This was the most important course in the masters program for students, especially for me. It marks great achievements and growth in the subject and signals a beginning to practice in the field. This has also been the most challenging course, as it does not incorporate much of Wedemeyer's empathy theory. During my research, Mills, R. (2004) put this in perspective, stating (paraphrased), learning doesn't have to be difficult because one is at the graduate level. It is not necessary to have to jump hurdles to be successful or to reach the finish line. This was one such course—very stressful—for this learner, and why my focus in learning will always be to incorporate the concepts from OMDE 608, learner supports in distance education and training—integrating just enough technology to offer learner support. From the beginning of my online learning journey, my concern with this mode of delivery was how to meet students where they are when learning takes place in different spaces and time. Holmberg, (2009) also put this in perspective stating, "helping students to learn is any educator's most important task... that must be considered at the planning stage" (p. 46).
My experiences as a second timer in this course left me feeling that I had accomplished very little; therefore, I continued to struggle with expectations and course requirements. Instead of working to bring many of the assignments to expectations I retook the course with many of the same mistakes or misdirection. This was partly due to the nature of feedback received. I submitted documents that never received feedback and no explanation of why or feedback that was not clear. In several instances feedback was received untimely causing frustrations because of the t...
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...res more W/C's and perhaps technical assistants who provide learner support other than with the technology. Too many assignments overlapped as far as due dates, the additional supports would help met time constraints which is not the concept learned in my studies—no place or time constraints. I personally would have liked to see the course staffed with more tutors for students or the integration of different types of technologies to assist students in the writing and research process, for example writing software that provide more than plagiarism checks. Since online or distance learning is about the integration of technologies, as learned in OMDE 608, technologies should be utilized to provide a more inclusive learning experience.
The course has been an educational experience, helping me appreciate more the conventional or blended mode of learning. Thank you.
This course has taught me many things. I was not aware that there was so much information to learn about communication, but I have been pleasantly surprised. This course has taught me better ways to communicate with my significant other, my family, my friends, my co-workers, as well as with strangers. I have greatly enjoyed each assignment because they challenged me to examine the flaws within my own communication style. I hope to employ the skills and tools I have learned in this course and apply them to all my future communications.
Yet one cannot praise the advantages without taking a look at the possible limitations of Web-based delivery. The authors, (Sunal et al., 2003) stated that Web-based students indicated dissatisfaction with the number of opportunities for interaction with the instructor and other students. (Simonson et al., 2003) concluded that access to technology, paradigm shifts for instructors, bandwidth limitations, and training and technical assistance may hinder course delivery. They (Simonson et al., 2003) reported too, that online courses require students to be motivated, self directed and responsible for their success. Another possible disadvantage with Web-based courses is the potential loss of social relationships and sense of community that exists in traditional face-to-face courses (Hiltz, 1998).
The knowledge I am getting from this course is a real-world skill. This course opened my eyes more than I expected. In course goal assignment, I wrote my all my expectation from this course this
In “Can You Be Educated from a Distance?” by James Barszcz, the author attempts to pinpoint the negative aspects of distance education compared to traditional classrooms. At the beginning of the article, he first describes the basic format of online courses, which results in a vast minimization of face-to-face communication of students with instructors. He then touches on some of the beneficial qualities of online education, and the reasoning for its quickly growing popularity among students and schools alike. He mainly attributes this trend to the overall convenience that is promised to students by online courses. These courses allow students to learn material in the comfort of their own home. Barszcz also considers the financial appeal for universities. Having an increasing number of students enrolled solely in online classes allows schools to save money on electricity, as well as decrease the amount of staff they employ. Also mentioned is that many strong advocates of distance...
What did you learn from this course? List at least 5 of them and discuss how you plan to use them for your work/home/relationships.
And as far as the educational value of the four courses, I couldn’t get the same out of an online course. We as students are all capable of reading chapters in a book and looking at power points, but we need to be taught, understand and realize what is on those slides (power points) being displayed and the reasons they are important… “Not just asked…did you get that or any questions?” So, to say that myself and other students are frustrated is to say the least.
"Although the term ‘distance education’ is of relatively recent coinage, the concept of ‘learning at a distance’ is not new at all. For example, correspondence courses first appeared in Germany, England, and the United States in the mid-nineteenth century (Neal, 1999, p.1). Neal continued to say that "these courses were intended to provide vocational training to serve the demands of growing industrial economies, but the idea of learning on one’s own proved so attractive that by the early twentieth century courses in every conceivable subject were offered by colleges, universities, and proprietary institutes (Neal, p.1).
Thank you again for another exceptional program January 20th! The course are outstanding, hopefully you had had time to review the information.
Final Reflection Question: And finally, I would like some reflection on your overall course experience. What have you found to be especially meaningful? What have you disagreed with? Was there an issue or a controversy that you became aware of in conjunction with this course content? Here are some specific questions for reflection. Please be brief, but concise. Please don't exceed one page in
Online education, while offering clear advantages such as supporting a self-paced learning experience by allowing learning on an on-demand basis rather than a strict class schedule, also has significant drawbacks. Students in an online only course may struggle with structure and content without hands-on instruction, which can help motivate students who otherwise may be distracted or have difficulty working independently. The traditional structure of classroom education is effective, but also comes with a set of obstacles, particularly for nontraditional students. The best way to bridge this gap is hybrid education, which combines technology and personal interaction to support efficiency and self-paced learning while keeping students motivated, social, and connected to their professors and their peers through face to face interactions. While this newer learning model is still under investigation, there is evidence to prove that hybrid courses can lead to academic success.
In this column, add your own thoughts. This should be a summary of what you have learned and does not need to be in complete sentences (bullet points, etc are fine). You do not have to cite sources as long as you are using the sources given in the course.
Many students say online courses are convenient. Online courses allow students to plan according to their schedule, and the time and location that best works for them. Although online education may seem more “easier,” students should look at the cons of online education. In the feature article "Face-Face or Online Instruction? Face-Face is Better," the author, Arleen R. Bejerano, claims online courses take the students away from the college community and confines them to their home. The students no longer have interaction with the college community, which may cause them to miss out on some important opportunities. This may affect their possibility of succeeding to achieve a degree. The author suggests some students may become discouraged from learning independently, from facing challenges in academics, and fall behind or
The distance learning environment creates a multitude of challenges that students or instructors do not have to deal with in a brick and mortar classroom. One controversial topic may be that people cannot express their emotions effectively online. Online environments are also complicated to have interactions and establish a presence. Is this really the case though? Is it challenging to show emotion online or have a presence; however, it is not impossible. These topics will be discussed in the following.
In terms of Personal Development I feel that the course has helped me to develop the skills I need to improve my grades, and to build my confidence.
Online learning, also known as distance learning or online learning, has become a new and successful means of receiving an education in a highly technologically enhanced environment (Regan, Evmenova, Baker, Jerome, Spencer, Lawson, & Werner, 2012). Kaymak and Horzum (2013) defined online learning as using Internet technology to gain knowledge and skills through the use of synchronous and asynchronous learning tools. Allen and Seaman (2013) stated that about 6.7 million students attending colleges and universities across the United States were successfully enrolled in at least one online course in 2011. There is an increased interest in online learning that continues to grow as a result of the amplified demands from the work place and the escalating availability of nontraditional educational options and providers (Allen & Seaman, 2008).