Distant learning is not a new idea, this type of teaching has been offered back in the 1700’s, the difference is as technology got more advanced like audio and visual devices in the early 1900’s. Audio and visual devices has modified how training has been used for over the years, this became the building block on how teaching in schools and universities would need to change. Universities have already started to change to either full online distant learning or to mix traditional and online learning. K-12 schools are now opening the doors to distant learning but are faced with some road blocks.
The future of distant learning will grow in all levels fields but some may take longer than others. Here is what I think would open up for the future of distant learning into two categories 5-10 years and 10-20 years. First the 5- 10 years we can see more partnerships between universities and corporations to specialized degrees and specialized certification programs, textbooks and printed materials will be replaced by online materials, and a greater number of different majors within traditional majors will be offered. For the future 10-20 years I can see the perception of the college campus will change from one dimensional to multi- dimensions, courses will vary in length instead of being semester based, institutions will be leading for the adoption of new technologies, there would be an increase in vocational specific instruction, and offer ways to engage and support different learning styles.
When completing any project, as instructional designer, we need to have a well thought out project, utilizing the design models that we have learned for example the ADDIE mode. As an ID, we need to also use the AEIOU approach to evaluate our project. When utilizing both of these approaches it will lead our outcome of a well thought out project in distant learning. When technology glitches occur, customers are not relating it to the design of distant learning. Also ID needs to take into consideration their populations learning styles (Simonson, 2009) and state the distant learner’s attributes (Dabbagh, 2007), so their distant learning project can be successful.
Distant learning has the advantage to use multiple ways to present material. The creativity of the design will reflex this. Many times I have been in a brick mortar type learning, and when the teacher would narrate a specific idea I would have to think about in my mind to see how it would work. In a distant learning design I can use technology to also present the idea as a visual. This would help me understand the material easier, so I can learn more things about the topic causing more interest and motivation on learning.
With this idea in mind, designing for distant learning can be opened to so many ways, with the use of simulation software, online educational gaming, differential instruction, etc. Hardware technology will also allow a better feel of human connection with simulation and gaming programs. When I presented the works of Pranav Mistry “Sixth Sense” (http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/), definitely allowed me to see how the training industry can change with this Mistry’s invention. He was able to invent a product that allowed the computer to adapt to the humans experience of the world, instead how it is now humans adapting to the restrictions of the computer. If I would take one of the examples from above, a partnership with corporations and universities with training to a specific certifications and combine it with Mistry’s invention, this would open up to the changes of how trainings will be held. As an instructional designer I will need to stay in touch with the new technology that is available to us and consistently think of new designs that can enhance learning.
References
Dabbagh, N. (2007). The online learner: Characteristics and pedagogical implications. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education [Online serial], 7(3). Available: http://www.citejournal.org/vol7/iss3/general/article1.cfm
Mistry, P. (2009). Sixth Sense. Retrieved from http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson
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