RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

Education Department
M.Ed. in EDLE & CUIN
EDUC 5324: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO EDUCATION

Name:_____Laxmi Kaza______________ Date: ______07/29/2018______

Topic Selected:

Topic 3: What does the research say about advantages and disadvantages of distance
education?

1. LITERATURE REVIEW:
What does the literature/research say about this issue/topic? By using NAU
Library or Online Search engines, conduct a literature review.
 You need to include 5 different sources (book, journal article, web article
etc.) in your review. Try to use current sources as much as possible.
 You need to summarize and synthesize your sources by discussing a
common theme or issue.
 You don't need to critique your sources
 You don't need to evaluate your sources (if the sources are trustworthy,
weather the author has a bias or not)
 You need to provide background information such as history and
definitions

Brief Literature Review:

What is Distance Education?

Distance education or distance learning commonly refers to formal education offerings
where instructor and learner are physically separated and where learners can study
appropriately designed materials at a place, time and pace of their own choosing.
(Haughey, "Distance Learning" n.d.)
Today distance learning relies a lot on the use of computer, mobile and electronics
technology. Students, Faculty, Support Staff, Administrators, Facilitators can connect to
each other almost immediately. Study material can be delivered to students instantly
through by using various modes of electronic communication.
Distance Education technologies include:
 Telephone  Print Materials
 Television  Voice Mail/fax
 Videoconferencing  Videocassette
 Web Conferencing  Mobile
 E-mail  Cloud
 Message Board Forums  VR

Distance education has two major components, distance teaching and distance learning.

History of Distance Learning

In the early days of distance education, letter writing was the most widely accessible
technology.

 Distance education dates to at least as early as 1728, when Caleb Phillips from
Boston advertised a correspondence course for shorthand in the Boston Gazette.
 Almost 150 years later, in 1873, the first correspondence schools in the United
States were founded, called The Society founded by Anna Eliot Ticknor to
Encourage Studies at home.
 in 1892, the University of Chicago started offering correspondence courses,
becoming the first traditional educational institution in the U.S. to do so.

 By 1906, elementary schools, for example, The Calvert School in Baltimore

started using the same learning mode.
 By 1922, Pennsylvania State College started broadcasting courses over the radio.
 In 1925, the State University of Iowa started offering course credit for five radio
broadcast courses.
 By 1953 first Educational TV Station was launched and the University of
Houston started by offering broadcast school classes for credit.
 In 1965, the University of Wisconsin started a statewide distance learning
program for doctors using a telephone-based learning method.
 By 1968, distance education was introduced into University of Nebraska-
Lincoln's Independent Study High School to obtain an accredited high school
diploma
 In 1976, the first "virtual college" called Coastline Community College, with no
physical campus was established. They offered a wide variety of telecourses.
 In 1981 the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute's School of Management and
Strategic Studies started offering an online program.
 Not all computer-based learning centers were into internet technology. In 1982,
the Computer Assisted Learning Center in New Hampshire worked as an offline
adult education facility.
 Nova Southeastern University started offering online graduate degrees courses
in 1985.
 Michigan State University developed the Computer Assisted Personalized
Approach (CAPA) in 1992.
 In 1994, Open University offered an exploratory Virtual Summer School (VSS)
to a portion of its Cognitive Psychology students.
 CALCampus offered real-time education in its completely online school in 1994.
 In 1996, Jones International University became the first university to offer fully
web-based accredited courses.
 In 1997, many institutions started implementing Interactive Learning Network.
 In 1997, Blackboard Inc., built up a platform for course administration and
delivery that made it possible for more institutions to come on the web.
 In 2000, CourseNotes.com launched at UT Austin. It provided the same
functionality as in Blackboard.
 In 2005, YouTube launched free lectures online.
 In 2006, iTunes U started offering online courses for download.
 In 2012, Udacity started offering massive open online courses (MOOCs). MIT
and Harvard also adopted MOOC platform edX. The University of Wisconsin's
Flexible Option started offering competency-based bachelor's degrees.
 In 2014, UF Online, the first online-only public university was launched in the
United States.

The “Generations” of Distance Education

 First Generation - The Correspondence Model: Print,
 Second Generation - The Multimedia Model: Print, Audio/Video Tapes, CBT,
CBL etc., Interactive video, Interactive multimedia
 Third Generation - The Telelearning Model: Various forms of audio and
teleconferencing (videoconferencing, broadcasting.)

