Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

For this week’s assignment I am choosing to focus on Example 3 (Asynchronous Training). In this example a biodiesel manufacturing plant is looking to improve their poor safety record. To improve their safety record the organization decides to implement a series of safety training modules.

In order to ensure the success of this training program I believe that, first, thorough research should be conducted to clearly identify what areas of learning need improvement. Secondly, the design and development process should take place with the consideration of the information gathered during the assessment stage. A couple of learning tools that I feel would assist in the development and implementation of this learning program are MS PowerPoint (to develop the courses), YouTube (to develop any online lectures or videos) and Blogger.com (to share the content with learners). I think that there can be other sharing tools that can work better to deliver the training programs than Blogger.com, such as SharePoint or a Wiki.

I think using these learning tools to develop the safety improvement program will help in the implementation process of the training modules. With these tools, and any additional technology/development tool, this organization can create modules. These modules will not only be address and improve their poor safety record but they will also be easily accessed by the learning audience.

Distance Learning Mindmap

EDolution

My personal definition of distance learning consists of a number of elements. First, there is the “distance” element which signifies that there may be an amount of space between the learning institution and the student and/or instructors. With the assistance of distance learning students can “attend” school/training etc. without the requirement of physically attending classes. Second, there is the learning element that signifies that there is an educational aspect to the term.  There are many activities/tasks that can be completed through long distances; learning is one of these activities. Distance learning is very convenient and can be the perfect option for the right individual.

After accessing this week’s resources I was impressed by the history behind distance learning. I was under the mistaken impression that distance learning, as a whole, was a new concept but I was surprised to find that I was wrong. As I was made aware of this fact I began to examine my early education for elements of distance learning and I found that I had more experience with it than I thought I did. Everyone (within reason) has had homework assigned to them; this is the most commonly experienced form of distance learning. Although homework is not what we commonly think of when we think of “distance learning” it is a, albeit minimal, example of distance learning.

In the future I think more and more people will become exposed to distance learning to a large scale, not just via their homework assignments. I think distance learning is not only extremely convenient but it also empowers the learner to take there learning into their own hands. Because of these two reasons (and many more) I feel that distance learning will only become more popular in the future.