Collaborative interaction has transformed distance education into an effective learning experience and has helped form its’ own identity in education. In the more traditional or F2F format of education, one is given the opportunity to collaborate because of the students involved a given course. In distance education, one is given the opportunity to collaborate based on the individuals in a given course, as well. Where then does the distinct difference between these two formats lie? The difference is found in the type of students involved. While F2F formats are beneficial, one is confined to the limitations of the expertise around them. Distance education is brings the idea of collaborative interaction to new levels only hoped to be attained through F2F formats. The Internet is global and reaches various intelligences on certain topics. The need for this collaborative interaction drives the courses into learning opportunities that only F2F courses dare to consider. The various areas of expertise that distance education courses offer will assist online students in being well rounded and in having a level of expertise in the subject matter that they normally would not have attained in a F2F course. This collaborative interaction can be found in numerous innovations found in distance education courses today.
Through online tools, such as Microsoft SharePoint, Blogs, Wikis, and podcasts, the medium in which one collaborates is very diverse. Online collaboration tools are emerging in education today at an alarming rate. These different innovations provide ways in reaching far greater numbers of students than ever imagined before. They provide a collaborative interaction that is easily attainable from any location, which allows the learning process to be available 24 hours a day. George Siemens proposes the idea that online education is gaining popularity because geographic distance is not as significant to learning as it was 5 years ago. He goes on to explain that there is an increase in online communication and populations have a practical experience with new technologies, which motivate learners with distance education. This only goes to show that distance education is providing students with more effective learning experiences and these learning experiences are only as effective as the collaborative interaction tht takes place within the course itself.
In the beginning, I was skeptic as it relates to distance education. I thought of it as a way of getting “easy” credit from an “easy” program. I have learned this is not the case. Easy is a term I would not use as in distance learning. It is involved, but very exciting. Though my perception of distance learning changed after the first day of classes, in some way I am intimidated with online collaboration. I understand the tools you refer to in your blog, but my personality is blocking true involvement with others online instead of face-to-face. I am hoping tools such as SKYPE will help me to connect with students as I would in a F2F class. I do feel more comfortable since those first online collaborative encounters, but I have more work to do. What advice can you give me in connecting with my classmates online?
ReplyDeleteJamie: Regarding collaboration - are you comfortable with online collaboration, or would you prefer a more blended type of instruction?
ReplyDeleteThere are so many different types of collaborative intercourses available. I can see your point that "distance education is providing students with more effective learning experiences and these learning experiences are only as effective as the collaborative interaction that takes place within the course itself." And I would ask, is there a way to improve the collaborative experience for students to get more out of their online courses?
Great posts...I look forward to more :)
Chris W.
Jamie, you are truly a deep thinker. Consider for a moment three people you have no knowledge about them except one simple fact. One is a recent high school graduate, the next one is a recent college graduate, and the final one is a non-traditional student returning to class after serving in the military for 11 years. Would you recommend a traditional classroom setting or an online course? We just assume the traditional classroom is structured to allow more personal contact, but there are classes across the country with hundreds of students enrolled in one section and I doubt many group activities are happening. Here is the twist I truly enjoy. If large classes blended online components then the collaboration and the individual attention we desire through differentiated learning styles could exist.
ReplyDeleteThe big drawback to an education obtained exclusively online is the physical proximity to other students. Instead of meeting in the library to complete a project, online students meet in chat rooms. Online students trade their study groups for a wiki and exchange skype account instead of phone numbers. And research papers still require citations.