Distance Learning Issues. Naelah Almuqwishi. Dr. Frederick King. University of Hartford

Transcription

1 Distance Learning Issues Naelah Almuqwishi Dr. Frederick King University of Hartford

2 Abstract Distance educating is gaining increased popularity. Yet, the popularity of distance education, including online learning, does not mean that it does not have negative aspects. There are many positive aspects of distance learning such as costs, flexibility, and the availability of courses. Moreover, some specific groups may benefit from the distance education, such as the disabled. However, there are many negatives that have to be considered as well with distance education, such as lack of interaction and networking opportunities and the risk that some employers might look down on online education. Students considering distance education should examine the pros and cons of online education to learn if it is right for them.

3 Distance education is a form of education that is gaining more and more popularity. For some people, distance education is an excellent means of balancing one s life with education. However, some see distance education as being weak compared to the traditional education where students are in the classroom learning directly in the classroom setting with the teachers. The research that follows examines distance learning, its pros and cons, and predictions for its use in the future. Distance learning, according to Doug Valentine (2002), is related to different kinds of learning environments. Though some people see distance learning as being online classes, this is not always the case. Some students, for example, learn at home and send their completed work via or blackboard to a school and/or teacher. Distance learning has been defined as a planned teaching/learning experience that uses a wide spectrum of technologies to reach learners at a distance and is designed to encourage learner interaction and certification of learning (Valentine, 2002). Not only is distance learning, as the definition suggests, one that is based on many technologies, on a more general level distance learning also refers to situations where a teacher and student are separated. Other definitions of distance learning focuses on how a student does not need to be at a fixed place at a fixed time (Valentine, 2002). Distance learning is often associated, as mentioned, with online courses suggesting that it is new. However, the reality, as Valentine (2002) says, has been around for more than a century. In fact, one of the earliest forms of distance education was the use of correspondence courses that were started in Europe. For some time, the correspondence courses were the primary means of distance learning until the middle of

4 this century when instructional radio and television became more popular (Valentine, 2002). Moreover, the author states that as technology has changed over time distance learning and education have changed as well. For example, some of the students in distance education programs have gained their lectures from video tapes. Also, there are audio tapes that some student have used with distance education (Valentine, 2002). One of the motivations for the distance education, Valentine says, is financial. For instance, Valentine (2002) reports, Universities hope to save money by delivering education to students that are unable to attend classes because of time or distance. Also, the reason why schools are using distance education is based, Valentine adds, on the view that the overhead remains the same while the distance learning leads to larger class sizes. Also, the money that is saved with distance education in some countries comes from the fact that new schools do not have to be built for education (Valentine, 2002). However, although there is some cost based reasons that some schools are interested in distance education, the cost effectiveness of this form of education is not clear. Some early studies, such as by Phelps in 1991, found that it is unclear if online technologies are cost effective with distance education. Also, there are many costs effectiveness measurement issues with distance education such as the cost of human capital, the costs of conversion and the costs that are sometimes not apparent. Moreover, cost effectiveness relates to the potential profits of the courses and research by the California State University System found that only in really large courses with many sections would cost savings be possible. Courses in excess of 500 students would benefit from this setup, while it was still more cost effective to teach smaller groups in a traditional setting, according to

5 Valentine (Valentine, 2002). The author also says that the costs that include start up, maintenance and personnel need to be considered when trying to learn what the actual costs of distance learning programs are (Valentine, 2002). There are several positive aspects of distance education. Randall S. Hansen, the author of the article Distance Learning Pros and Cons states that one of the main benefits of distance learning is convenience. With the online courses, the author states, a student can take the courses at the time that they are needed not based on some college s annual semester of schedule (Hansen). The convenience also means that the individual only needs to be close to a computer that allows them to gain access to the Internet to take the courses, Hansen also states. The distance courses can also offer the student flexibility. For example, distance and online education classes can be flexible as there are no class times that are set. This means that the student makes the choice when to finish their assignments and readings. Moreover, In some programs, you can even design your own degree plan (Hansen). Therefore, the online and distance programs can be flexible and this is important for people who are working and cannot be in a classroom at a certain time. Online distance programs and similar distance programs also have many courses that a student can take. Hansen says that the distance-learning opportunities have exploded over the past few years, with many accredited and reputable programs. Some people believe that low quality schools are the only schools that are offering distancelearning programs. However, today there are many well-known schools that offer online

