Week 7: Distance Learning & Me

I find the idea of Distance learning a highly interesting topic to discuss. As we are just over half way through this term and this module I feel it is a good time to reflect the idea of online learning as it is also the topic of discussion this week. So far I find blogging and online seminars/tasks to be quiet enjoyable. I guess it’s because it’s different from what we normally do in other modules. So far I find this new method of blogging and online seminars/tasks to be quiet enjoyable. I guess it’s because it’s different from what we normally do in other modules (you’re not stuck in the routine of going to lectures and seminars and writing notes and that’s it).

Of course there are obviously some advantages and disadvantages from Distance Learning.It’s very different front having face to face conversations with other members in your groups. I personally feel it is something that you have to adjust to. I enjoy the idea of blogging at my own pace ad deciding what I want to discuss in blogs etc but I’m unsure if I would like all modules to be like this. Okay, it is nice to have a bit of difference but I don’t think I’d be able to cope with all modules being online. Also as you structure the time and workload yourself it can be easy sometimes to drift away from having to post the blogs as you have to organise yourself to do it rather than it being placed on your timetable like other modules. I think distance learning/ E-learning is possible more acceptable on some course than others, for example this is a New Media culture module on a Media studies course, so you kind of expect to deal with the internet etc. Where as with subjects such as Maths, History and Biology I think it would be far more difficult to learn them online as sometimes more detailed explanations or interaction with students/teachers is needed. People talk about lack of face to face interaction or communication as it is and I feel that this just fuels these ideas.

However it does make me wonder what is to come with the whole concept of learning, if we’re already introducing aspects of E-learning into degrees, and schools I honestly don’t think it will be long until the old fashioned methods of teaching will disappear we will become more like china with E-Learning taking over education. Any thoughts?