 Fourth Generation - The Flexible Learning Model: Interactive multimedia,

CMC

 Fifth Generation - The distributed knowledge generation model: Writing-to-

learn, Community of practice using various kinds of social
software like Wikis or personal learning environments

Types of Interaction in Distance Learning

 Learner-Interface/Technology Interactions
o Provide an orientation to your online environment or content management
tool
o Give detailed instructions to students about where things are located in the
course, use links
o Give detailed instructions to students on how to submit assignments
o Provide a grade book and post feedback
o Provide a thread for students to ask questions about how to use the course
management tool
o Provide a help desk for student questions

 Learner-Content Interactions
o Develop an interactive course road map
o Interactive syllabus with links and details
o Create a quiz about where to find content within course
o Set up a location with important content links
o Create question threads for weekly content questions
o Detail what is expected in multiple locations
o Create virtual labs for students to practice tasks
 Learner-Instructor Interactions
o List contact information on the syllabus
o Set up communication guidelines and expectations
o Provide office hours in person or virtually using instant messenger tools
or chat rooms
o Set up a weekly optional chat for students
o Provide prompt and detailed feedback on assessments and discussion
responses
o Call students to clear up misunderstandings
o Make frequent announcements to the class

 Learner-Learner Interactions
o Set up group or team projects within the course
o Create a thread for class members and instructor to make an introduction
o Create a weekly thread where students can ask each another questions
o Encourage group chats and email
o Set up guidelines for learner to learner communication and response
expectations
o Set up a thread where the student facilitates the learning.
Some Definitions

Various types of Distance Learning

 Synchronous distance learning

'Synchronous' means ‘at the same time’. In this context, it is learning that involve
live communication through either chatting online, sitting in a classroom, or even
teleconferencing. ("Different Types of Distance Learning," n.d.)

 Asynchronous distance learning

'Asynchronous' means ‘not at the same time’. In this regard, it is a type of

learning that has a strict set of deadlines, often a weekly time limit; however, it
allows learners to learn at their own pace. ("Different Types of Distance
Learning," n.d.)

 Hybrid distance learning

Hybrid distance learning combines asynchronous and synchronous learning to

form a structure where learners are required to meet at a particular time in an
internet chat-room or a classroom. With this platform though, students are
required to complete their work at their own pace. ("Different Types of Distance
Learning," n.d.)

 Electronic learning

Often known as e-learning, which enables learners to access course material(s) on

a computer. DVDs, CDs, and different computer-based tools are always used to
deliver electronic learning courses. ("Different Types of Distance Learning," n.d.)

 Fixed time online courses

Fixed time online courses (or online learning) requires learners have access to the
internet. As the name suggests, learners must log in to their official online
learning site at a particular time. ("Different Types of Distance Learning," n.d.)

 Correspondence learning

With this option, students would receive learning materials (which include study
guides, textbooks, assignments, and any other study materials) through the post.
As soon as they get required these documents, they are required work through
them at their own pace and in their own time. ("Different Types of Distance
Learning," n.d.)

 Open schedule online courses

An open schedule online course is a type of online distance learning option that
gives learners greatest amount of freedom to complete coursework provided
through mailing lists, Internet-based textbooks, bulletin boards, and e-mail. At the
start of classes, the learners are given a set of deadlines; however, they are
allowed to work on their coursework at their own pace so long the complete the
within the time limit. ("Different Types of Distance Learning," n.d.)

Advantages of Distance Learning

 Choice: An online course provides the opportunity to learn more courses and
reach out to programs that are not available in the local area.
 Flexibility – Flexible Location – Distance learning is much more flexible than
traditional styles of classroom education where you have to attend an institution,
you can study where ever you can access to materials -- at the comfort of your
home, library etc. or even while travelling.

Flexible Schedule – One of the challenges in traditional learning is planning

classes around work plans, home life, child care, and individual inclinations (for
instance, a few people don't do well in early morning classes). Distance Education
enables students who need to take other classes or work, to do class-work
whenever they have a free moment instead of being restricted to a rigid schedule.

 Mobile – Distance learning classes are designed to work on mobile platforms,

enabling students to get to the course materials through cell phones, tablets and
laptops. You can watch a video class on your cell phone while riding car, bus or
train or go to an online class amid your break at work.
 Networking – Students enrolling in online training course can interact with wider
range of people. Instead of being restricted to networking in the neighborhood,
distance learning allows students to make connect to more wide range of people
from all over the world.
 Pace – Online education provides students with the advantage of adaptable
routine. In the face to face learning setup one has fixed deadlines to hand the
assignments, for the online learning it is not that strict.
 Scheduling – When studying at the traditional educational setup, one will have a
fixed schedule and one has to attend the class at a physical location. The
schedules for web-based learning are more flexible and allows students to take the
classes whenever it fits their schedule. This is beneficial over classroom education
that requires students to schedule work or take care of personal issues while
studying at their own pace.
 Money – Online course are generally more affordable than the traditional college
or university course. Also, one would save on the commute expenses, boarding
and lodging too while attending online classes as it can done from one’s own
home.
 No Commute – A huge advantage to getting an online education is that there is
no need to travel to and from class every single day. Someone who doesn't drive
or want to spend money on the costs of public transportation every single day will
likely choose to get an online education over the traditional classroom.
 Selection of Professors – Distance learning allow students to learn from some of
the most noted professors/professionals in each field, located anywhere in the
world.
 Effective – For some courses online courses are as effective at teaching students
as the traditional classroom style of learning.
 Global – Many schools, colleges and universities across the globe are offering
distance education now. One can choose any of these to join a course, which suits
the student needs the best.
 Equity – As opposed to the traditional style of learning the distance education
increases educational equity for all students and gives plenty of opportunities to
the students who can't attend classes consistently at the fulltime schools.

