RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE
North American University
Education Department
M.Ed. in EDLE & CUIN
EDUC 5324: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO EDUCATION
Name:Humeyra Gokce
Date:6/17/16
Topic Selected:
Topic 3: What does the research say about advantages and disadvantages of distance
education?
1. LITERATURE REVIEW:
What does the literature/research say about this issue/topic? By using NAU
Library or Online Search engines, conduct a literature review.
You need to include 5 different sources (book, journal article, web article
etc.) in your review. Try to use current sources as much as possible.
You need to summarize and synthesize your sources by discussing a
common theme or issue.
You don't need to critique your sources
You don't need to evaluate your sources (if the sources are trustworthy,
weather the author has a bias or not)
You need to provide background information such as history and
definitions
Brief Literature Review:
Teaching and learning are no longer confined to the classroom or the school day. There
are many technologies that can offer a great deal of flexibility in when, where, and how
education is distributed. There are many synonyms used for Distance Learning, such as
Distance Education, Distributed Learning, or Remote Education. For the purposes of this
guide, Distance Learning will be defined by the following criteria:
1. The teacher and students are separated by distance (this distance could mean
different classrooms in the same school or different locations thousands of miles
apart).
2. The instruction is delivered via print, voice, video, or computer technologies
3. The communication is interactive in that the student receives support and
feedback from the teacher. The feedback may be immediate or delayed.
Distance Learning can be roughly divided into synchronous or asynchronous delivery
types. Synchronous means that the teacher and the student interact with each other in
"real time." For example, with two-way videoconferences, students interact with "live"
video of an instructor. Less complex technologies, such as telephone conversations are
also synchronous.
Asynchronous delivery does not take place simultaneously. In this case, the teacher may
deliver the instruction via video, computer, or other means, and the students respond at
a later time. For example, instruction may be delivered via the Web or videotapes, and
the feedback could be sent via e-mail messages. Common synchronous and
asynchronous technologies are outlined in the following table.
Synchronous
Asynchronous
Video
Videoconferencing
Videotape,
DVD,
Broadcast video
Audio
Audioconferencing
Audio files,
Radio, Podcasts
Data
Internet chat,
Internet
videoconferencing
E-mail,
CD-ROM
Figure 1. Common synchronous and asynchronous technologies.
Advantages: Distance learning technologies offer a myriad of benefits for K-12
education, including convenience, flexibility, and effectiveness, and efficiency, access to
additional courses from other schools, affordability, interactivity and equality.
Familiarizing students with the Distance Learning technologies in preparation for college
Distance Learning courses and lifelong learning when entering the workforce. Giving
students the opportunity to practice discipline. Teaching students to take initiatives for
their learning.
For rural schools, however, the benefits of distance education outweigh any
potential disadvantages. For instance, in a survey of 126 students enrolled in an online
distance education course, the most common response when asked about the benefits
of distance education was that the students enjoyed the autonomy and freedom in
assignment schedules given by the course. Distance education actually does achieve
student satisfaction, and this can lead to retention. Perhaps the biggest advantage of all
is being able to provide more choices in coursework to enrich the lives of a schools
students. Cavanaugh, et al.s meta-analysis found that being able to offer a better variety
of courses results in broader educational opportunity for students, access to resources
and instructors not locally available, and increases in student-teacher communication. If
students do not receive the coursework which could have showcased their talents and
broadened their knowledge, then they are obviously worse off than without such
coursework, and this is more apparent in rural areas where teachers who are certified to
teach certain courses, such as foreign languages, are more difficult to recruit and retain.
In response to loss of control from the local community, schools have the ability to work
out agreements with surrounding schools to ensure that they have a say in what
teachers teach. Without distance education, some rural students may never have the
opportunity to take a foreign language course, and this is while learning another
language is becoming increasingly important.
Providing access to an alternative route for education is perhaps the most important
aspect of distance education. It has been argued that distance education environments
may offer the advantage of a more personalized and instructionally diverse educational
experience. Virtual schools and programs in particular may also offer increased
educational options for students who lack access to highly qualified teachers or courses
that would not otherwise be available, or who are simply unsuccessful in traditional
learning environments.
