analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning

analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning

Introduction

This report aims to investigate the disadvantages and advantages of a new technological form used in higher education learning. Technology in higher education has always been of help. The implementation of online education has ensured continuous progress in the process of achieving proper educational outcomes. The application of distance learning has been completed for some higher educational institutions, but not all. Distance learning is a form of education technology where learning takes place when the instructor and the learner are at different venues. According to Aljaraideh (2019), there are five suggested forms of distance learning. The five include; print technology, multimedia model, audio and video technology, Tele-learning model, flexible learning model, and online internet delivery model. However, of the five models, online delivery distance learning is the most efficient. Students register and take courses from higher educational institutions without necessarily having to be within the premises of the institution. Most universities and more senior learning education colleges offer online courses and deliver online curriculums. As the internet becomes more and more prevalent and accessible to many people, so does distance learning. In this report, an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning has been analyzed to recommend it to TRUSU. The recommendation made on this report can be used by the policymakers of TRUSU to endorse technologically enabled distance learning in their curriculum.

Background

Most higher learning educational institutions within this region are still within the early stages of fully enrolling distance learning. When it comes to the full implementation, some boards of universities and policymakers are jittery about the authenticity of degrees and certificates earned through distance learning. The board members, especially at TRUSU, believe that apart from academic experience, there are a lot of advantages that accompany physical instruction with lecturers and institutions. However, tutors, lecturers, and various administrators have the belief that distance learning provides opportunities to offer high-quality education.

Several pieces of research have written in support of distance learning, urging its full implementation in all higher learning educational institutions. Instructional custodians have been encouraged to improve their technical skills to enable them to use technology for distance learning with ease. Policymakers and curriculum designers in most institutions, including TRUSU, need an ideal factual situation on the ground on how the program is beneficial to students, instructors, and the entire college before it is fully implemented. With this report, the college and other higher educational institutions of learning can derive significant contributions to distance learning. The story can also contribute to further research on this technologically growing area. The report could also function as an eye-opener to areas that recent studies on distance learning have failed to analyze correctly.

Findings

Technology, since its launching has been evolving. The methods of delivery in most higher learning institutions have equally evolved, just like technology. Distance learning is one of the means of internet-based learning that can potentially be adapted by the curriculum of many colleges and universities.

The effectiveness of distance learning to higher education learning institutions includes, firstly, the integration of technology offers advantages in terms of access, flexibility, equality, and potential participation to the students (Selviandro, & Septiana, 2016). Distance learning provides ongoing opportunities for students. The significant advantage of distance learning is that it provides an opportunity for learners to learn at their convenience. A learner who has limitations because of distance and the remote places they come from have the potential to receive all the training at their comforts. In most institutions where distance-technology based learning has been implemented partially, the learners get to choose the time of the day that they would like to participate in the course. Work schedules, family disadvantages, religious misconceptions are no longer a barrier anymore to anyone, including married adults who would like to get college and university education. Students of distance learning access their courses, which are recognized by the curriculum, at times most convenient for them. It doesn’t have to be weekday, weekend or evening. Time, day, and venue are no longer a barrier for anyone willing to get higher-level education. In totality, distance learning is a savior to students who were restrained by geography, time, family, and money. They can now access higher education as they will.

There are higher learning education institutions that are very expensive. A student might be willing to access education in these institutions, but they are limited by tuition fees, boarding fees, and dormitory expenses. Some of these expenses are quite un-necessary and not connected in any way to the degree costs that will be earned by the student. All these expenses are shut away with the inclusion of distance learning in higher educational institutions. The student is only regarded to pay for the course that they are being offered. When a student is sponsored for the internship they only have to meet requirements of their instructors, they no longer have to worry about long drives, travels and expensive dormitories that act as barriers to higher learning education.

To instructors, distance learning offers them a lot of flexibility. The lecturers are at liberty to choose how they will deliver the course concerning the curriculum. They choose the time and place in which they will provide to their students. Both students and instructors work in a casual and relaxed environment in which they can interact in a freeway than they do in a regular classroom. The casual and comfortable environment enables the student to ask more questions that they can do in face to face enabled classrooms (Taylor, Anonby, & Murasugi, 2019). It should be analyzed that collaboration between instructors and students is activated and strengthened through distance technological learning. The availability of bulletin boards, chat rooms, e-mails, and whiteboard technically force the students to communicate with their instructors.

As it is advantageous, so does, it has limits. The adoption of distance learning means a whole change in the culture of educational institutions. Transforming the model of an institution from regular teaching to distance learning is quite difficult (Hameed, Al Taiar, O’leary, & Kaynge, 2018). Although it requires tremendous institutional efforts, it is so accommodating to integrate distance learning for the latest generation of students who adore conveniences and technology. The adoption of distance learning requires one instructor to deal with one student (Hofmann, 2002). In most educational institutions, it is impossible to achieve a ratio of one to one if most students decide they want distance learning education.

It is also important to acknowledge that the human factor in education cannot be replaced (Merisotis, & Phipps,1999). Instructors and students have to be trained in computer skills to achieve distance learning. Training the lecturers is exceptionally costly.

Conclusion

Distance learning is an instructional method that is being driven by the famous “information revolution.” The advancement in technology is something the general public, most educational faculties, and most unpredicted challenges have demanded. It is something to be sure that it will stay for a long time. Technology will continue to have a profound effect on most colleges and universities globally. It is for consideration like the one mentioned above that propel higher institutions of learning to adapt distance learning. The revolution might be difficult, but it is something that has to be done.

Recommendation

Following the findings in the report; it is advisable for the board at TRUSU to adopt the following;

Firstly, it is recommendable for the board to launch the first phase of adapting distance learning in the institution. As an institution of higher learning, TRUSU is morally obligated to ensure that as many people as they can reach get higher education degrees and certificates. There is not any better way than an adaptation of distance learning.

Secondly, the institution should adopt distance learning, but, after training the relevant instructors on various technological skills. The institution should only offer distance learning not to all students as that will require huge budgets. Only those students that give genuine reasons should be provided a precious chance.