The Future of Distance Learning

What do you think the perceptions of distance learning will be in the future?

The pervasiveness of computers, tablets, the internet, and other information and communications technologies has greatly contributed to the exponential growth of distance learning.  According to a study conducted by the Sloan Consortium, well over 5 million students reported being enrolled in at least one online course and universities see online education as an integral part of remaining competitive and increasing enrollment (Belcher, Neely and Tucker, 2013).  Granted, skepticism about the quality and legitimacy of online courses and online degree programs continue to exist, but a shift in these perceptions has occurred and I believe that, in the years to come, online degree programs will be seen as no different, in terms of quality, than traditional face-to-face programs.  More and more adults are choosing online learning as their best option because it allows them the flexibility to meet their professional and personal obligations, while pursuing higher education.  The advent of online primary and secondary schools and the move by some states to require that high school students complete at least one online course as a graduation requirement means that online learning will be commonplace for future generations of students.

How can you as an instructional designer be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning?

Improving societal perceptions of distance learning involves being an ambassador for online learning.  As a teacher, I work with many other teachers who want to pursue graduate degrees but must also balance family and professional obligations.  I make a point to share my experiences with online education and to point out that, like traditional brick and mortar universities, online institutions can offer quality programs while also offering flexibility that accommodates the needs of working professionals.   In addition, I plan on working to develop online learning experiences for my students and online courses using distance learning theories and the skills and strategies that I have learned in this program.  Creating quality online courses is the best way to improve society perceptions of online learning.

How will you be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education?

By working for an online educational institution, I can work to improve the field of distance education.  This means continuing to improve my skills as an instructional designer and creating and evaluating courses that I teach or create.  As Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek (2012), assert, “just like any other kinds of teaching, teaching at a distance requires planning and organizing.  However, teaching at a distance, whether synchronous or asynchronous, requires that greater emphasis be placed on the initial planning phase” (p.151).  By focusing on planning and creating quality online courses and continuing to keep up to date on distance education theory and new technologies and tools, I can ensure that I am working to improve the field of distance education.

References:

Belcher, T., Neely, P. & Tucker, J. (2013). Public perceptions of online learning in the united states.             Retrieved from: http://sloanconsortium.org/conference/2013/aln/public-perceptions-

            online-            education-united-states

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a

            distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.