Beginning in 2010, Apple Incorporated introduced the iPad to the consumer market. (www.apple.com, 2010) In each consecutive year since the initial launch, Apple has released an updated version of the original with significant technological enhancements. Touted as “magical and revolutionary” (Ritchie, 2014) the iPad changed the face of how entertainment and information have been presented to the masses. The popularity and ease of use of the iPad has also had an impact on education. Hu (2011) noted that the New York City Public school system ordered 2,000 iPads for teacher and student use, over 200 Chicago public schools applied for district financed grants and schools in Virginia used iPads to replace Advanced Placement biology textbooks in 11 schools. (www.nytimes.com) As the technology continues to change and advance for the better, the face of education will change with it.
In 2011, Microsoft purchased Skype, the online communication software which offers the ability to send voice and video communications over the internet. (Ho, 2011) Also designed to handle instant messaging, Skype has allowed users from around the globe the ability to speak, see and communicate with one another. These forms of communication have reduced our reach around the globe while opening new opportunities for sharing and collaboration of ideas. Similar to the development of iPads, Skype has changed the face of how information, specifically education for this reflection, has been presented to the masses. As the technology continues to change and advance, the face of education will change with it.
Education as we know it is transforming. Libraries are moving online. Mobile technologies have given individuals the opportunity to access information from anywhere. Anyone with an internet enabled device has the opportunity to explore, learn and connect with others from around the globe. According to Simonson, Smaldino and Zvacek (2015) the term “distance education” is defined as a formal education where learning participants use technology to connect with one another, facilitators/instructors and the resources needed for learning. (p.6) As our technology changes, I believe the “distances” will be reduced in the process. As a current online student, the face of education is moving resources and our environment to an online platform. According to CourseHero.com, between 1998 and 2008, the number of students selecting distance education programs as a part of their normal curriculum increased by 150% and this is prior to the introduction of an iPad and Skype as we know it today. (www.coursehero.com, 2012) 2014 survey results from the Instructional Technology Council’s Distance Education Survey (2015) note distance education enrollments have averaged 6.7% since the 2009-2010 reporting period for community colleges. (p.3) Based on these statistics (and many other published reports) the ability to learn and develop in an online platform has solidified itself as a “viable option” compared with traditional brick and mortar institutions.
As more resources are placed into the continued development of online & distance programs, I believe the perception will continue to shift. As more resources are allotted by institutions known for their “traditionally” rigorous coursework like Harvard, Duke and Stanford, the perception will also continue to shift. In their research, Fogle and Elliott (2013) note “as more people attend online schools over time and the number of graduates of online sitting on the hiring side of the desk increases, we can anticipate more favorable treatment of online university graduates.” (p.24) Interestingly, groups like the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) review online programs to insure they meet the same regional accreditation and academic standards as their traditional counterparts. (www.back2college.com, n.d.) Yet many of the smaller institutions and all-online colleges must maintain the same level of standards in order to stay in business.
As I complete the remaining portions of my online graduate program in Instructional Design, I believe my involvement will lend to the shift in the trends. My own experiences will serve to provide support for individuals who lack the knowledge and understanding of online programs. In the process, I will be able to shape the changes needed to continue the advancement of online education while dispelling any incorrect information in the process. In my mind, online education is now a fixture of our current internet lives. Just like social media and many other online tools, distance education can and will continue to serve the needs for those who need this educational form to continue their development and strengthen their place within our current professional market.
MFABRAMS - ID ArchiTECH
References
Apple Launches iPad. (January 27, 2010) Retrieved from http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/27Apple-Launches-iPad.html
Fogle, C., Elliott, D. (September 2013) The Market Value of Online Degrees as a Credible Credential. Retrieved from http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/waoe/foglec.pdf
How Do Employers View Online Degrees? (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.back2college.com/onlinedegrees.htm
Infographic: The Growth of Distance Learning (March 23, 2012) Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/blog/2012/03/23/infographic-the-growth-of-distance-learning/
Ho, E. (May 9, 2011) Microsoft Reportedly Confirms $8.5 Billion Deal for Skype. Time Magazine. Retrieved from http://techland.time.com/2011/05/09/microsoft-reportedly-nearing-7-billion-deal-for-skype/
Hu, W. (January 4, 2011) Math That Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad. The New York Times - Education Section. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html?_r=0
Lokken, F., Mullins, C. (April 2015) 2014 Distance Education Survey Results: Trends in eLearning: Tracking the impact of eLearning at Community Colleges. Retrieved from http://www.itcnetwork.org/attachments/article/1171/AnnualSurvey2014PublishedApril2015FinalWeb.pdf
Ritchie, R. (October 6, 2014) History of iPad (original): Apple makes the tablet magical and revolutionary. Retrieved from http://www.imore.com/history-ipad-2010
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S. & Zvacek, S. (2015) Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (6th ed.) Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing
Building instructional content, one byte @ a time.
