Distance education, as with any educational platform, needs to adapt to the changing needs of the students it seeks to effect. Simonson’s equivalency theory asserts that every tool available should be used to accommodate the learning styles of diverse online student populations. I suggest that even the strategies need to be adapted for an online learning environment versus the traditional on-ground classroom. I can compare two different speech classes I took. One class was in a traditional classroom setting where we met once a week and presented our speeches. The second speech class I took was in an asynchronous online class. The method of delivering speeches had to be adjusted to accommodate the online modality; however, the class was still effective and I did learn about public speaking from it.
In the same way that one cannot expect every student in an on-ground class to learn the same way, neither should be expected of online students. Diversity in the learning modality needs to be considered to ensure equivalent learning of subject matter, as well as differentiated instruction to accommodate varying learning styles.
While distance education in higher education is my primary focus, I recognize that K-12 schools are entering the virtual world of education also. Educators need to exploit the possibilities made possible by the Internet and online learning to implement instructional design that will meet the changing needs of this learning genre. If student needs are not met by one institution or learning platform, they will go to another. This should be the bottom line motivation for educational institutions to research and develop instructional design models that will meet the needs of the diverse online student population K-12 and postsecondary.
Your comment, "If student needs are not met by one institution or learning platform, they will go to another," reminded me of an article that I read recently. The issue of the competition that has arisen between public schools and charter schools has been a hot topic for a number of years, mainly because of the financial challenges that schools face. Now it appears that virtual for-profit schools have come to threaten the existence of the traditional school. However, Mageau (2011, August) argues that "the relationship between virtual for-profits and public schools can be beneficial to all involved" because this competition creates the urgency to increase the quality of the product (p. 4). The author continues by making the point that virtual schooling provides yet another option for those who are not getting what they need from their local, neighborhood schools. I think that both Simonson (Laureate, 2008) and Mageau (2011, August) would agree that although schools on the ground are institutions that are at the heart of most communities in America, they will ever be completely replaced by any virtual entity. The by-product of this competition is that both traditional and virtual institutions will be united in their quests and encourage one another to produce a better product.
ReplyDeleteMageau, Therese (2011, August). Mutually assured learning. The Journal, 38 (7), p. 4.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Principles of distance education [Video program]. Available from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5701364&Survey=1&47=9479398& ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
I aggree that k-12 students should also be utilizing distance learning. However, there are two things hindering this process. (1) school policy and (2) student access to computers at home.
ReplyDeleteThis month comcast has been running commercials for homes that don't have computer access. This promotion offers internet for $10 a month and a computer for $150. I hope more companies will begin to make such offers to help parents provide internet access to their students.
I'm working with a program now that is a reinforcement for struggling students in lower performing schools. The program provides a laptop for students to use throughout the program, and if they complete the program, they get to keep the laptop. That's one organization, but I know there are other ways of providing computers for home use. Sometimes it takes a combination of innovative adminsitrators, instructors and parents to find those resources.
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AJ,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post! You make a very valid point in mentioning that
students who do not feel that their needs are being addressed will seek
accomodations elsewhere. As a middle grades teacher, I see the potential of
online or distance learning for the K-12 population. Students could benefit
tremendously from participation in an online learning community if the
platform is created in an effective manner!
~Laura
@Edtechsavy3...My hat goes off to Comcast for offering that type of promotion. I would imagine that other companies will jump on the bandwagon soon. Once those technologies become as common place in homes as the television, maybe we will begin to also see the changes in school policy that you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. I sometimes do administrative subbing in K-12 schools and had the great fortune to sub at San Diego Unified's first "virtual" high school on two different occasions. It is a fairly new concept that has been operational for the past two years, and they are still working out the particulars of it such as assessments and standardized testing, but I'm sure once they work out all the bugs, virtual education will be available for middle and elementary school children as well. I believe that is the direction educational technology is leading us.
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