The Future of Distance Learning

For this week's assignment, consider your learning in this course and the presentation by Dr. Siemens; reflect on the current and future perceptions of distance learning in our society. Take into account the societal forces in the world, including the advocates for and skeptics of distance learning, and consider the following:
• What do you think the perceptions of distance learning will be in the future (in 5–10 years; 10–20 years)?
• How can you as an instructional designer be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning?
• How will you be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education?

According to George Siemens (2011), "Distance learning is gradually being accepted into our society. Once people begin to find a comfort level in learning with technology, distance learning will increase into the future". Siemens' insight for distance learning depends upon the quality of technology, educational implementation, collaboration of global knowledge, and the increase use of multimedia, games, simulations, and video application within online courses (Siemens 2011).

I believe that the perceptions of distance learning will change the way we teach and learn in the future. I believe that the United States Department of Education will establish e-learning guidelines to set the pace for distance learning for K-12 and secondary learning. According to Simonson, Sandino, Albright, & Zvacek (2009) "Within the next decade every state and most schools will be turning to distance education to expand offerings for students and increase professional development opportunities for teachers" (p.340). Simonson et al. (2009) notes the United States Department of Education suggests giving virtual schools special attention toward the future of educating students. Additional suggestions include: strengthen leadership roles, implement online teacher training, improve broadband access, create effective digital content and integrate data systems (p. 340).

Furthermore, universities have been utilizing distance education rapidly within the past ten years (Howell, Williams, & Lindsay, 2011). There are many reasons for this advancement: the life-style convenience for older students who are technological savvy, the popularity with the Internet, and the rapid technology change within the workforce that demands our society to stay ahead in a highly competitive economy.

In the next 5 to 10 years, I believe people will find a comfort level with digital content as well as communicating online - yet we're already there! Our society finds communicating through Facebook, Twitter, chat, and texting very easy, yet taking an e-learning class is not common to our society. There are many school administrators and parent who continue to be skeptical in regards to effectiveness of learning online. The neomillennial student will be the immersing factor to online education for the future. In the next 10 - 20 years, the neomillennial generation will implement digital learning with real-world applications that will emerge with different countries. This generation will provide schools, government, and business to interaction with advance video conferencing and emerging technology web-based tools yet to be seen! Overall, the World Wide Web (www) will be the driven tool in projecting distance education for the future.

As our society becomes technology dependent toward adapting to today's workforce and life-style, the instructional designer (ID) will be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning. The ID is required to focus on the learner and what the student needs to learn. Online content is self-directed and self-govern as information and knowledge expands. The ID and the institution must provide the learner with quality curriculum to learn in any geographical location. An ID's goal is to create stimulating and interactive learning environments for all users. The ID must establish a thorough planning phase as noted from Dr. George Piskurich (2011) the ADDIE model establishes awareness for setting the beginning stages for organization skills within the development process for solving a problem within an organization. I believe more accountability will rest on the ID and facilitator to provide necessary curriculum for student learning in the future. According to Howell and Lindsay (2011) "Traditional faculty roles are shifting or "unbundling". The future of the facilitator in distance education requires specialized skills and strategies. Many facilitators will work with teams (including the ID) when appropriate and become accessible to students more often. Our society will find distance learning more favorable when the quality of distance learning is compatible with web-base technology. The quality of distance education will improve as long as communication and web-based technology improves in the future (Siemens, 2011).

As an ID, my role determines if the learner is able to perform a task successfully after training has been provided. The instruction might be delivered through education classes, in-service training courses, on-the-job training, and computer-assisted learning or by means of distance or open learning. I believe that adopting a systematic approach to instructional design content ensures that the instructor and the learner are getting the most out of the training session. The benefits of a systematic instructional design approach determines what the learner already know previous to taking a course and what the learner needs to know after the course. The instructional designer takes the time to analyze what results the instructor needs from the learner and what training and development approaches are needed by the designer to better accomplish those results.

As an instructional designer and teacher, I envision a role of educating students, instructors and assisting education and/or corporate institution into the design of quality learning through the utilization of technology. E-learning is the matrimony of technology and education. As I become knowledgeable in the field of instructional design, I have learned that modification and evaluation is essential throughout the planning stages as well as collaboration among team members. As I progress into the next phase of the instructional design courses at Walden University, I look forward to perfecting my knowledge and obtaining new skills in the career of instructional design.


References:


Howell.,S.Williams.,P.,Lindsay.,N.(2011) Thirty-two Trends Affecting Distance Education: An Informed Foundation for Strategic Planning. Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/fall63/howell63.html

Piskurich.,G.Phd.,Chauser,.J. (2011) Planning and Designing Online Courses.[Video Podcast]. Retrieved February 2, 2011 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com

Siemens.,G. (2011) The Future of Distance Learning. [Video Podcast]. Retrieved February 22, 2011 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.