Week 9

The effectiveness of distance learning was this week's topic for our course readings. I have always felt like distance learning and traditional classroom learning can be equally effective. The Simonson (2003) article entitled In Case You're Asked: The Effectiveness of Distance Education confirmed this feeling I've had. If both are well-rooted in solid teaching techniques and a facilitated interaction among students and staff, they can be equally affective (an emphasis on the word "can").

However, I also think that sometimes some students' personalities make them better candidates for traditional classroom learning, and it is in this environment, that they will be most successful. For some, distance learning affords them more freedom in an environment that allows them to thrive. Others, could be successful in either environment. In other words, I think personality and learning style play a role in the effectiveness of any type of learning and should not be overlooked.

The two presentations I reviewed this week were on Facebook and YouTube. Honestly, my experience with Facebook is minimal. I appreciated the information on the privacy settings and how it can be used in an educational context. I can see how it could be very helpful to math students and students in all other subject areas when discussing solutions to a particular problem. I think this is where Facebook could really excel in education--as a discussion board.

As for the YouTube presentation, I enjoyed the presentation. I think YouTube is definitely one of the most valuable tools the Internet has to offer. It is true that students grow up accustomed to getting much of their information from television, so YouTube seems like a natural way to approach instruction. The examples of teacher-created YouTube videos were great and also the discussion of subscriptions and YouTube navigation. Another great week for learning about distance education tools!