Comparison of the Benefits of Distance Education
Michael Simonson (2008)
defines distance education as a type of formal education that occurs when
resources, students, and teachers are separated by geography and occasionally
by time. Simonson believes there is a need to evolve distance education into the
next generation because not only has distance education been around for
centuries, but also “It doesn’t take a soothsayer to look into the future and
say, distance education is going to increase dramatically in the next few
years, in the next few decades (Simonson, 2008)”. Simonson (2008) also believes
that distance education is starting to be “expected and respected.”
Moller, Forshay, and
Huett (2008) believe that colleges perceive distance education as an
opportunity to sustain student enrollment. However, Moller, Forshay, and Huett
(2008) also state that K-12 online programs lack the quality to be equivalent
to that of a traditional K-12 program. Moller, Forshay, and Huett seem to agree
with Simonson regarding the inevitability of distance education becoming more
popular; however, Moller, Forshay, and Huett seem to believe that it may ultimately
not be more beneficial for students than traditional education.
I agree with Moller, Forshay, and Huett regarding their viewpoint of distance education. I believe the value of an education can be diminished more easily through distance education because many students are not honest. In a traditional classroom, teachers can monitor students. That element in relinquished in distance education. However, the students who maintain a level of respect and honesty have the opportunity to benefit equally from distance education.
I agree with Moller, Forshay, and Huett regarding their viewpoint of distance education. I believe the value of an education can be diminished more easily through distance education because many students are not honest. In a traditional classroom, teachers can monitor students. That element in relinquished in distance education. However, the students who maintain a level of respect and honesty have the opportunity to benefit equally from distance education.
References
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. R., & Coleman,
C. (2008). The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications
for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. Techtrends: Linking
Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 52(5), 63-67.
doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0199-9
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Principles of
Distance Education. Baltimore, MD: Simonson, Michael.
Moller, L., Foshay, W. R., & Huett, J. (2008).
The Evolution of Distance Education: Implications for Instructional Design on
the Potential of the Web. Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 52(4), 66-70.
doi:10.1007/s11528-008-0179-0
