed, which enhances students to study at their own pace, therefore, grasping and mastery of content is very high as well as retention of the same content. Online learning can also be describe as a factor that is facilitating globalization, as everything else becomes globalized so does education with the help of the internet. Students who are distributed all over the globe can have a common program offered through online learning. Flexibility offered through online learning is the best, students have the opportunity to learn anywhere at any time which was not and is not possible with regular system. Online education removes the disturbance that usually exists in schools and ensures that the student adequately concentrates on his or her education (Scruton). In addition, many young people think the quality of traditional schools is much lower than before, so they become “ill-prepared” and less motivated to get a four-year university degree (Billitteri). However, they have to accept some job-related academic training to get promotion or earn high salaries, but they prefer to keep their jobs during academic training. As a result, they choose distant learning, because most online education programs are flexible and their students can arrange the schedule of programs. The validity of distance education that is offered through the internet should not be comprised, there have been researches to show indicate that distance learning is valid as the regular form of education. Recent studies indicate that there is no b difference between students learning in traditional modes with those that learning online (Chaney). Instructors are also gaining from virtual classroom, since online classroom have the ability to develop more efficient and effective tutorial that can be used to simulate realistic global activities; the instructor is also able to become a better organizer since online modules require a detailed and systematic manner during preparation of assignment; teamwork is also enhanced among instructors and technical departments (Chaney). This indicate that there are a lot of benefit accrued to the instructor due to distance education, which dismisses the thought that instructors will be the one to lose as a result of basing education as E-learning. Anybody who is working fulltime but is contemplating to further his education has an opportunity to do so through distance education. Students are finding web-based courses very attractive and sustainable since there is a continual access of to learning material, the content is enriched and well elaborated, video interaction, and there is freedom of scheduling (Karaim). The current society is popularizing distant education, and it is been offered in different courses such as law, education, healthcare & medicine, and business. Masters of Business Administration (MBA) that is offered today across the globe is tremendous, many higher education institution have the program in both regular and distance learning mode. This is a strong indication that employers in the corporate world have confidence in this programs, which seems to be producing excellent professionals in management field. Likewise, as distant learning becomes more and more popular in current society, business companies and numerous organizations are beginning to acknowledge the degrees and values of online education programs. Business companies become more positive to online education and consider an online degree as any regular schools’ degree (Gibson). The rapid change in the technological environment informs the need in the approach to learning. Business firms desire their employees maintain competitive, but do not increase employees’ turnover rates. In this situation, they accept distant learning, because online education programs provide the employees some flexibility in balancing their full-time jobs and leisure time learning in order to ensure that business companies get the suitable employees (Gibson). Educational market is becoming very competitive, the thirst of education is increasing each day in both developing and developed countries. If only regular schools were to be considered as the mode of learning, the current population of students won’t fit in this institutions. There are a lot of resources that will be needed to put together to accommodate the increasing number of students, which include classrooms, expansion of libraries, increase the number of instructors and increase the number of accommodation facilities around the learning institution. This will be very difficult and it will strain many states especially those in developing countries. Due to this escalating demand for education the best way to respond to it is through distance learning, especially that the world is now perceived as a digitalized. With devices such as tablets, iPad and smartphones that were innovated in present times it becomes easy to enhance education, since they can store a lot information. Those who are opposed to online education can be said to be persons who don’t want to embrace chance, and they so concerned with social status that is conferred to person who attend school. Physically attending school does not make a person professional or more elite than a person who has attended distance education program, the society should change the perception of distance education and accept it is the only form of education that is guaranteeing sufficient supply as far as demand for education is concerned. Work cited Alcorn, Brandon, Gayle Christensen, and Ezekiel J. Emanuel. "The Real Value of Online Education." Atlantic 314.2 (2014): 58-59. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. Barker, K., & Wendel, T. E-Learning: Studying Canadas Virtual Secondary Schools. Kelowna, BC: Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education. Web 9 December 2014 Billitteri, Thomas J. "The Value of a College Education." CQ Researcher 20 Nov. 2009: 981-1004. Web. 29 Oct. 2014 Clemmitt, Marcia. "Digital Education." CQ Researcher 2 Dec. 2011: 1001-24. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. Clemmitt, Marcia. "Home Schooling." CQ Researcher 7 Mar. 2014: 217-40. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. Gibson, Tom. "Online Learning Opens A Path From The Technical To The Technological." Mechanical Engineering 136.4 (2014): 39-43. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. Karaim, Reed. "Expanding Higher Education." CQ Global Researcher 15 Nov. 2011: 525-72. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. Mehrotra, C. M., Hollister, C. D., & McGahey, L. Distance learning: Principles for effective design, delivery and evaluation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001. p.ix. Scruton, Roger. “The Idea of a University.” The American Spectator. Web 9 September 2014 Read More