My Reflection on Distance Learning

To talk about the future of distance learning, I would need to start with my dealings with distance learning. When I decided to pursue my Bachelor’s Degree several years ago, I was a single mom of a newborn, I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to achieve my degree as well as raise my child, then I found an online degree program. I found that I could obtain my bachelors in Graphic Design while staying home with my son, and I could still work. I first thought it was too good to be true, I researched as much as I could, I asked family and friends what they knew about obtaining an online degree, very few knew anything about it and most did not think it would be credible. I did my research, found an accredited online degree program and went for it, I received my Bachelors of Science in 2010, upon receipt of that I knew I wanted to go even further, I wanted to take some time off but knew that I would go for my Masters.  Five years later and now I am here at Walden University working on my Master’s Degree, now many of my family members and friends have now attended online programs and are more accepting of distance learning.

                I believe that over the next five to ten years distance learning will continue to become more accepted and more credible, I think as technology advances and people get even more comfortable using technology, advances will continue to make distance learning common place. In 10 to 20 years I believe that distance learning will be as common as classic brick and mortar schools, you will have your choice of which you want to attend, I could see more and more parents choosing distance learning for their own children, to home school or to further develop those children who have learning disabilities. I can see distance learning being used in elementary schools and companies to assist in ways we have yet to think of.

                As an Instructional Designer we can be proponents for improving societal perceptions of distance learning because some of us will have obtained our degrees and will be able to use our personal experiences when talking about distance learning. Many times the best ways to change a person’s attitude towards something is to provide them with information based on personal experiences, if you had a positive experience and share the experience with someone considering a distance learning program, it might help them to choose the program and guide them.  We can also improve perceptions in our designing, when we design courses and curriculums we can take all of what we have learned and what we will continue to learn and improve. Always keeping the learner in mind and their learning styles, the technologies that they may or may not have, their experiences and being mindful of making their learning experience the best possible. It is never easy to improve societal perceptions, but it can be achieved and it can be great when it is done.

                I plan to be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education by taking everything I have learned from this class, from this program and from life experiences when building courses, developing online learning experiences and creating the best distance learning experience possible for my learners, getting to know my learners, knowing as much as I can about the materials, keeping up to date on the latest technology advances, ensuring the learner’s engagement.

“Distance education will be impacted by: New communication technologies, contribution by experts around the world, and increase use of multimedia, games, and simulations.” (Laureate Education, n.d.) As an Instructional Designer it is up to us to keep with technologies and the advances, we need to test, implement, develop and play with these advances so that we can see how they work,  what might work best for each of our learners and programs.

References

Laureate Education (Producer), (No Date). The Future of Distance Education [Video file of Dr. George Siemens]. Retrieved from https://class.walden.edu

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Technologies, the Internet, and Distance Education, Teaching and Learning At a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education (6th Ed.), Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing