Welcome to an Introduction of

Distance Learning

Hi, let's start with a little biographic information about myself.   My name is Tom Des Lauriers, and I am a graduate of East Carolina University from the Educational Technology program. I am a retired Marine Officer, after 21 years I decided it was time to move on to bigger and better things. I have taught in the computer techonolgy department at Coastal Carolina Community College and Craven Community College in eastern North Carolina. This web page is a final project for a class called Introduction to Distance Learning. This class was conducted completely over the Internet except for the first class meeting which was held on Campus, to allow the people in the class to meet each other face to face.

Distance education [or distance learning] takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e., audio, video, data, and print is used to bridge the instructional gap (Willis, 1994). Examples of distance learning include correspondence study, cable/educational TV telecourses, audiographics, compressed video, satellite videoconferencing, audioconferencing, fax, and computer.

My opinion is that the role of the instructor changes with distance learning, but not as greatly as some may believe. However, for some instructors a great number of changes will be needed. Instructors are still on stage (in front of the class) whether the students are in the classroom or at their home or at a distance site. The instructor still has to present a lesson that will motivate the students to want to learn the material that is being presented, and to see a need for the information they are being given. The thought process for planning a lesson or class will change because teachers will need to find new ways to see if the material that are being presented to the students is being received by the students as intended. Teachers may not be able to see and judge the reaction on the faces of their students. The two biggest changes that I see for all instructors, is in the area of training. Instructors must be better and fully trained in the use of all different kinds of technology, and learn to work with, and as a team member instead of an individual. Also the instructors who are in the system now who refuse to grasp and use the technologies as they become available are going to find the going very hard. Teachers who may be better equipped need to assist all instructors and teachers grasp this new technology

I truly believe that distance learning is a great boom for all students and instructors. For many teachers and instructors I am sure that they are feeling very threaten by all the new technology that is coming into the world of education. Although, if they will just take the time to learn the new technologies, I believe they will embrace it. It's much like the time when many teachers and instructor started using TP's in the classroom many teachers and instructors refused to use them. However, you almost cannot go into a classroom now that does not use them. It will take time and money, to train the teachers and instructors, and to invest in the new technology.

The teachers and instructors need to be part of a team working together. The team approach to a lesson or class will be a new way of doing things for many. However, it will help assure that the student is receiving the best of all new technologies. The media specialist will know the latest and best media to use to help get the lesson across to the students. The camera specialist will know ways and angles to film a class. You get the idea of the need to be in a team planning, and developing a class.

How do you define quality

I would define quality much the same way that the AT&T CEDL Papers do: however, I would add parts that stress a greater importance on the outcome for the learner. Sometimes in education we lose sight of the most important outcome, which is, does the learner learn or not. We can have the greatest class or set of instructions in the world, but if the leaner does not learn then its all for waste.

I truly believe that TQM can be a great benefit for distance education, and for that matter all of education to use. The student needs, along with the needs of the future employer(s) have to be placed at the top of the list when we design and/or teach a class. Whether the class is in the traditional classroom or at a distance. Each school has to become committed to quality teaching which make teaching and the student learning, a top priority. I believe that TQM is a very good way to evaluate a program's quality. The ideal of the learner (adult and /or children) being labeled as the product isn't a bad idea because it will help focus all of us on one thing; the product. (Learner/Adult/Child) We need to know, are we producing a good product and meeting the future Learners, Adults, Children, Employers needs.