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Module Two:
George Siemens discussed the growing acceptance of distance education in today’s corporate and educational spheres, including three possible elements of distance education that are creating more effective learning experiences and giving distance education an identity of its own distinct from F2F courses: (a) global diversity, (b) communication, and (c) collaborative interaction. Do you agree or disagree with his view? Select one of these three elements for your reflection in this module and respond to the following in your blog:
Kelly Gallagher
01:36 AM on September 26, 2012
When I think of distant learning, my mind goes
to a place that exists within the computer. Strange to think of it this
way, but he computer is the cafe/classroom where everyone goes to pick
up their work, drop off their assignments, and interact with one
another. It is a virtual place that does not exist anywhere and yet it
feels like a concrete place. The idea that people from around the world
all go to this classroom is not any different than what you would see if
you walked into a classroom on a university campus. I am not sure if I
feel that distant learning is any different than in the classroom. I
remember sitting in the classroom listening to the teacher lecture, and
then everyone gathered up their bags, books, and phones and headed out
the door with little interaction except with those that sat right around
you. This seems to be very much like the online classroom, except that
the lecture is written, the interaction is written, and the heading out
the door is the heading to the kitchen.
Collaboration is not anything new. It has been around since I was in school fifty years ago; however the idea of interacting with someone across the globe is new. The opportunity to speak directly to someone that lives a different lifestyle, lives in a different environment, and has a different culture is a much more enriching experience than reading about it in a textbook or even watching a film. Social networks, Skype, blogs, video casts, webinars, blackboard, microphones, cameras, and other interactive games and programs enhance the ability to interact and collaborate with one another on projects, programs, and learning in general. Siemens (2012) indicates that there is greater "contribution by experts around the world" with distant education and that the education, government, and business arenas are all interacting with one another to ensure that students are learning what they need to learn in order to be a successful community-global minded individual. I have a hard time imagining what the education arena will look like in 20, 30 or even 50 years from now. Technology is changing too fast for me to imagine that far into the future. I found a really neat site: CUE.org. I know it is not a specific educator, but the information is so great that I have to share it: http://blog.cue.org. I discovered it in an article by Yahoo News, CUE.org Announces Education Technology Professional Development Blog. They are also on Twitter and Facebook. "CUE is committed to advancing Ed Tech Professional Development for teachers and educators. CUE?s new vibrant blogging platform will help advance this cause by creating a central resource center that highlights the best of CUE?s educational resources" (para. 4). Dana DuRee is the person of contact for CUE.org. On other unique blog I found is Wired@Heart, Dr. Marina Kostina's Transcending distances in Online learning. This is really a completely different approach to blogging and I found it really interesting. My mind kept jumping from one place to another! twitter.com/mkostina and effectiveonlineteaching.org/tag/dr-marina-kostina |
Monday, October 1, 2012
Module Two
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Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI like how you compared distant learning to learning on a college campus. As I think about your comparisons and reflect on my own college experiences it resembles much what you have described in your response. Due to all of the technology and social networks, society is loosing the need and experience of collaborating face to face. However distant learning makes it obtaining a higher degree a little easier.
With the cost of gas, trying to drive from one place to another is getting too expensive. I wanted to go to the campus here in Oahu, but the drive over and back is over two hours and then home. Too much time, cost to much in gas, and I can get the information sitting at home on my computer. Does not make sense for a teacher making a low wage to spend it all on gas.
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