Future Trends in Distance Learning

DefinitionofDistanceLearning

Distance Learning:• is “Learning where the instructor and the students

are in physically separate locations. • can be either synchronous or asynchronous . • can include correspondence , video or satellite

broadcasts, or e-Learning .• usually implies the higher education level”

(Getchell,2006)

Definition of Distance Learning • “Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of

education that focuses on the pedagogy and andragogy, technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to students who are not physically ‘on site’” (Wikipedia ,2008).

• “A good definition of distance learning is the use of electronic means to distribute education or training for education or business. This could be television, videotape, interactive video, audio-graphics, satellite video or any other electronic means (Theresa Gilliard-Cook, 1999),

StrengthsofDistantLearning• It Increases access to learning, lifelong learning opportunities, and convenience of time and place (St. Pierre, 1998) 

• It is essential for learners who are truly place‐bound because of factors such as employment, child‐care demands, disability, or remoteness of the location where they live (Rintala, 1998)

StrengthsofDistantLearning• It helps self-motivated learners; raise self-

confidence; develop academic skills.• It strengthen students’ relationship.• It helps practice commitment to the public good.• It providing minorities and disadvantages

individuals with better access to global knowledge.

• It reduces diverse implication of belittling based on racisms.

(Guldun,2007)

Future Trends in Distance Learninga). General Scope

• Technological devices are becoming more versatile and ubiquitous. • A huge growth in Internet usage is arising.• Lifelong learning is becoming a competitive necessity. ( Howell.S.L, Williams.P.B & Lindsay.N.K.,2003)• World will indeed become a village where interacting with a multitude

of people will be possible ( Zorn,2008).

Future Trends in Distance Learningb). Education Perspective

• With no boundary of space and time, distance learning provides both synchronous and asynchronous learning for more learners to continue their education.

• Distance learning is expanding at an extremely rapid rate and it has become more and more prevailing.

• More courses, degrees, and universities are becoming available through distance-education programs.

• There is a growing emphasis on academic accountability. “certification is becoming more preferable than a degree" ( Gallagher, 2003 ).

Future Trends in Distance Learningc). Student

• Online students are becoming an entirely new subpopulation of higher-education learners.

• Enrollments in higher education are growing to surpass the capacity of traditional infrastructures.

• Students are shopping for courses that meet their schedules and circumstances. Given the demand and response, education is becoming a commodity, making consumers of students and putting them in a position to shop for the best deal.(Johnston, Ewell,& Paulson,2002; Paulson,2002;Carnevale,2000).

Future Trends in Distance Learningd). Education Institution

• The need for effective course-management systems and teaching strategies that utilize technology is drastically increasing.

• The need for faculty development, support, and training is growing.

• Institutions will strengthen their distance-learning strategic plans by identifying and understanding distance-education trends for student needs, enrollments, faculty support, and larger academic, technological and economic issues.

Future Trends in Distance Learningf). Teaching Strategies

General Scope:• There is an increasing need for learning and teaching strategies that exploit the capabilities of technology.

• The Internet is becoming dominant among other distance-education media.

• Open-source ideas may be applied to online learning and education.

Future Trends in Distance Learningf.) Teaching Strategies cognitivedevelopment

** Distance teaching strategies should regard not only cognitive development for the learners, but also interactive elements among learners and instructors.

1. Instruction is becoming more learner-centered, non-linear, and self-directed.

Future Trends in Distance Learningf.) Teaching Strategiescognitive development 2. Informal and field-based learning

opportunities are greater appreciated. 3. Distance education programs are

designed with clear objective, individual feedback, communication tool, chat sessions and discussion list ,etc included.

Future Trends in Distance Learningf.) Teaching Strategies interactive elements

"Human beings are at their best when they interact with the real world and draw lessons from the bumps and bruises they get" (Simon, 1994).

• Social presence is an important key to understanding communication and to enhancing and improving effective distance instruction (Thomas G. Reio, Jr. and Susan J.Crim2006).

Future Trends in Distance Learningf.) Teaching Strategies interactive elements• Failure to consider the relational

dynamics in the online setting may produce greater feelings of isolation, reduced levels of satisfaction, less participation, poor academic performance, and increased attrition among distance learners ( Lim 2001).

5.Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?a). General Scope:

• “ The biggest challenge in distance education is perhaps the lack of vision and the failure to use technology strategically”( Bates ,2000).

5.Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?• Too often, instructional designers and curriculum developers have

become enamored of the latest technologies without dealing with the underlying issues of learner characteristics and needs, the influence of media upon the instructional process, equity of access to interactive delivery systems, and the new roles of teacher, site facilitator, and student in the distance learning process

( Bates ,2000).

5.Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?b). Practice in a classroom

• It is essential for instructors of distance learning to consider students’ ages, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, interests ,experiences, educational levels, familiarity , and delivery systems.

5.Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?

b). Practice in a classroom • The most important factor for successful distance learning is a

caring, concerned teacher who is confident, experienced, at ease with the equipment, uses the media creatively, and maintains a high level of interactivity with the students (Schamber, 1988 ).

5.Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?c). Integrate distance learning into curriculum:• The teacher of the future must be not only accomplished in

instructional techniques and technology, but also in the integration of technology into the curriculum .

• Teachers need to learn all the possibilities of how to incorporate technology, not as a separate element in the classroom but to effectively use the available technologies as seamlessly as using a chalkboard.

5.Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?d). Be a promulgators to her colleagues:• Teachers can use technology in various ways that don't have

anything to do with the mechanics of using specific software or hardware.

• Teachers need to not only be knowledgeable in specific content area, but now take on additional learning themselves to become promulgators of technology.

Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?e). Basic notion:• Using the tools and available resources that technology affords

does not mean that the teacher need to be a computer expert • Students usually adapt more quickly than their teachers to new

technology. don't mind having their students teach them new tips and tricks (Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow, 1992)

Whatateachershouldprepare/doforthetrendsofdistancelearning?

f). Be a facilitator and catalyst to her students:• Through the most effective choice of media, the

teacher becomes a facilitator of learning, rather than a communicator of a fixed body of information. The learning process proceeds as knowledge building among teacher and students (Hilary Perraton ,1988).

• The role of instructor of distant learning should shift from “ intellect-on-stage and mentor towards a learning catalyst! (Volver,2002).