Introduction
The virtual world of Distance Education is constantly and currently evolving. Internet technology is on a continual rise, leaving room for advances in educational endeavors. Second Life, a current distance learning venture, is slowly becoming popular to the world of Distance Education. The virtual world of Second Life is easy to develop, has many benefits for educators and students, and fulfills a gap that currently exists in internet learning.
Neal, Lisa, and Diane Miller. “Distance Education.” eLearn Magazine. 2005: 454-470. PsycINFO. Helmke Lib.,
This magazine article focuses on how distance education can provide a richer and more engaging educational experience than is possible within the confines of the classroom. She argues that it requires creativity and innovation in the design and development of Internet-delivered materials.
Davies, Jo, and Martin Graff. “Performance in e-learning: Online participation and student grades.” British Journal of Educational Technology 36 (2005): 657-663. PsycINFO. Helmke Lib.,
This article explains the beneficial effects of learners interacting in online programs. It argues that the benefits of online discussion should translate into improved student performance.
Francescata, Donata, and Minou Mebane. “Developing professional skills and social capital through computer supported collaborative learning in university contexts.” International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 65 (2007): 140-152. PsycINFO. Helmke Lib.,
This is a study aimed to compare the efficacy of collaborative learning in face-to-face and online university courses in developing professional skills and social capital. One hundred and sixty-six psychology majors learnt professional skills in seminars taught by the same teacher online and face-to-face. The different groups of participants achieved similar growth in level of professional knowledge, social self-efficacy, self-efficacy for problem solving and empowerment. Online students were top performers on competence-based tasks. Follow-up evaluation after 9 months showed that social ties, formed initially more in the face-to-face groups, lasted more among online students.
First of all, I found this article to be very interesting. I have always had an interest for learning about Indians. The problem that Tompkins encountered was whether or not she could believe the perspective’s of others and pass them off as truth in her research. She researched the views of many authors such as Perry Miller, Alden Vaughn, Francis Jennings, James Axtell, Norman Heard, and Calvin Martin. After reviewing all of these views, she realized that she hadn’t come to a point where she felt she had the “correct” information on the Indians and their relations to the Puritans. What really happened? Which point of view do you agree with? How are they positioned above all others? Her struggle with believing the “perceptions” of others brought her to not take any into account with her research.
To resolve her issue, Tompkins pieced together the information the best she knew how, including her own views on what happened. She believed that the author’s perspectives were a product of their time and many have misunderstood what actually happened between the Indians and Puritans in the 17th Century.
It is hard to believe everything you read. Even if the article is a scholarly article, there still may be some bias. The decision of what sources to use are solely the writer’s. As I get further into my research topic, which I hope will be soon, I know there will be many that I do not agree with. Therefore, I am going to look at both sides of the issue, and decide which articles I agree and disagree with and why.
Carnevale, Dan. “Employers Often Distrust Online Degrees.” Chronicle of Higher Education 53 (2007): A28-A30. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib.,
The article looks at how employers often distrust online degrees. According to the article, the results of several surveys of those who evaluate potential employees and make hiring decisions indicate a bias against online degrees, even as more and more colleges are offering programs online.
Hirschheim, Rudy. “The Internet-Based Education Bandwagon: Look Before You Leap.” Communications of the ACM 48 (2005): 97-101. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Helmke Lib.,
This article presents information on a study related to online education, which is the latest technique in the long history of distance education. Loss of educational quality as a result of Internet delivery is the major concern identified in this survey. The Internet is leading to a fundamental change in the manner in which students are learning and retaining knowledge. The new delivery mode is pushing change, and universities must consider if they are happy with the direction being taken.
This is an editorial that focuses on the benefits of distance learning, an educational approach that integrates technology, connectivity, curricular content, and human resources. It is a discussion of how it is more effective than the more traditional passive learning.
Comedic:
Are you serious!? So you are telling me that everyone who takes a distance learning course is stressed out? I don’t think so. There are many students who find distance learning a relief compared to a traditional face-to-face classroom. Should we trust people who make broad claims like this one? I know I wouldn’t.
Involved, Angry:
Quotes like this one is yet another example of individuals who have not interviewed a variety of distance-learning students to get an exact account on how many actually get stressed-out. So they say, “Distance-Learning stresses students out more than a traditional class.” But for this claim to be true, they would have to interview ALL distance learning students. They make this claim too broad to be passed off as the truth.
Distant, balanced:
The role of Distance Education conflicts with some views of individuals who feel that Distance Education is attacking the role of a traditional face-to-face classroom setting. Quotes such as “Distance-Learning stresses students out more than a traditional class” demonstrates this point of view. Although Distance Education can be stressful at times, it is not stressful for all students who enroll in this type of learning.
I’m sure I will use the Distant, Balanced voice. I’m not an angry person, nor do I feel angry about the subject of Distance Education. I’m also not much of a comedic person, especially when writing a research paper. I don’t want my paper to be completely informal! I do have a question though; can we have a paper with all three voices?
"Many universities are viewing distance learning as a cash cow, a way to earn money to supplement classroom instruction." (Hasty Generalization, name calling "cash cow").
"Everyone who does a distance-learning MBA has moments when they get fed up or the pressure gets too much." (Polarization. Not ALL distance learning MBA students will get fed up or have too much pressure. The writer exaggerates this comment by representing it as an extreme that “all” will have this problem. )
"Distance learning makes students grow fonder of college." (Hasty Generalization. Distance learning may make “some” students grow fonder, but not all. There are many other factors that make students grow fond of college, not just distance learning.)
"All learners are becoming distance learners." (Hasty Generalization. This is a very “broad” claim. Though most are using the internet as a means of learning, there are still many who learn by not using the internet.)
"Well, the opportunities are rife within distance education to do the same thing, to lessen the standards and give people degrees, which are meaningless, and make a lot of money doing it." (Slippery Slope. Although this could happen, or possibly is happeningplaces at this very moment, this quote assumes that if the first step is taken, other steps will follow. Ex. Distance Education=lessened standards, more money for institutions.)I enjoyed reading “Learning to Trust the Twelfth Picture on the Roll” by Bruce Ballenger. The article made me realize that it is important to go through numerous steps of research to get a grasp on what you want to write about, and the importance of narrowing your topic. I enjoyed reading about his photographs and the persistence of narrowing the subject of the photos. He started off with a broad picture, and narrowed his way down. He also chose a subject that intrigued him, which I believe is very important. It seemed that the article reinforced what we have been learning all along about narrowing our topics and the importance of choosing a topic that suites our interests. It is not an easy thing to do, or so for me it isn’t. Too bad my topic couldn’t be photographed; it may have helped me a little!
