Course Reflection

Throughout this course, we have worked on our Online Orientation program. For some reason, I have had problems grasping the full idea and understanding of this assignment. It wasn’t until the final week of this that I started to really understand how to use the CMS that I was using. During my resubmissions, I began understanding more of what I was doing and was able to become more successful. Although I struggled, and did not get the grade I would have expected, I do think I learned a lot about distance learning and have been able to bring many of these resources into my current classroom.

In the last several years, distance learning has evolved so rapidly that I find myself learning new things everyday. I would expect it to continue just as rapidly over the next five to ten years. As a high school teacher, I foresee many of the current classroom courses being converted to online distance learning courses. Although the traditional classroom is still the norm for high school students, more and more students have begun taking their courses online. In the next 10-20 years, as much as I hate to say it, I don’t see much of a need for the classroom anymore. Most resources are available online, not in the classroom, and as we are becoming dependent on technology, the classroom will be the last place learning takes place.

As an instructional designer, I am a strong proponent of distance education. I believe that is as effective, if not more effective, than traditional classrooms. Any chance I get to talk to people about the success I have with online education, I take it. I want my peers, students, and others to understand that distance learning has been extremely beneficial to me and that there are many advantages to it. I am fascinated by the advancements in technology and online education, and I want others to grasp the full potential too.

In closing, I would like to be a positive force for continuous improvement of distance education. I believe that if I keep doing what I am doing, which is learning about the latest distance education technology tools and familiarizing myself with what is effective and what may need some attention. As an instructional designer, it is my responsibility to stay up-to-date on different learning resources and help to bring them into the classrooms of my peers. I want to assist my school in becoming one of the most innovative and technology savvy schools around, and I have already begun relaying what I have learned in this program to my school officials. This is something I strongly believe in and will do what I can to assist in further development.