The current and future perceptions of
distance learning in our society vary widely.
In the world of higher education, distance education is relatively
new. Many people are unfamiliar with
online programs and are somewhat skeptical of the value online degrees possess. Dr. George Siemens (2012) states that
increasing acceptance of distance education is fueled by:
- The increase in online communication
- Practical experience with new tools
- Growing comfort with online discourse
- Ability to communicate with diverse and global groups
I think the perceptions of distance
learning will become more favorable in the near future. Dr. George Siemens (2012) states that distance
education will be impacted by:
- New communication technologies
- Contribution by experts around the world
- Increased use of multimedia, games, and simulations
The
perceptions will also change as universities change the way they market online
degree programs. This will go a long way
in changing how these programs are viewed.
Academic fidelity is a measure of the nature and extent of integrity or
equivalency between on campus programs and online degree programs (Gambescia
& Paolucci, 2009). A study showed
evidence indicating that a relatively small number of institutions promote
their online degree programs using academic the fidelity attributes of faculty,
curriculum, or quality (Gambescia & Paolucci, 2009). They instead prefer to use convenience and
flexibility to promote their online degree programs to prospective students
(Gambescia & Paolucci, 2009). If the
universities start stressing quality over convenience it will start to change
the various perceptions.
As an instructional
designer I can be a proponent for improving societal perceptions of distance
learning. A study was conducted to identify
issues and concerns that students have with distance education. The main issues identified were interaction
with an instructor and with classmates (Schmidt & Gallegos,
2001). The sharing of ideas helps in the
understanding of the course material (Schmidt & Gallegos,
2001). When I am developing a distance delivery
course, I will provide a way for students to interact with the instructor and classmates.
Various studies state that potential
employers have given the following reasons for their reluctance in accepting
online degrees:
- lack of rigor
- lack of face-to-face interactions
- increased potential for academic dishonesty
- association with diploma mills
- concerns about online students’ true commitment (Schmidt & Gallegos, 2001)
Potential
employers have given the following reasons for their acceptance of online
degrees:
- name recognition/reputation of the degree-granting institution
- appropriate level and type of accreditation
- perception that online graduates were required to be more self-directed and disciplined
- candidates’ relevant work experiences
- whether the online graduates were being considered for promotion within an organization or if they were vying for new positions elsewhere or in a new field (Schmidt & Gallegos, 2001).
I think knowing what
the pros and cons are will help me prepare for a possible interview where I may
need to be able to explain why my degree is valuable. Another way of improving societal perceptions
of distance learning is by changing employers' lingering misperceptions of
online education.
eLearners.com published
an article that will be extremely useful whenever you are discussing your
resume with a prospective employer. It
list ten talking points that can use to defend your decision for earning a degree
online.
1. The school's accreditation
2. Your effective time management practices
3. Your experience with new software and software applications
4. Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills
5. Your proven leadership skills
6. Your initiative and motivation
7. Your excellent reading comprehension skills
8. Your strong work ethic
9. Your skills are directly applicable to the work environment
10. You succeed in diverse environments and work well with others (How to defend, 2012)
References
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012). The Future of Distance Education. [With Dr.
George Siemens]. Baltimore, MD.
Gambescia,
S., & 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
Schmidt,
E., & Gallegos, A. (2001). Distance learning: Issues and concerns of
distance learners. Journal of Industrial Technology, 17(3). Retrieved
from http://atmae.org/jit/Articles/schmidt041801.pdf
Columbaro,
N. & Monaghan, C. (2009). Employer perceptions of online degrees: A literature
review. Online Journal of Distance
Learning Administration, 12(1). Retrieved December 23, 2012 from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring121/columbaro121.html
How
to defend your online degree. (2012). Retrieved December 23, 2012 from http://www.elearners.com/online-education-resources/careers/how-to-defend-your-online-degree/
