Distance Learning

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Technology and Distance Learning

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Technology and Distance Learning

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Distance Learning (D.L.) is a definition that is used to mean an education that a person can receive at an off-site place (Admin, 2009). There are various methods by which D.L. can be accomplished including but not limited to audio, video, and internet based courses (Admin, 2009). These and other kinds of technology are an integral part of D.L. Because of this, technology and D.L. are intimately linked; and one cannot advance without the other.

Jeffries (2009) describes D.L. as first coming to the forefront of education during the early 1900s. During this time, correspondence instruction was a simple form of education. Printed materials sent through the mail were the main way of communication, teaching, and learning (Nasseh, 2009). As technology proceeded, Jeffries (2009) credited the television set as a major component of D.L. in the 20th Century.

Needless to say, D.L. is subject to changing and shifting technologies that will continually influence the methods by which D.L. is delivered. While the use of D.L. can be just but one component of student comprehension, personal characteristics may play an important role in overall effectiveness. Meyer (2009) states that “student learning may also depend on a number of individual qualities, including a positive attitude and motivation, independence and sufficient computer skills, as well as a predominantly visual learning style and an understanding that learning is not a passive process of absorbing information” (summary). This is why D.L. must have flexibility during the learning process. Because there is a wide range of D.L. opportunities, an examination of a specific technology might be useful in order to determine the effectiveness of one kind of D.L. strategy.

I am an education specialist with the Digital Learning Network at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. In this role, I specialize in performing educational interactive videoconferencing lessons for K-12 students worldwide. The programs offered through the DLN focus on topics such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). NASA has been strategically planning to emphasize STEM in classrooms around the nation to ensure that there will be a qualified pool of scientists to draw from in the future.

While connected to the DLN, students are able to communicate through vision and hearing with their host in real time. It is as if NASA actually visited their classroom. During a program, students are exposed to many forms of instruction including inquiry based questioning, demonstrations, and videos. Interaction is present throughout, and because it may be the highlight of a student’s day, the teacher appreciates this form of D.L. in order to augment their curriculum.

The DLN uses H.323 Internet Protocol (I.P.) as the method of communicating with students in the classroom. Tandberg and Polycom are popular brands of videoconferencing equipment that many of the schools the DLN connect with uses. This equipment can be quite expensive for an individual school or district to acquire. To offset some of the cost, there are plenty of educational grants that schools may apply for. Many state legislators even see the benefit of this kind of D.L. and provide funds for schools to purchase necessary videoconferencing equipment.

As one can see, D.L. can be relatively simplistic or quite complex. Today’s classroom teacher will be able to use a range of technologies to enhance a student’s comprehension. As time has gone on, technology continues to become more common in the classroom. With the advent and pervasiveness of the World Wide Web, D.L. will appear in ever increasing new formats and forever change the way instruction is presented in the classroom.

References

Admin. (2009, October 8). Distance Learning [Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://distancelearningguide.biz/
Jeffries, M. (2009).The History of Distance Education. Research in Distance Education.
Retrieved from http://www.digitalschool.net/edu/DL_history_mJeffries.html
Meyer, K. (2003). Quality in Distance Education. ERIC Digest. Retrieved from
http://www.libraryreference.com/distance-education.html
Nasseh, B. (2007). A Brief History of Distance Education. Adult Education in the News.
Retrieved from http://www.seniornet.org/edu/art/history.html