Distance Education Issue and Its Significance
Evidence suggests that learners’ motivation, beliefs, and attitudes play a critical role in their academic success along with social background and school behaviors. Studies indicate that there is significant rate of drop out in distance education than in on campus studies (Willging & Johnson, 2004). Some facts about distance education are about 30-50% students drop out before finishing and about 27.3 % is due to lack of motivation and contact.
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Factors involved for the drop out in distance education includes socio economic status, grade retention, parental involvement, student engagement, lack motivation, academic performance (Smith, 2014). Out of these as an educational guide
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First, improve communication with students is the priority to improve motivation, anxiety that is fear of unknown and uncertainty leads to lack of motivation and leads to drop out. Beginning period is the most crucial period due to lack of technique skills as well fear of unknown(Visser, Plomp, Amirault, & Kuiper, 2000)
As an educator, how could we improve those situations?
In order to ease students text based communication and respond to students frequently are recommended, if not at least in as short message for example “received” would be helpful to decrease and ease anxiety. The instructor could spend additional times with students during the beginning period. Reinforcement, additional support from instructors assist students to feel confident. According to motivational theorists allowing students choice and control their learning activities enhance their learning intrinsic motivation(Willging & Johnson, 2004).
So, developing a communication instrument is important at the same time it may not be necessary to be highly sophisticated technology. Development of motivational message and its ongoing evaluation is necessary to develop valid, practical, and effective motivational strategies. For examples, motivational text messages and motivational emails are a form of motivational support (Morrison, 2012).
Collaborative Approach
Another important factor is that the distance student’s retention
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
Engaging students in the classroom can be a difficult task. Understanding the process of how students learn can help a teacher adapt the lesson to meet the needs of all students. I will encounter students that are not intrinsically motivated so I will need to find different ways to motivate each and every student. Understanding how my students learn can provide me with insights as to how to help each student learn which will minimize classroom management problems.
“ Students do become behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively involved in the learning activities their teachers provide (e.g., write an essay, solve a math problem), and their extent of effort, enjoyment, and strategic thinking does predict important outcomes, such as achievement. But students also do more than this. Students also, more or less, proactively contribute into the flow of instruction they receive as they attempt not only to learn but also to create a more motivationally supportive learning environment for themselves ( Bandura,
Students are often told that the path to success tends to be a lonely one because only they can get themselves there. For the most part that is true, they must be self-motivated and passionate about their future, but along the way they get to meet special people that want to see them to accomplish their goals. From an early age the relationship built between students and teachers has molded and impacted the student’s life. The relationship they have with a teacher can define the attitude that student has with the subject being taught. A lot of emphasis is put on students when they fail a course and they question their effort. Although, the root of the problem is not always the student, but the method the instructor is using to teach the student.
Setting up a Distance Learning Task Force is necessary to assess university resources, and student needs (Hillman & Corkery, 2010). This will allow administration to have all the facts needed to decide on a path. Task Force determines the expansiveness of the online program and the courses implemented (Hillman & Corkery, 2010). Departmental head’s research will navigate the universities decisions. Students take classes towards specific degrees, which the Task Force identifies. Priority of classes should focus on gaps in regionally based education (Hillman & Corkery, 2010). The Task Force efforts in developing a rationale has an effect on university
The key to advancing the learning of individuals, small groups and whole classes is motivation. Our
Furthering our education is proving to be more and more on demand, ever since the crash of the economy and a rising number of job losses in the United States. We find that going back to school to higher educate ourselves will result in a better resume and experience to finding a career that works for us and our families. Some online learners will probably feel that online learning just isn’t right for them, due to not enough communication with our instructors, or online courses becoming more challenging than being in an actual classroom. Maybe some students think there is no time in their busy schedules for school, making them feel like it is nearly impossible to pursue any kind of
To help my students in becoming successful in attaining these goals, I have incorporated and adopted a variety of theories to form my own pedagogical method in teaching. These methods; such as, authentic instruction and learning, comprehensible input (i +1), and lowering the affective filter, can and will help
With this students gain a strong sense of purpose and motivation to improve on their learning skills
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
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
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.
Online distant learning programs help make the easy connection of students in a program connect to the more accessible home environment in a simple way. Students are now given the option of getting their education and making their own schedules, without going through a second person in an easy more efficient way. Consequently, to succeed in online courses and programs the student must have good time management, a computer or laptop, and internet connection. Also online distant learning programs are subjectively done through monologue, not our dialogue; having been previously filmed and then posted on the internet stating course information, not caring about the viewers, or if the