6 learning and distance programs with even Ivy League schools being known to offer online classes for students (Hansen). The students who take online courses can also save money. Some people believe that the costs come from lower course costs. But this is not always the case. In fact, according to the article The Cost of Online College Courses: Closer to Traditional School Fees Than Many Expect, (2011) states that The total tuition you'll pay for an online degree, in fact, may be exactly the same as what you'd pay at a "brick and mortar" college for four years ( The Cost of Online College Courses: Closer to Traditional School Fees Than Many Expect, 2011). However, while the tuition costs might be the same for an online degree than attending college for four years, there is also money saved by being able to live at home and not having to drive to school, as some students do. ( The Cost of Online College Courses: Closer to Traditional School Fees Than Many Expect, 2011). Some students also benefit from the online and distance learning classes as they are just better for some people than others. Some learners might want to learn at their own pace, Hansen suggests. He also says that some people are able to learn better where there are experiential exercises that might require more time. For those facing challenges with being more introverted than others them compared to the classrooms (Hansen). Group of people that might also benefit from online and distance learning is the disabled. According to Sheryl Burgstahler, author of Distance Learning, there are many ways that disabled students can take advantage of technology related to distance education. For instance, these students might use alternative keyboards, speech input, and other input

7 devices that provide access to all of the Internet-based course materials and navigational tools (Burgstahler, 2004). There are many technologies today that can help the disabled students make educational gains, that they likely were unable to take advantage of many years ago. (Burgstahler, 2004). Students who take distance courses might also gain benefits in learning from home as they are able to avoid some of the negative aspects of college. According to the article Distance learning pros & cons (2011) distance education can avoid the social pressures which can be found in attending colleges and universities. There have been many reports on the news that there can be some negatives associated with attending a college such as the pressure from other students to drink and use drugs. Also, there are some well-known dangers of living on campus such as campus rape. According to the organization, Campus Rape (2011), between twenty and twenty five percent of women will be raped while in college. Hence, there are many dangers and risks that might be avoided when a student chooses distance education. Though there are many advantages to distance education there are also several negative aspects of this education form. For example, one of the most obvious negative aspects of distance education is that in most cases, the classes lack any face to face communication. Though some online courses uses video that can be used to communicate and see each other while communicating, many courses do not. As the article, The Pros and Cons of Distance Education states there are losses that result from the lack of real life interaction. For example, Because students lack the in-person face-to-face opportunities available to students at campus-based schools, they may miss out on

8 networking opportunities. Indeed, networking is often a primary way that students find work upon graduating (The Pros and Cons of Distance Education, 2011). Hence, students might face challenges later when they graduate because networking can often help people find jobs. Another problem with online education is that some courses that are offered by distance education programs cannot be transferred. A student who is using distance education temporarily, due to a temporary move, illness or accident, or other reason might want to take some online classes. However, Credits at online schools don t always transfer to other colleges or universities. This would be a major issue for students looking to transfer, or to place out of some classes when pursuing a higher degree ( The Pros and Cons of Distance Education, 2011). The inability to transfer credits can lead to a wasted class in terms of money, though the student will surely have learned something from taking the class. Students who use distance learning might also miss out on campus life. Though there are many negatives of campus life, there are many positives as well. David James says that one of the most rewarding aspects of attending a college or university is the campus life. For example, Many people make their life-long friends here, either through academic or social circles (James 2011). Also, it would seem that if a person is taking courses at home, through the mail, video or increasingly, through the Internet they are in a situation where they could be isolated socially in terms of their academic life. Sometimes education is better, it would seem, when people interact in the educational setting such as with team or group work.

9 In addition to losing the social aspect of campus life, distance learning might deny people the chance to gain more exposure to diversity. As James states, The academic circles broaden our horizons by introducing us to new ideas and ways of thinking, while the social ones introduce us to people from different walks of life (David). The people who are from different walks of life, are the people who are diverse, Diversity is seen as a benefit to education because we are able to learn how other people look at the world and this can lead to more problem solving. Some people even believe that being around others who are diverse can lead to higher levels of creativity and critical thinking skills. Therefore, not being around diversity might lead to some lost chances at gaining the benefits that students at traditional schools gain. A challenge that some students might find with distance education is that some companies might be less willing to hire people who have learned through distance learning methods compared to people who have taken courses in a classroom. According to the article, Top 10 Distance Learning Disadvantages Although most employers do acknowledge distance learning, certain employers do not ( Top 10 Distance Learning Disadvantages (Jackson 2011). When an employer is looking, for example, at the CV or resume of a potential worker and compares two people one who has had distance education and the other who has not, the employer might believe that the person who has the traditional education is somehow better suited for the job, though this might not even be true. Hence, a disadvantage of online education programs and other distance programs is that they might not look good to the employers.