Disadvantages of Distance Learning

 Trouble Staying Motivated Students with low motivation tend to fall behind
when using the distance education model of learning and is not a good idea. There
is no one (teachers, fellow classmates, any human aspect) to remind of any
pending assignments.
 Trouble Staying in Contact with Instructors If you ever experience difficulty
with assignments, or have any inquiries concerning course while in a face to face
class, it is very easy to ask the instructor the questions before or after the class or
scheduling an appointment is easy too. In distance learning style you will have
trouble connecting with your instruction. One can leave an email and the follow
up will depend on the instructor’s schedule.
 Trouble Interacting with Peers Since there's no classroom there will be limited
contact with the fellow classmates unlike the face to face environment where
student work together for projects forming teams or talk to each other, it is
difficult to build any relationships. In distance learning the student has to work
alone on their assignments, projects and etc. Sometimes, students may feel
isolated since don’t have any in-person interaction.
 Trouble Staying Connected Continuously For the individuals who don't have a
dependable power or internet connection, it can be hard to get to a place, where
there is internet access is readily available. Also, this sort of access is critical for
remove learning. A few projects may even expect you to have a DVD or CD
player for specific materials or different sorts of hardware that you need to buy,
find or rent for yourself (and you are needed to proper skill to use them too).
Additionally, your PC could stop at any minute, and for reasons unknown or your
power connection could go out for a couple of days and all of a sudden, you're
behind with no real way to fix it.
 Trouble Getting Immediate Feedback Feedback can be relatively prompt when
you're sitting in a classroom with an educator since they have a couple of minutes
to investigate your work and choose whether or not you're right about it. When
emailing assignments, it can be hard to get the expected feedback. Sometimes you
will have very less time to make any changes to the given assignment based on
these feedbacks.
 Trouble Completing all Courses for a Degree Only a few degrees allow you to
finish the all of the courses online. For example, students who are in medical
profession have to go to the site for clinicals. For students look forward
to becoming professor's or other high-level executives, public speaking courses
and presentations will be required, which just aren't possible online.
 Trouble Getting Accreditation Accepted by Employers Taking an online
program can be hard for employers to acknowledge in many cases. They may not
trust that you've learned as much as you would have in a physical classroom or
they may not trust that your web-based learning program was sufficient or
dependable enough to allow you to work with them.
 Trouble Finding Accredited Universities Not every online college has the
accreditation that you're searching for. Pretty much anybody can make a school
on the web and offer courses that don't generally mean anything. You require a
college that has formal accreditation for the program that you're seeking and do
the necessary research on them.
 Trouble Advancing Oral Communication Skills Since you're not in contact
with anybody in-person or telephone or internet, your oral communication skills
will undeniably suffer. Oral communication is vital in the working environment,
if you are not you’re not learning it at school, where are you going to learn it?
 Difficulty Avoiding Hidden Costs At last, there are many costs that can pile up
through distance learning. From the technology fees to added costs for materials
that may need to be sent to you by postal mail or for instructors just browsing
their email, you never know where some new expenses will pile up or what you
ought to do to ensure you aren't getting tricked into paying those additional
charges. Obviously, if you truly need to take the program online it can be hard to
think of some other choice than to simply pay those expenses.

2. REFLECTION:
 What is your personal opinion on this issue? Do you agree with the
research? If you agree or disagree, please explain why?
 Provide examples/experiences regarding this issue from school
perspective or If you are not working in a school, from your profession. Be
specific with your examples. You can mention software/hardware names,
specific methods that you plan to use, etc.
 How would you implement this research in your career? (At least 1
paragraph)

Reflection:

Advances in technology have made distance learning a more suitable alternative as

students can communicate with each other and with the educator, use sound, video and
text to learn and utilize internet for research purposes. To guarantee that your student is a
successful distance student, they should have access to all the technology they require
and have the skill needed to use these efficiently.

Distance learning can be a great resource for students who, for reasons unknown, are not
ready to fit into a conventional classroom setting. But, it can only be as effective as the
student is. Knowing the issues before you start can assist you with creating a situation
helpful for learning.

3. REFERENCES:
 Cite at least 5 References in APA.
 You may use http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-journal for citing
your sources in APA style.

References:

Clover, I. (2017, February 14). Advantages And Disadvantages Of eLearning. Retrieved

from https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-elearning

Online distance learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.jisc.ac.uk/podcasts/online-

distance-learning-16-dec-2010

Pardanjac, M., Radosav, D., & Jokic, S. (2009). Difficulties and possibilities of distance

learning. 2009 7th International Symposium on Intelligent Systems and Informatics.

doi:10.1109/sisy.2009.5291133

Web Based Training Advantages and Disadvantages – Weevur [Web log post]. (2017,

October 29). Retrieved from https://blog.weevur.io/web-based-training-advantages-

and-disadvantages-9c748a4f3a07

Haughey, M. (n.d.). Distance Learning. Retrieved from

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/distance-learning/

Distance education. (2018, July 27). Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_education

Different Types of Distance Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.eztalks.com/elearning/different-types-of-distance-learning.html