The Infographic helps to explain the history of mobile learning. I find it interesting that they went back to the abacus. How funny to considered that tool as mobile learning. To say we have come a long way in mobile and distance education is an understatement. Online/distance/mobile learning will be amazing in 5 or 10 years.
In the fall of 2012, 69% of chief academic leaders indicated online learning was critical to their long-term strategy and of the 20.6 million students enrolled in higher education, 6.7 million were enrolled in an online course.” (Kentnor, 2015, p. 21). According to the Accredited Online Schools and College website, in 2016 every state had a college with an online accredited program. Simonson, Smaldino, Svacek (2015) explained over 30% of college students were enrolled in at least one online course. Distance education and virtual education is the future of education.
I had mixed feelings about enrolling in an online program. While I know I am self-driven, I was nervous about the amount of work that would be required since I would not be participating in class discussions. Rumor was the online classes were tripled in the amount of work to make up time spent in a classroom. However, I have found the online classes are right up my ally. Yes, the program is intense but the benefits of working at my own pace and around my schedule have proven beneficial.
I do struggle with the limited access to the instructors. Perfection runs deep in my veins and I want every assignment to be the best. I also do not want one of my mistakes to hurt team members. Sometimes I feel the limited communication (i.e. delay email, messages or text) can cause confusion.
Online education may not be for everyone. But for those of us who are busy with life and motivated to learn, this is a great opportunity. Take a look at the video from CNET. If you had the opportunity to participate in a class from one of the best professors in the world for free, would you take advantage of the course?
References:
Kentnor, H. (2015). Distance education and the evolution of online learning in the United States.
Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, 17(1). Retrieved from
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S. E., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance:
Foundations of distance education. Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
Woods, M. (2013, August 20). Is the future of education online? - Video - CNET [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.cnet.com/videos/is-the-future-of-education-online/
Excellent post Jaclyn. I agree than online learning may not be for everyone. One of the biggest advantages of online learning, the ability to progress at your own pace, can also led directly to one of the biggest limitations, the challenging task that students must take more responsibility for their own learning (Simonson, Smaldino, & Zvacek, 2015, p. 107-108). I believe one of the greatest challenges for online learners is to find a balance between these two characteristics of distance education.
ReplyDeleteSimonson, M., Smaldino, S., and Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (6th ed.). Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing.
Jaclyn,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more about some of the communication tools hurting my ability to complete assignments. I know that we had constant trouble with the communication app in Canvas, which caused some frustration. Fortunately, our instructors have worked with us in regard to those issues.Simonson, Smaldino, and Zvacek (2015) argued that communication is a critical component to the distance learning process. Hopefully, we can help better develop the apps we use for communication to help with some of these issues.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., and Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and Learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (6th ed.). Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing.
DeleteI, too, had concerns about taking online courses, but for entirely different reasons. As a single mom with two active teen boys, the idea of taking my courses online seemed like an answered prayer. In fact, there have been many nights during the course of this degree that I have been seen parked in the bleachers
ReplyDeleteor plugged up in the dugout with my mobile hotspot, chromebook and texts. The freedom to complete my coursework at any location has been a blessing and a curse. While Simonson et al. (2015) lists several advantages and limitations of online learning in the text, I can agree without question that my courses at UM have provided opportunities for "active learning and facilitates intellectual involvement with the course content"(p.107).
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., and Zvacek, S. (2015). Teaching and Learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (6th ed.). Charlotte, North Carolina: Information Age Publishing.