Sunday, May 12, 2013

EDUC 6135 - Week 1 Assignment 1


Before entering this course, my ideas on Distance Learning were based on my previous courses during my experience with Walden. I assumed it was only for colleges and universities to teach adults. I figured it was something that was newer, and only started about 10 years ago. I guessed that only teachers and college students were involved and the rest of the world was ignorant to it's processes. Little did I know.

The definition of DL is constantly changing along with the rest of the world. With new technological advances and worldly collaborations, our planet is smaller than it ever has been. This allows for a diffusion of ideas between cultures at the snap of a finger. To keep up with these changes, businesses and industries are changing rapidly.

For example, the cell phone industry and mobile communications have altered the way we do everything. One small device can help you with healthcare, education, nutrition, finances, dating, employment, music, art, and a million other areas (Thijm, 2013). With this rapid growth, the education world needs to keep up with the rest of the world. Distance Learning is over 100 years old, but with the Internet and mobile phones, there has been a rapid growth. The Distance Education and Training Council predicts a more than 300% increase in distance learning in the next 5 years. (Moller, 2008)

When revising my definition of DL, I tried to come up with something that was universal. It would have to incorporate every major and field of study. Were the changes I made based on my knowledge or my target audience's? I feel that my beginning point would always be education and branch out to consider all fields. My definition summary would be; “Distance Learning is collaboration with experts from areas outside of my own that motivate me to think differently while I conduct my studies from the comfort of my home.”

As much as I tried to make it apply to everyone, it doesn't. The definition must vary from person to person. If there is a blanket statement it would not be much of a definition. It changes so much that in 10 years there might be a new definition for the times. I am sure that back in 1903 they did not think they could correspond with people instantly and send pictures and other media instantly (video was barely a notion). Looking towards the future, there needs to be change to account for the advances in technology that could one day make us all holograms in the same room learning a blend of traditional learning and distance learning all at once.

References

ï Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (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. Retrieved from Walden University Database

Thijm, Yvette. (2013). Your Cell Phone Can Change the World. http://www.forbes.com/ sites/skollworldforum/2013/04/08/your-cell-phone-can-change- the-world/. Forbes.com 

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