Week 8 - Reflection

The field of instructional design will always need areas of improvement and change because of its connection to technology. Regardless of the amount of educational information or experience one may have, there is always room for improvement and change.  The idea or perception of distance education is still slowly evolving from person to person. Some feel that there is no need to participart within online courses because going to a class is something they have always known or been exposed to. But many schools are now incorporating one of two course requirements to be strictly online in a large amount of programs they provide. This is a positive form of changing the students perceptions and providing the schools with feedback as to how they can improve the educational experience they provide and the costs that come with education on both ends whether from the institution or the student.

• What do you think the perceptions of distance learning will be in the future (in 5–10 years; 10–20 years)?

The perception of distance learning will be much more accepting due to having an increased basis of information about the experience of others who have taken courses or completed their degrees within online courses. In 5 – 10 years there will still be students who are skeptical about the idea of taking courses completely online because of the large number of face-to-face learning facilities schools around. But I believe in 10 – 20 years, many of these schools will have a greater number of degree programs that will be offered both on campus and online. This will possibly make their school more appealing with the ability to provide their students with options as to how they would like to “build” their course load and integrate it with their everyday life tasks. “If we manage to bridge the gap of comfort so that they experience the environment they’ll (students) naturally take to it.” There will still be hesitation among people because of the lack of physical interaction in working with ones degree since the first image that comes to mind for many people, in regards to education, is a classroom and desk. But there is also the understanding that those who have a great understanding about technology and the speed at which it is increasing among people and improving, will allow people to view this as a new experience that can provide them with a large benefit in the long run. The question is whether their fear or what they have been taught in regards to education will limit them from taking a chance on it?

• How can you as an instructional designer be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance learning?

As an instructional designer, the best way of improving societies perception is by asking three particular questions:

1.     What is their thought on distance learning currently?

2.     How would they like to interact with in distance learning to make it more appealing?

3.     What would you want employers to “accept” if you already obtained a degree through online learning and how would you be able to reflect upon your educational experience to prove your worth to the employer?

By finding answers to these questions, I feel that we can designer better programs and create a challenging but educational while providing a positive experience for the students at hand. Another way of improving the perceptions is in providing educational resources that are both current and those that have been useful in past courses.  Also, in keeping up with the latest technology to attract more students who may be comfortable with the new “apps” or programs out in society will provide them with more reason as to why they can participate in the course. Especially now during a time where majority of the programs used on a computer are already accessible via mobile formats. Their perception in viewing such easy access to the possibility of completing a program at their own pace and comfort could be the largest form of attracting more students to participating in distance education.

• How will you be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education?

To be a positive force in continuous improvement, you must accept that there will be many mistakes and errors both on your own and within others parts in working with the field of instructional design. Participating in conferences and interacting with other designers while improving on my own skills through learning about the different types of technology that are changing and coming out or are popular. Taking opportunities both in the educational and corporate field will allow me to build a diverse portfolio, which will help me learn about areas where I can improve and change. It will also provide me with different ways of applying designs from one areas for projects within another. Requesting as much feedback from every course or student would be beneficial in improving my work and even in asking those who have not taken an online course would be effective. In finding their reasons for hesitation can allow me to try ways of breaking down those barriers which in turn could possibly help someone that is currently doing poorly within a course but may not know the reason why.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). The future of distance education [DVD].

Baltimore, MD: Author