The Future of Distance Education

Despite having existed in one form or another for well over a century – from its early days as mail and telephone correspondence courses, to video and computer-based education, to its more recent flourishing thanks to Internet technologies and tools – distance education is in its formative years and is on track to revolutionize education in the modern world.  In the past few decades, in particular, educators and institutions have begun to systematically embrace distance education as a serious and viable contender for the hearts and minds of learners of all ages and backgrounds. Today, educators, instructional designers, and institutions are coming together to design and develop engaging, enriching, and highly-stimulating online courses that are taking distance education to a whole new level. While not all distance education offered today is up to the standards demanded of excellent education, there are many institutions that are offering amazing online education to students of all ages, from K-12 to higher education. Distance education is already revolutionizing how we define and consume education. And while there is no shortage of skeptics today, one day distance education will change the face of education as we know it.

Public perception of distance education has changed greatly in the recent past. The widespread acceptance of Internet technology tools – such as video conferencing and other social networking tools – that allow people to converse and form relationships despite geographical separation has changed our ideas about what it means to communicate and interact with others without being face-to-face in the same room (Laureate Education, n.d.).  I think public perception about the quality and viability of distance learning will continue to steadily climb. As the quality of online education continues to rise, through the application of sound research and best practices, public perception of the value and relevance of online education will rise, too. I recently conducted an informal interview, asking about the value of online education, and even the notable skeptic in my interview pool admitted that public perception about online education will continue to rise over time. The numbers of students engaging in online learning – from K-12 to higher education – continues to climb. Also, the quality of online education continues to rise. As the quality improves, more students will flock to online learning because of the many advantages that it offers. I can envision a future in which the majority of learners engage in some form of online learning, challenging the role of traditional brick-and-mortar institutions as the primary vehicles for education.

Instructional designers, along with teachers and educational institutions, play a significant role in promoting and championing the future of distance learning. The future of distance learning hinges primarily on the quality of the educational experiences offered. As the bar continues to be raised, and quality continues to improve – along with the development of new and better tools for cognitive engagement and social interaction across geographical distances – distance learning will increasingly become a viable and valued mode for education worldwide. The advantages that distance learning offers students from all levels are significant. Logistics, mobility, access to education, affordability, and flexibility are just some of the tangible advantages offered by distance learning that should not be underestimated. Today, some of the best online educational experiences available are also some of the most affordable. As the quality and acceptance of online education continue to rise, at what point will some students turn away from very expensive brick-and-mortar institutions in favor of more flexible and more affordable online institutions? I think there will be a tipping point, and that point will redefine the nature of education worldwide.

I am admittedly a cheerleader for online learning. I have been an instructional designer of online learning for adults for over 20 years. I have seen how the field has continued to evolve as the bar continues to rise. I, myself, am pursuing a second master’s degree through an online institution, and I find myself taking part in an incredibly well-designed, well-developed, and rigorous academic program. Even my own hopeful and optimistic expectations have been surpassed. As a certified master reviewer and trainer for Quality Matters – a national organization that promotes quality in online education – I am working actively to help institutions of all levels, from K-12 to higher education, improve and refine their online courses. We instructional designers have the privilege of being on the forefront of the evolution of distance learning. As instructional designers, we should never be content with the status quo. We should always strive for improvement. Our efforts to promote quality online education, along with the efforts of dedicated teachers, faculty and innovative institutions, will help pave the way for an education revolution that is based on quality and innovation, rather than geography and tradition.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d.). The Future of Distance Education [DVD]. Baltimore, MD.  Dr. George Siemens