Distance Learning as an Effective Enhancement to the Elementary School Curriculum

We, as humans, fear the unknown, and change is after often at the root of our fears. One of the greatest catalysts for change is today’s rapid technological development, but the concept of traditional education has always been the same. Even that is changing, and as to be expected, there is a substantial amount of fear and apprehension towards distance education. With this, students are presented the chance to overcome of a

“Can You Be Educated from a Distance,” an insightful essay by James Barszcz, brings to focus some of the benefits and disadvantages of Distance Learning education (DL). In it, Barszcz discusses the mechanics of DL courses available to students, the quality of education DL can offer, and some reasoning behind its rapidly growing popularity. “Can You Be Educated from a Distance” is an engaging article that students of all ages can benefit from.

Many advocates of distance education are ardent about their venue and very critical of traditional education. These online education devotees view traditional classes as being unchangeable, inflexible, teacher-centered, and static (Angiello, 2010). However, proponents argue that many simply would not be able to get a degree without distance education—the full-time police officer, the mother of four, or the individual living in a rural area approximately 100-200 miles away from any educational institution. Many individuals desperately need distance education courses because they "have jobs, families, civic responsibilities. They are thirsting. But some want us to say, 'Sorry you don’t want to drink the water there, but we can’t bottle our fresh spring water, so you’ll have to come here or drink nothing" (Baker, 1986). Proponents contend that distance education is "as good as" traditional education. In other words, learning occurs as much in distance education as it does in traditional education. However, is this really so? Does distance education work better for some students

2b. The title of the book is The Distance Education Evolution: Issues and Case Studies.

Distance Education is connected to the conveyance of classroom substance to understudies who are either on or off grounds and spotlights on understudies isolated from each other and from the instructor.19 This learning action incorporates access to direction that is autonomous of time and place limits.

All three participates feel that there is a lot that can be done with distance learning. The technology is there. Participant one stated “we have the technology, but our students still

Many students are absent numerous days throughout the school year due to illness, vacations, bad weather, or other complications. Consequently, these students get left behind in class. Perhaps a big test was missed, or an important lecture or activity, these problems can easily be solved. Some schools have already taken the step to eliminate these problems by offering distance learning; a way to attend classes from home even if the student is not able to attend class physically. Offering these online classes would allow students the ability to attend classes even if they are home sick, on vacation, or if the weather is bad and school is cancelled. Setting up distance learning in a school could improve grades and learning opportunities throughout the

Distance learning (education) has become an integral part of the education process over the past few decades and is growing in popularity as technology advances.(Willis 1992) describes distance education (as) "the organizational framework andprocess of providing instruction at a distance. Distance education takes place when ateacher and student(s) are physically separated, and technology…(is) used to bridge theinstruction gap." (Coutts 1996). Furthermore, "distance learning activities are designedto fit the specific context for learning, the nature of the subject matter; intended learningoutcomes, needs and goals of the learner, the learner's environment and the instructional echnologies and methods." (American

Online education, also called long distant learning, can be defined as a new method of learning through a computer network. This modern way of teaching gives students an opportunity to take classes online. Bill Gates

Non-traditional students are finding it easier and easier to maintain a job, a family, and pursuing a college career at the same time. This is possible because more and more non-traditional students are receiving an education using distance learning, as opposed to traditional, in-the-classroom teaching. Distance learning is basically taking college level, credit-bearing courses via the Internet. One of the most obvious advantages of distance learning is that it puts the classroom in your home, office, or wherever you can find a computer and log on to the Internet. However, there is much controversy regarding the quality of the courses being offered on the Internet versus the quality of

On the other hand, an online course permits students the option and availability to enroll in a vast array of course choices regardless of their location. In so doing, it allows a student a unique opportunity to further their education anywhere in the world. After all, if one is in the United States or on a military base in Japan students can still attain an education from their home country and in their mother tongue via the Internet. However, lessons that take place in a physical classroom are confined to that location. Thus, students situated within the nearby vicinity of the school building typically can access the instructor’s lessons. Consequently, this creates a clear disadvantage to any student residing outside of the classroom’s surrounding area.

Education is an important part of people’s lives; it will either make them or break them in the future depending on the careers they choose. Education is greatly diverse today in comparison to the 1950s because of advancements in teaching and other great inventions that provide easier techniques of teaching. One major issue that has been raised is distant learning courses and online education.

The online distant learning programs displayed are only filled with false promises. It also makes life more boring and lonely for students and teachers alike, depriving us of our vital learning communities that make up the joys in our very own intellectuality. Classroom learning programs are the oldest, most efficient ways of learning any criteria, it has been taught by instructors since the age of time within a classroom, making learning is less frustrating when taught by a good instructor, does not ask for a constant computer and internet access in order to do essential academic course

As described in an article by Robert Macias and David James Rose in Hispanic magazine, Educators in Arlington County Schools in northern Virginia reacted uniquely when faced with the dilemma of not being able to address all of the individual needs of each student. When the unavailability of a teacher, or lack of enough interest in a class made it unrealistic to create a class, they simply connected schools together. They use an innovative program called the Electronic Classroom to broadcast a class and its instructor from one location to other sites instantly. According to Pat Teske, distance-learning specialist for the Washington, D.C.-area district, “the Electronic Classroom connects three classrooms in county high schools via video and audio monitors” (1994).

Despite these benefits, there are also some serious detriments to use of online teaching. There is possible dehumanisation from continued use of online teaching meaning that the repetitive nature of connecting to the Internet to do work can lead to people being seen more as automatons than people. The lack of face-to-face contact that occurs with the increase in users of online teaching can be seen as leading to a deficiency of in-group experiences (Demirdjian 2002). Other drawbacks of online teaching relate directly to the technological aspects and lack of contact. Teachers cannot rely on classroom theatrics to get ideas across to students, sometimes the curriculum needed cannot be found or used online and computer crashes can prevent students from accessing