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Distance Yourself From Distance LearningAug 16 '00 Write an essay on this topic.I am an English/Education/Theatre major in my senior year and speaking as both a student and a future teacher I am highly against distance learning. Part of the classroom experience as a whole is not just the textbook or the lecture, but the interaction between student and teacher and between students with each other. I am constantly reading and experiencing the trend towards discussion, dialogue and interaction in the classroom. This is not a current trend in the education field for no reason. There is a push towards this because it works and it is the best way to get the most out of your education. We as humans can often learn the most from each other and distance learning threatens this. With the increased technology of computers people no longer write letters (they email - me included), they no longer make telephone calls (they Instant Message), they no longer to go a library and research (they do it all on the internet). I am not against any of these things, but I feel distance learning may start to cross this line of making our world one void of human interaction. Taking courses over the computer just seems to lack an important element to me and that is being them in person to interact. I realize there are some courses that may be well suited for distance learning. My aunt recently took a medical transcription course and is now doing that part time and she did it as a distance learning program. However, as far as languages, literature, sciences, etc I think that it just isn't the same. The other issue I have with distance learning revolves around the honor system. I've never taken a distance learning course but I'm just not sure about how much they are based on honest about the work done, time spent, etc. I realize that this is an issue in actual classrooms as well, but I guestion the validity of the course and the people taking them. I'm not saying don't take a distance learning course. I am not an expert and I have in fact never taken one. However with my background and experience there is nothing more fulfilling than being in a classroom and being surrounded by the voices and thoughts of others. This may not be feasible for some people and distance learning may be their only option, but I don't feel that all the kinks have been worked out of this option. There are still too many questions in my head.  |
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