Distance Education

Source: http://wiki.uiowa.edu/display/edtech/2011+-Distance+Education+is...

Distance education has always interested me a lot; however I didn’t have the chance to learn more about it. After reading several articles, watching YouTube clips and having discussions in class I have more information about its possibilities, advantages and disadvantages. According to the article by Hill (2012), Distance Education can be divided into three major categories, which are: Ad Hoc, Fully online courses and Hybrid courses. Ad hoc are called the courses which are organized for a specific situation and for a specific reason. Fully online courses are those that don’t include any face-to-face meetings or classes and the whole learning process takes place online. The Hybrid one combines the best of the face-to-face and online learning, as it involves part of both. AUA has started applying this new way of learning in its’ Academic Writing courses and the results show that they are effective. In her article Cynthia White (2004) discusses some differences between traditional classrooms and Distance Learning. According to her, distance learning differs from face-to-face learning in a way that it provides the learners a totally new setting with new demands and new opportunities, where the students are the ones to make decisions for themselves compared to the traditional classrooms. If in a regular classroom the teacher physically is standing in front of the students, in Distance Learning he/she is not. The teacher cannot monitor the students work and give immediate feedback. The learners should have self-management skills to oversee the rate and direction of their learning and make their own internal adjustments to that environment (White, 2004). During our class discussion, we pointed out some more important differences and features of the DE, such as the fact that in DE the teachser act more like a trainer rather than a teacher. He/she should have IT skills and also the teacher should mediate between the administration and the students and be aware of different learning styles. We also mentioned some key attributes to Distance FL learners. We stated that the learner is more independent in DE, they should have strong time and organizational management skills and they may face the problem of maintaining internal motivation without regular face-to-face classes. This way of learning indeed has many supporters. As for me, I would prefer haveing face-to-face classes over the DE, since the external factors such as the environment in the educational organization, peer collaboration and the professors’ physical existence may motivate me more. Maybe it’s part of the personality type, or learning strategies, I am not sure… However, having an option to learn even without leaving the house is indeed interesting and in many cases can be very helpful. So, in future, if for some reason I cannot physically be present in classes which I need to take I would take the advantage of this fantastic opportunity and become a distance learner!:)

LMS and PLE

Source: https://wiki.oulu.fi/display/LETs/PSV's+PLE+in+LET

Learning management system, which is the same as Virtual Learning Education, is a software which educational institutions use to be connected with their students, provide them with all the materials and information they need for their studies and facilitate the communication both within students and between the professors and the students. This new technological advancement has been part of my life throughout the one and a half year of my studies at the AUA, where Moodle LMS is used. This facilitates my life a lot. I don’t need to go to the library in many cases to find the materials or ask the professors to provide the materials, everything is stored there and I can access to the information anytime I need regardless the place I am.

However, this software has its shortcomings as well. The students have access to the materials and the information in the LMS only during the years of their studies in that institution. As soon as they graduate they cannot go back and look at the materials or the assignment they took.

However, there is another great tool which is of great help particularly in the case of not having access to the LMS. It is called PLE (Personal Learning environment). Stephen Downe’s YouTube clip helped me a lot to identify the differences between the LMS and PLE. PLEs include all the web based applications, softwares, web pages and folders that the individuals use to organize and manage their own learning. This stays with them during their entire life and it becomes their own possession. Individuals use many kinds of informal ways of getting information materials or they have personal folders where they keep their materials. All of these are categorized under the PLE.

I believe, the best solution for the students would be to use both LMS and PLE simultaneously. This way they will benefit from what they get from the LMS and other sources and they can still use them even after graduating.

As for me, I value what I have at this point and what the University provides me a lot, that’s why I keep my own logs and folders with all the information and materials that I believe may be helpful for me in future. I suggest others do the same, take advantage of being a student and become a lifelong learner. 

Open Educational Resources

Source: http://iberry.com/cms/OER.htm OER (open educational resources) are teaching and learning materials available for everyone to use online and free. According to the article by Brown and Adler (2008), in this rapidly changing and flattening world, OER has increased the need for lifelong learning. OER provide opportunity for learners to have access to materials which they might have considered out of reach before. Nowadays people can easily access, read and use materials provided by various well known universities around the world. The same article states that one of the most essential impacts of the OER is the promotion of so called “social learning”. Social learning is described as a virtual place for different people to share their ideas and learn being engaged in social discussions and by interacting with many people. The main idea of the “social learning” is focused on how we are learning rather than on what we are learning. Many universities around the world, like Harvard law school (brown & Adler, 2008), are using second life to conduct classes, discussions, debates and lecture. Here even non students can take participation and learn. I find this really engaging and motivating. The fact that in Armenia you can be enrolled in Harvard school classes makes me feel connected, close and equal. Equal in the geographical sense, where you physical place does not matter. Even enrollment does not matter. The only thing that matters is the individual’s eagerness and willingness to learn…
 However, this great innovation is not widely spread so far. Armenians, like many other people around the world do not have the awareness of the possibilities and opportunities they have. And educational institutions as well still are not using OER to promote learning. According to the Danielyan and Alexandryan (2008), teachers should be responsible for promoting technologies and innovations in their classes, and the fact that in Armenian education OER is not that spread is partially because of the lack of willingness.
 The cultural factor here may have its role as well. Maybe we are still afraid of sharing and spreading. For centuries we have struggled for what we have and this sense of keeping and the fear of sharing has penetrated into the educational sphere as well. However education and knowledge should be spread. If we want to have a wealthy society and country we should make efforts. We should try to implement our knowledge not only for getting money but also contributing to the country’s development. And we should realize that by sharing and educating our society will result in our prosperity and growth as a country and nation.
 We had a very interesting conversation during our class which made me think about what we can do and what we do actually. The reality is that we don’t act according to our abilities… and the bad thing is that we like to blame others, saying that the leaders of the institutions may not approve our actions, moreover, we go beyond blaming the government. But how many of those “claimers” gave a try and failed. I think the answer is probably “none”. Surely it’s very difficult to change the perception of people on different areas, but one thing that I am sure in is that there is nothing impossible. We should give a try and then say that it didn’t and will not work in Armenia. Even one, two and three tries are not enough evidence for stating that it’s impossible. It’s just the degree of willingness and real desire to walk along the world using equal technologies and developments…
 We as teachers are the ones who should give a try and make efforts on changing our environment. If we raise the awareness and provide our students with up to date materials and resources, in the nearest future we will be positively surprised by our achievements. So my dear colleagues, let’s not waste time and act. Let’s believe in our abilities and strengths and use our potential to contribute in the development of our society! :)