Huett, Moller, Foshay, and Coleman (2008) believe distance education needs to evolve to be relevant in the training and education fields. Distance education is in danger of not transitioning to the truly powerful tool it shows the potential to be. Simonson (2008a) states the usage of distance education will grow but it will not change radically from its current form. This comment leads me to believe Simonson is not a concerned about the quality of the design of the course rather more about the equivalency. If the course is equivalent the design will take care of itself. Huett et al. (2008) state the importance of instructional design for distance education. Currently distance education suffers from too many “experts”, the common thought is that anyone who knows about computers and education can easily design a distance education class. Well they can easily design a course the question is whether it will be successful. Will it meet the desired outcomes?
Both Huett et al. (2008) and Simonson (2008b) discuss the concept of equivalency between face to face education and distance education. Both believe for distance education to be equivalent it must be different from face to face instruction. Simply videotaping face to face instruction and posting it in a distance education classroom is not equal instruction (Simonson, 2008b). The distance education classroom must use the same outcomes as the traditional classroom but to support the distance education students the materials need to be presented in a manner that is enhanced by the available technology, not a simple regurgitation of what has already been done (Simonson, 2008b).
Until Simonson’s Theory of Equivalency (2008b) I had not thought about the effectiveness of materials posted in an online class. As many other people I operated under the misconception that if it works in a face to face classroom then it will work online. This makes me think about the materials I place the online classroom for the hybridized class I teach.
Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W.R., & Coleman, C. (2008). Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (part 3). Tech Trends, 52(5), 63-67.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008a). Distance education: The next generation [Video program]. Available from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5260640&Survey=1&47=7338982&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008b). Equivalency Theory [Video program]. Available from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5260640&Survey=1&47=7338982&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
