GOAL 3.2
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS IN DISTANCE LEARNING
Distance
learning is, according to The California Distance Learning Project (CDLP), “an
institutional delivery system that connects learners with educational
resources” therefore, learners that practice this modality of education are
distance learners. In this educational system, there are some main factors that
make it earn its name, the physical separation of teacher and learner in means
of time, space and contact, and the use of technology or media to interact with
teachers and colleagues. There are great advantages on distance learning for
example, time management or cost (less expensive) just to mention some.
Although, this system offers great advantages there are three main problems
that could be discussed as potential threats for distance learner, these are
procrastination, lack of support, and alienation.
To
procrastinate is to delay. In distance courses, the flexibility of time gives
students the opportunity to put off assignments until a later time. This aspect
is certainly convenient, especially for students who have other
responsibilities to cover. However, students who are not well centered in their
education may find this academic autonomy as a path to failure. Most of the
time these types of students put off assignments until the very last minute;
this causes them to find themselves in a panic what-do- I- do-now situation.
One possible solution to this issue is to inform and educate learners to be
autonomous. Letting students know the advantages and disadvantages of distance
learning courses help in a great manner. It could also be possible for the
educational institution to have students take a set of required courses or
workshops about distance learning and autonomy before enrolling distance
courses; this will give students the awareness about the rights and responsibilities
of distance learners. This proposal has to do with the curriculum, by doing
these modifications, the purpose of it, which is to help the learning process
convey its purpose may acquire a more significant meaning.
Often,
distances students lack the support and services that in-class courses offer.
For instance, institutions tend to use teachers as the only means of
communication between the course and the students. In- class modalities provide
access to academic planners, tutors, and technical support. All of these
aspects should be consider in distance learning courses. Students who have
access to these resources may have a better chance of focusing on their
education rather than living the problems that come with education. Having more than just one mediator in a
distance course assures tranquility and security in regards of the lack of
support issues. For example, if there is an issue with the virtual platform,
would not it be better to just contact the person in charge of this tool to
report the issue? With this, the teachers could also be helped by lowering
his/her responsibilities and can focus on pure teaching.
A third and major problem that students have in distance learning
courses is the feeling of alienation. Alienation, according to WordReference.com,
is “the state of being an outsider or the feeling of being isolated, as from
society”. According to The Higher
Education Academy (2008) cited from Croft (2011), twenty-two percent of
distance learners mentioned the risk of feeling isolated. They saw this factor
as a challenge which uncovered the importance of the personal interaction in student
learning. Felling isolated is one of the main causes of distance course
drop-outs, this according to Croft (2011)In order to prevent these drop-outs, distance-learning
courses could implement on-line communities for interaction, peer to peer
support, discussion forums, and accounts in a social network websites like
Facebook or Google plus. The ideas for interaction are still within the on-line
parameter, but they assure an extra degree of personal contact between students
and educators.
There are several aspects that make distance learning such a popular
modality of education, yet, there are also problems that emerge along the way.
Some of these problems are procrastination, lack of support, and alienation.
The help of the educational institution plays an important role in dissolving
these problems. The student also is in charge of centering his attention to his
education, and this comes intrinsically, nevertheless the educational system
must support and motivate the student to accomplish their learning goals the
best way they can.
References
Nicholas
Croft, Alice Dalton, and Marcus Grant (2011) Overcoming Isolation in Distance
Learning: Building a Learning Community Through Time and Space.
http://www.cdlponline.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=whatis
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/problems-faced-students-distance-learning-5787.html
www.wordreference.com