Defining Distance Learning

Defining Distance Learning throughout my life

My Personal Definition of Distance Learning in the Past

I remember I was a student in High School when I heard of another kind of education. It was the first time "Telebachillerato" was going to be introduced to the community by the government of my state Aguascalientes in Mexico. This kind of education was going to be offered to adults who wanted to finish their High School equivalent diploma. For me and others who were attending high school at an institution, this alternative education was quite insecure for many reasons. The students were not taking classes at any institution or school they were at home watching TV. How could they learn without explanation or assistance from the instructor? My friends and I questioned our teachers. Since this was a very new program for some instructors who were use to teach face-to-face courses, they did not believe it was the best option for young people. Our instructors use some Video Cassettes to present some educational materials, but after watching the videos we received immediate information for clarification of the programs. 

I was a student who always wanted to learn about new products, and that motivated me to start working some evenings assisting one of the instructors from the "Telebachillerato".  It was then when I realized that this alternative education was endorse by the public schools. All the learners could continue with their studies and attend to college. This alternative education was helping all the individuals who were working and wanted to continue with their education. In other words, when my friends asked me What is this "Telebachillerato" education? I answer "it is a new form of education where the adults are not face-to-face with the teacher, and they receive more of the educational program throughout television. Where the adult learners can receive assistance from an instructor once a week, and they take a quiz to prove that they are learning. To conclude, explain that this alternative education is endorse by the public schools. In other words, something similar to what I learned later it is distance education.   

New Perspective and Definition of Distance Learning

It is interesting how the definition of distance education changed for me throughout time. As I mentioned above, "Tele-bachillerato in Mexico was going to be called "Open Education" or alternative education for me,  that was mainly for adults who did not have the opportunity to complete their education attending school every day in a face-to-face approach.  Many people were considering that open education, was only for adults with limited economic resources. After reading this week's resources, I realized that in other time and on other country this type of education was for people who had the economic resources to buy the materials. We can observe how in Europe between the years of 1833 and 1873, some newspapers were offering composition, language, and civil service examination courses through mail correspondence Laureate Education (n.d) "Distance Learning Timeline Continuum." Multimedia Program.

After my first experience 20 years ago, my thoughts about distance learning had been changing since I started to take online courses. Before, I was just looking at the fact that the student had been not taking classes face-to-face with the instructor and that the public schools send the instructor to clarify questions and give quizzes to the learners. I can even say that I thought it was something like self-study. Now, I understand that other components are going to be required in order to have a distance learning experience. Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012) states that in order to differentiate self-study from distance learning it is requiring a main component "institution" that is what give us the first component "Institutionally based". When I came to America, is when I was part of distance education as a learner. I was taking classes at a community college on the face-to-face way, but one course was going to be offered through television. I was observing the theoretical explanation through TV, completing a workbook, and communicating with the instructor by e-mail. The exams were going to be offered on campus, and I received the credits for the class. It was a complete experience of communication using technology. I was using print and telecommunications for my learning experiences. Later, I started to take courses at Kendall College, and again it was necessary to take some courses online. Finally, I came to Walden University where I became a distant learner. Seeking my new degree as Instructional Designer gave a clear perspective of what it is Distance Learner. Today, if some of my ex-classmates ask me what is Distance Education I will include much more information from my previous experience of open education.

I will say, innovative education that can be provided to many people at different geographical places. The education is going to be supported by an institution that will provide a degree to the learners enrolled who complete all courses with them. This innovative education might use interactive communications to present educational materials to the students. A knowledgeable instructor will be interacting with the learners, and the learners might be able to participate on the course at any convenient time; but following the guidelines established by the institution, and the course program. Learners may have different educational experiences, as well as ways of learning. The instructional materials can be presented via electronic media, vhs/dvd, or telecommunication system Simonson et al (2012). Some learners might be located on different counties, states, countries or even continent. To complement distance education, it is necessary the connection of learners, resources, and instructors.

How do I see the future of Distance Education?

I can see the future of distance education as the new option for many students everywhere in the world. Technology is changing every year, and with the latest technology, distance education can be helpful for many communities. I believed that some of the learners that will benefit a lot of distance learning education, and among them will be Students with Special Needs. There are communities that have to travel long distances to receive basic education. These communities do not have an option to complete or continue with superior studies because of many economic and academic limitations on their communities. Distance Learning is the option to help those who dream to have a degree. Technology is the innovation of today's world, and we can use this technological innovation in something big. We can call it e-learning or "distance learning education" Dr. Simonson (n.d) states that distance learning education needs to be nurtured, supported and inculcated into what we do. 

Generation Y or Millennium Generation is spending several hours using technology to communicate with others through social media and texts. Some children are going to be exposed to technology at early years, attracting the attention of many children. Some three-year-old students know how to manipulate the mouse and know how to turn on and off a computer. Children who are language impaired are using technology to communicate their needs. I had been helping children with Spina bifida to communicate using technology. I was teaching the student how to manipulate a pencil with an electronic board to communicate his / her needs with others. Considering all of this benefits, we can reach many students everywhere in the world. I want to look at distance learning as the opportunity to Future Generations. 

In conclusion, the future of distance learning is big and can be offered everywhere. I can imagine how students from around the world will be communicating through technology. This technology will be innovating products and ideas to connect all type of learners and students from any age. My vision of Distance Learning is that students from Kindergarten all the way through doctorate will have the opportunity to learn everywhere in our world. Corporation will be using distance learning to train and capacitate their employees, as well as the opportunity to acquire certificates and degrees. 

Resources

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Simonson, M. (2012) “Distance Education: The Next Generation” Laureate Education, Inc.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2012). "Distance Learning Timeline Continuum"
 This multimedia, interactive timeline chronicles the evolution of distance learning from 1833–2009 [Video transcript]