Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Principles of Distance Education. Baltimore: Author.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Module 2 Blog- Elements of Distance Education Diffusion
George Siemens discusses the three elements that distinguish distance education from F2F courses which are global diversity, communication, and collaborative interaction (Laureate Education, 2008). I agree with Siemens views on the evolution of distance education. I think these three elements really stand out as the major difference between F2F and distance education. With distance education, you especially get greater global diversity. Since there are no geographic barriers as compared with F2F, students hundreds of miles apart are able to attend the same courses. Distance education enables us to interact, communicate, and collaborate with students who have different experiences from ourselves by removing geographic barriers. F2F is restricted to students who are able to get to a given geographic area. Distance education provides us with the opportunity to interact, communicate and collaborate with people outside of a given geographic area through the use of online tools like email, discussion boards, blogs, wikis, and Skype.
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There are many types of interactions, but collaborative interaction is mutual two way communication. Technology has paved the way for us to interact using several mediums. However, unless there is a response that is understandable, collaborative interaction has not taken place. It is important that students understand the tool being used and the purpose of the interactive assignment being given.
ReplyDeleteI agree that distance education definitely has its benefits in the way of providing those who would otherwise not have access to various educational opportunities due to either location or schedule. I am an opponent of both distance and F2F education, due to both having such strong effects on students becoming well rounded learners, thinkers and communicators. I think that both have a very necessary place in education.
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