After reading the three articles by Moller, Huett, Foshay and Coleman, I believe that they accurately illustrated the position and the growth potential of distance education. In comparing the authors’ opinions of distance education I realize that they bring up valid points. In order for distance education to flourish, there need to be a standard to measure the effectiveness of instructional design in distance educational courses. There should also be a regulatory process for promoting, paying and educating instructors in distance education. These procedures would work to promote the growth and development of distance education as an integral part of any institution or training program. The article and Dr. Simonson also agree that distance education will continue to grow in the future, which calls for accreditation process to ensure that rigor and academic integrity is implemented in all distance education courses.
One of the factors that promote the growth of distance education is the potential revenue, the ability to attract students from all over the world, and savings to the institution. I believe that as the strain to fulfill financial obligations increase the desire of academic institution to increase the enrollment of online students will also increase. This drive for financial benefit with the desire of students to return to school while working will drive the need for distance education, and allow it to become an integral part of educational institutions.
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, July/August). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 2: Higher Education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66–70.
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W. & Coleman, C. (2008, September/October). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63–67.
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