K12 distance education programs have the potential for impacting traditional
educational purposes and processes in substantial ways. They provide access to
educational opportunities where they would not otherwise exist, in an environment
conducive to the development of important skills for the 21st century. Furthermore,
beyond access, distance education gives a greater degree of control to the learner in
relation to the teaching institution, with effects on what the institution offers to teach and
the way it teaches. We are in the middle of a Copernican revolution as it becomes ever
more apparent that the learner constitutes the center of the universe, and that teaching
no longer drives learning; instead, teaching responds to and supports learning.
Distance learning affords educational opportunities to individuals unable to attend
conventional classroom settings also such individuals include the disabled, those living
in rural communities where commuting daily to university or college would prove difficult
or even impossible, and finally those with various time restrictions that prevent them
from attending scheduled classes.
Disadvantages: The majority of research on disadvantages of distance education has to
do with online education. Watson writes that one of the biggest problems with online
education is that the judgment of quality assurance rests with state-led programs. This
takes decisions away from local schools that know what works in their communities
better than state governments, and this is especially true for rural schools that are
typically located in more isolated communities that are not on the periphery of state
agendas. Also learners might feel isolated. Another disadvantage is that online courses
result in a lack of social interaction with peers, which may be particularly harmful to
younger students. In addition to the disadvantages of online education, ITV also comes
with its own disadvantages. It is the method of distance education that mostly resembles
a traditional course, allowing students and teachers to talk with one another as if they
are in the same room, but one of its biggest disadvantages is that it ignores a students
need for face-to-face interactions with his or her teachers and fellow students. Such
interactions and relationships are key components in achieving student retention and
satisfaction. It is harder for students to ask questions in a distance learning class. In
contrast to a traditional classroom where a student simply needs to raise his/her hand to
ask a question, it is harder for students to ask questions to clarify their confusions in a
distance learning class.
2. REFLECTION:
What is your personal opinion on this issue? Do you agree with the
research? If you agree or disagree, please explain why?
Provide examples/experiences regarding this issue from school
perspective or If you are not working in a school, from your profession. Be
specific with your examples. You can mention software/hardware names,
specific methods that you plan to use, etc.
How would you implement this research in your career? (At least 1
paragraph)
Reflection:
All people have an educational right that everyone has opportunity to choose the
school for their future career. Distance learning might be more comfortable for some
parents however some others might prefer face-to face education in classes. I am
science teacher in elementary school and I believe that face-to-face learning is better to
teach science for elementary. In this way, students can learn science concept with handon activities and experiments. Although, face-to-face learning seems to have many
advantages, distance learning is better for some parents and students to access many
resources for their education. Some of the benefits are flexibility, equality, efficiency,
effectiveness and use more than one resources for practice and extend the knowledge.
However the students and parents who would prefer distance learning can learn more
advance standards. Also most of our students were working in high school because their
parents were economically disadvantaged. Thus they would use online sources to get
education. There are some expenses such as parking lot, facilities, materials and
resources for onsite education, so distance learning will be beneficial for all
stakeholders. The stakeholders also save time to spend on education and practice what
they learn by online education. For example: a student can read articles and books
instead of driving to school or back to home.
On the other hand, as all new systems has disadvantages distance learning also has
some disadvantages. The main one is the students and parents have to deal technology
issues all the time and find some backup plans to reduce the problems. Although all
parents want their child to be socialized, most students might feel isolated because of
online classes. Those parents need to find some other activities for their children to be
communicated with their peers and comminutes. Another disadvantage is not all student
are responsible to and organized to set up a plan follow it all the time. As a result it is
parents and students has some rights to choose the best program which fits for their
educational preferences.
3. REFERENCES:
Cite at least 5 References in APA.
You may use http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-journal for citing
your sources in APA style.
References:
ODonoghue, J.(2004) A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of IT
based education and the implications upon students. Interactive Educational Multimedia,
pp. 63-76
K-12 School Computer Networking | Chapter 25. (n.d.).
Rice, K. (n.d.). A Comprehensive Look at Distance Education in the K12
Context. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 425-448.
Marson, S., & Nursing, M. (1992). Teachers' guide to open/distance learning. Sheffield:
ENB Learning Resources Unit.
Rice, K. (2009). Priorities in K-12 Distance Education: A Delphi Study Examining Multiple
Perspectives on Policy, Practice, and Research. Educational Technology & Society, 12
(3), 163177.
Chang, I.-H. (2012). The Effect of Principals' Technological Leadership on Teachers'
Technological Literacy and Teaching Effectiveness in Taiwanese Elementary Schools.
Educational Technology & Society, 15 (2), 328340.
