Active participation in a classroom among learners is a form of learning. Using modern technology to demonstrate work keeps users competitive in the global workforce. In five to ten years, I see the industry continuously growing with online learners. Technology is always revolving and using technologies for resources in education will become more valuable to learners. Instructional Designers will be more prevalent in the years to come. I think there will not only be a demand for instructional designers in Academia but also in different businesses across the world. Traditional settings of education have to keep up with the demands of technology in education, but in my opinion, online learning has an advantage in new innovative measures to learning. What does this mean in theory? Distance Learning will become a leading force in education in ten to twenty years. Why do I say this? Technology is leading industries today in many facets of learning and maintaining daily businesses. The downside to technology evolving so fast is businesses not having the time invested to train more individuals in the field. “Regardless of these many obstacles and challenges, distance learning is, and will continue to be, an integral part of higher education. It provides much greater access to college credit and will substantially increase the number of degrees completed while minimizing the cost of those degrees” (Lutz III, 2012).
As more adult learners transcend to online learning with constant dialog and feedback of distance learning experiences most industries will have to emerge to the demand of learners. To prepare for a number of growing online learning institutions the industry must have qualified instructors to teach online learning. I was reading an article by Gambescia and Paolucci (2009) that listed one of the online attributes to providing a successful online learning experience is using highly qualified classroom faculty to also teach distance-learning classes. I am not sure if I agree with this theory. Some traditional teachers are not technology savvy and may not be able to confirm to the virtual world of learning. Even in academia, I was surprise to learn that some professors are still using traditional ways of teaching and/or not using modern technology for learning resources. Instructional designers bring experience and learning theories to the world of cyber learning. Skills are an essential part of the learning rubric to giving learners the necessary pedagogies to learning. As an instructional designer, I will help to foster the perception of hiring more instructional designers to educate students online. Having the skills to educate students globally not only aide to different strategies of learning but it also brings a skill of what is needed to course management systems to insure that learners are getting the necessary resources and software tutorials that they need in order to succeed as a distance learner. As an instructional designer, I feel very strongly about learners having the right e-learning experience. I will continue to speak highly of online learning to help change negative perceptions of distance learning.
The acceptance of distance learning includes the ability to communicate online, experience with new tools, and have the ability to communicate with a diverse and global group of learners (Siemens). Even though distance learning may have some challenges to novice technical learners and traditional learners, it is still going to be a thriving force in the future. What makes the distance learning experience achieve its highest point of learning? The instructors, learning management systems, multimedia designs and innovative technologies are all important measures to produce high levels of learning that an online community creates. As more adult learners return to education and as more business control financial restraints there will always be a need for online learning. I will continue to foster positive perceptions of distance learning in hopes of having the forum become the leading institution for learning.
References
Gambescia, S. F., & Paolucci, R. (2009). Academic fidelity and integrity as attributes of university online degree program offerings. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 12(1), Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring121/gambescia121.html
Lutz III, J. A. (2012). Distance learning and the future of higher education. Richmond Times-Dispatch, Retrieved from http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2012/aug/12/tdopin02-lutz-distance-learning-and-the-future-of--ar-2123475/
Siemens, G. (Performer) (n.d.). The future of distance education [Web]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_1341074_1&url=
