RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

Education Department
M.Ed. in EDLE & CUIN
EDUC 5324: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO EDUCATION

Name: Bahar Baydere Date: October 19, 2017

Topic Selected:

What does the research say about advantages

and disadvantages of distance education?

1. LITERATURE REVIEW:
What does the literature/research say about this issue/topic? By using NAU
Library or Online Search engines, conduct a literature review.
You need to include 5 different sources (book, journal article, web article
etc.) in your review. Try to use current sources as much as possible.
You need to summarize and synthesize your sources by discussing a
common theme or issue.
You don't need to critique your sources
You don't need to evaluate your sources (if the sources are trustworthy,
weather the author has a bias or not)
You need to provide background information such as history and
definitions

Brief Literature Review:

Research portrays distant education as an advantage and disadvantage equally. Some

of the advantages of distant education are flexibility and convenience because a lot of
people have busy lives, and physically cannot make it to school all the time. Distant
education is much cheaper, people with disabilities can have access to education,
students can have a record of all the things that are said and taught without writing
everything down, students can pause and go back and listen as many times as they
want in order to comprehend. Classes can be accessed from anywhere, anytime,
students can improve their skills in technology, students can learn while they work, and
students can connect with other students from other parts of the world. "Let's notice that
the main advantages for the students are the accessibility to the course
for those living away from the training centre, in the far regions, or in other countries, for
those with restricted mobility (e.g., the handicapped, the injured, the elderly), for those
with irregular work schedules, or for those with family duties; other important advantages
are concerned with self-paced and just-in-time learning, and the absence of waste of
time in transport." (Bodain, Yan. (2000)
"We learn of large numbers of disadvantaged children, children in remote rural
communities and drop-outs from conventional schools-children that represent a potential
that is not being realized and which no country can afford to waste. However, we also
learn of projects that demonstrate how identified needs have been met both in school
settings and outside them." (Hilary Perraton. (2007) Children who become a part of the
new projects tend to do better. When these kids are given chances, as these studies
have proven, there is no stopping them, because they need these opportunities to
further their education, and with distant education they can find teachers who can meet
their needs, instead of a volunteer teacher who might night have the skills required to
teach the needs of those students. " The quality of distance learning has greatly
improved in the past few years, as both students and educators have become more
comfortable with the technology, and as stories of best practices have been shared and
duplicated." (The Advantages of Distance Learning. (2014) Technology have evolved
and is continuing to evolve every day. Teachers and students are going with the flow of
new ways of learning. Distant education is becoming the new normal.

According to research, disadvantages of distant learning are eliminating a social

environment, not being able to physically appear in a classroom setting and connect with
a teacher and other classmates because everyone is on a different schedule. There is
less motivation because of the lack of actively participating on lectures. The biggest
disadvantage of distant learning is that is requires the student to have more self-control,
and self-motivation. and these attributes are not developed by all students.

When we look at the history of distant learning we can go all the way back to the 1700's,
Professor Caleb Philips taught short hand by mail correspondence. In 1957 educational
TV had its debut called Sunrise Semester. It was called this because it aired very early
in the morning, and if you paid for the course fees, you were credited. Starting from the
1700's we can see that distant learning has evolved with people. Teaching through mail,
to home-schooling to teaching through mobile vans, radio and TV courses. Research
says that distant learning has been a demand since the 1700's and through this demand
it had evolved into something that everyone can take advantage of. As time goes by, it
becomes much better and it will continue to get even better where it might even take
over the traditional classroom setting.

2. REFLECTION:
What is your personal opinion on this issue? Do you agree with the
research? If you agree or disagree, please explain why?
Provide examples/experiences regarding this issue from school
perspective or If you are not working in a school, from your profession. Be
specific with your examples. You can mention software/hardware names,
specific methods that you plan to use, etc.
How would you implement this research in your career? (At least 1
paragraph)

Reflection:
In my personal opinion, I have to agree with the advantages of distant learning point of
view. I've had the opportunity to attend and graduate from a two-year and a four-year
college. Currently I'm trying out distant learning and I have to say it is much flexible and
convenient than physically attending school. I am a full time wife, full time mother, and
a full time volunteer. I always wanted to continue my education but life always got in the
way, whether it was waiting for my husband to complete his Master's, or my children to
grow up, or sickness or volunteering. Even though I am busier than ever attending field
trips, organizing cooking class, social events, attending board meetings, I have the time
to also continue my education. I will continue to educate myself online because I can fit
it into my schedule, instead of fitting my life into school schedule. As a parent I use the
internet to search for more information with my children for their projects, or complex
questions. Sometimes watching a video on the butterfly cycle at home at our own pace
helps us better to comprehend the subject, rather than having the kids listening to a
teacher who's trying to keep all of her 32 students focused and engaged and not being
able to teach or answer any complex questions. There is so much access to everything
and anything I want to know, no teacher can replace that, unless he/she were using the
internet. Also, the cost of distant education is much less when you factor in commuting,
classes, books, and time.
Lastly, I think that distant learning can be implemented in any field, even in your hobbies.
There is no time limit, no rushing to learn anything, you can take your time and actually
comprehend what you are learning. I would encourage my students to take advantage of
distant learning. They can attend any college anywhere in the world for a fraction of the
cost, living at home very comfortably.
The greatest advantage for me is that I can earn my Master's while having a very busy
life, and I start my research paper between meetings, then continue in my kitchen, and
finally finish it while putting my little one to bed.

3. REFERENCES:
Cite at least 5 References in APA.
You may use http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-journal for citing
your sources in APA style.

References:

Hassenburg, A. (2009-01-01). Distance Education Versus The Traditional

Classroom. Berkeley Scientific Journal, 13(1). Retrieved October 19, 2017, from
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3859m52h.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Implementing E-HRM for an Organisation, E-

Learning as an Example, American Journal of Economics, Vol. 5 No. 2, 2015, pp. 51-55.
doi: 10.5923/c.economics.201501.02.

Open and Distance Learning in the Developing World. (Second Edition) Hilary
Perraton. (2007). Routledge, London; pp.238. ISBN: 978-0-415-39398-0, reviewed by
Tessa Welch and Alice Barlow-Zambodla

The Advantages of Distance Learning. (2014). US Journal. Retrieved from

http://www.usjournal.com/en/students/help/distancelearning.html

Bodain, Yan. (2000). Investigating Distance Learning on the Internet. .

10.13140/2.1.3928.8647.