10 One problem that some online learners face is that there are many online learning scams. According to the article Online Education Programs-How to Identify a Scam (2006) online learning programs and distance programs can be ones that are scams. What this means is that there are courses offered that are coming from schools that are not real and have not gained any type of accreditation, meaning that the school does not meet educational standards. Unfortunately, one of the risks of the online programs is that it can be difficult to identify a scam or a fake program when looking at online e-learning programs ( Online Education Programs-How to Identify a Scam, 2006). Hence, there is a risk that a student might sign up for a course and later find out that the school is not a scam, wasting time and money. Furthermore, the scam classes likely harm the reputation of good schools that are online. A disadvantage of online learning is that students do not have access to the many resources of the school. For example, a college or university usually has a library that a student might need for their work. With the distance classes, students are expected to find their own resources for completing assignments and exams, which is empowering for some but daunting for others ( Distance Learning Pros and Cons, 2011). The student, therefore, may have a hard time gaining the support material, such as the library. At the school a student can check the book out of the library and unless a local library has the resources needed. A distance learner might have to buy books to complete the assignments. Also, there are many other benefits of the college campus. Many college campuses, for example, have many extras for the student. According to 5 Disadvantages

11 of Online Learning Most traditional colleges offer their students facilities to use such as libraries, gyms, student stores, computer labs, research labs, study areas and more ( 5 Disadvantages of Online Learning, 2007). Students often do not have to pay extra for these thing as the cost is a part of their course prices. And, as previously mentioned the costs of online courses are not that different from the course costs at colleges and universities. Therefore, there may be more benefits of taking classes at a college with all of its extras such as the computer labs, libraries, gyms and study areas that the article mentions. ( 5 Disadvantages of Online Learning, 2007). Lastly, it seems that one disadvantage of online courses is that the course might not be as good as a class being offered at other schools. Some online classes may be easy and of a low quality and often the student is not aware of this until they have signed up and paid for the class. Also, there are some schools that have policies that do not refund money or only give back some of the money but keep most of it if a student does not like the class, even in the beginning. Therefore, the student is at risk of signing up for a class that is too easy and the student does not learn anything. It seems that there are many pros and cons with online learning. It seems that people will have to make decisions about online learning and distance education based on their own wants and needs. Online and distance education might not be for all people. A person who is interested in meeting new people, want to make gains with diversity, and who learn better with others might find that online learning is not for them at all. However, people who are disabled, individuals who are busy working and cannot attend

12 classes everyday, and those who do not mind being without the support of a college campus might find that online learning is good for them. However, even when the student makes a decision that online learning is for them, there are still several risks. It is suggested that the student learn if the school that they are taking online classes with is an accredited school. Going online is one method that can be used to learn if a school is accredited or not. If the school is not accredited, the student has to think of the effects of this such as having a hard time finding a job in the future. Also, the student needs to think about if the school, if it is not accredited, has classes that can be transferred to other traditional schools. There are people who can lose a lot of money if they are planning on taking online classes and have not checked with their school first to find out if they will be accepted or not. Therefore, the student has to do his or her homework and learn if they are able to transfer the classes. Overall, it is clear that there are many positives and many negatives with the online classes. The student needs to think about both the short and long term effects of online classes not just the positive and negative aspects of them. There can be many long term effects of the classes such as how they might be viewed by people who are making hiring decisions. It is therefore important for a student to spend the time learning as much as they can about the courses and how they might hurt or help them.

13 Works Cited Burstahler, S. (2004). Distance Learning. Retrieved April 19, 2001, from, (2011) Distance learning pros & cons. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from. Feldman, E. (2011). Campus Rape. Retrieved April 19, 2001, from (2007). 5 Disadvantages of Online Learning. Retrieved April 19, 2001, from l Hansen, R. S. (n.d). Distance Learning Pros and Cons. Retrieved April 19, 2001 from Jackson, M. (2011) Top 10 Distance Learning Disadvantages. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from James, D. (2011). Cons of Distance Learning. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from (2006). Online Education Programs-How to Identify a Scam. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from (2011) The Cost of Online College Courses: Closer to Traditional School Fees Than Many Expect. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from (2011). The Pros and Cons of Distance Education. Retrieved April 19, 2011, from Valentine, D. (2002). Distance Learning: Promises, Problems, and Possibilities. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from