Flexible Leaning: Long Distance Learning

Flexible learning using technology: long distance learning.

Recently the use of technology has increased. In the old days people had to wait for weeks or months before their letter arrived in their destination, now in a minute people can communicate directly face to face. Distance and space is not the barrier anymore.

The advancement of the technology offers the same opportunities in education. Students from Asian can participate directly in the class held in Europe only by using teleconference service. This is one example of flexible learning. This sounds amazing, yet there is still down side. Therefore based on the dimension flexible learning for learners offered by Collis and Moonen (2001), I would like to see advantages and disadvantage of flexible learning, especially long distance learning class.

I.                   Flexibility related to time.

This discusses about time to start and finish a course, submitting assignment and interaction within a course, pace of studying and assessment.

Advantages:

-          The flexibility of time will make students can start his/her study anytime. This is different from the regular schools that start their new academic year in particular time.

-          The session of face to face meeting can be negotiated between the lecturers and students.

-          Pace of studying also can be negotiated. For instance, if the student feels that s/he needs more time to study, s/he can negotiate it with his/her lecturer.

Disadvantages:

-          If everyone can choose own his/her time to begin a course, it will be hard for the lecturers to arrange their time.

-          It is also hard for the lecturers to control each student’s progress.

II.                Flexibility related to content.

This talks about topic of the course, sequence of different part of the course, orientation of the course (theory and practice) and assessment standard.

Advantages:

-          If it happens that a lecturer cannot give lecture, the lecture then can recode his lecture and send it the student.

-          A student can choose what topic she or he wants to focus on.

Disadvantages:

-          For the practical or laboratory course where the student obligates to be in certain place, This type of learning does seem effective.

-          For assessment standard. If the course obligates students to take written or oral examination with no open book condition as the assessment tool. Then, the lecturer cannot monitor if the students cheat or not in their test. 

III.             Flexibility related to instructional approach and resources.

This explains about pedagogical approaches like face to face meeting, working in pair or in group and individual meeting and sources like instruction and library.

Advantages:

-          If the distance learning occurs only between a lecturer and a student, then the student will have much time to discuss with the lecturer about the certain topic. At the same time, teacher can monitor and know the progress of each student well.

-           Since long distance learning uses the internet service so students will be more familiar to use on-line references.

-          If the Interaction happens only between a teacher and student only. It will beneficial for the student who likes to study individually

Disadvantages:

-          Student could hardly work in group. Working group is not merely exchanging ideas or distributing jobs, but it more emphasizes on sitting together and having a real interaction, face to face communication but not through screen.  

-          Not directly meeting with teacher will make students less motivated to study.

-          No directly monitoring system in the class from the teacher.

-          This long distance learning can only be conducted if the teacher and students have the same language to communicate.

IV.             Flexibility related to entry requirement.

This deals conditions for participants.

Advantages:

                   Disadvantages:

-          Only students who are familiar with technology and have supported technology can participate in this long distance learning.

V.                Flexibility related to delivery and logistics

This discusses about the fixed place, procedure, method and technology.

Advantages:

-          Since the learning process via internet, the interaction between teacher and student can occur anywhere.

Disadvantages:

-          The availability and stability of the technology. Since the system is dependent on the internet network, so the good internet service is required. The learning process may disturb somehow if either teachers or students have a bad internet connection.

-          It will be a problem if students will spend much time and energy on how to operate the technology than master the content of the lesson.

Sources:

Collis, B., & Moonen, J. (2001, second printing 2002). Flexible learning in a digital world: Experiences and expectations. London: Kogan Page.