Some educators feel that distance technologies will greatly improve education; some feel education will suffer if they are overused. What are factors you can cite in support of each of these positions?
Distance learning definitely has its great sides. There are so many people who can benefit from distance learning. Those who are full time workers and don't have transportation to school, disabled learners who physically can't make it to school. There are also those who care for other people that need assistance 24 hours a day. There's even the stay at home parents who work at home and simply would prefer to take an online class. Students can also be given assignments that involve traveling and the only way to stay in contact with teacher is through distance learning. There are many more beneficial ways that distance learning not only improves learning, but accomodates and modifies it as well. On the other hand, distance learning only allows for cyber communication. I feel that this hurts socialization and people skills that are necessary in everyday life. It also demotes critical thinking because the learners that get readings and assignments can easily look for help when asked to think critically and do responses. So if not careful, I guess you could say that distance learning has the ability to promote laziness.
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James,
ReplyDeleteYes, technnology has widen our ability to learn even if we personally are at a disadvantage. I thought about how it has helped further some peoples education due to life disrupting it. Also, when life has just runover you and you are stuck at home. There is no excuse not to better yourself at least in your mind.
But as you also stated distance education has its pitfall too. It does promote laziness at times. Not just lazy at assignments but in performance. We have developed that mentally that it is okay to procrastinate, so when the work is turned in it is minimal standards instead of striving for the best. Technology has made things too simple for many of us, who have learned to manipulate technology.