Module 2: Elements of Distance Education Diffusion

Of the three elements of distance education discussed by George Siemens, the one that I will discuss in great detail is collaborative interaction, as I believe that communication and collaborative interaction are heavily intertwined. Palloff and Pratt (2005) says that “collaborative activity is important in both face to face and online classes because it promotes the following: development of critical thinking skills, co-creation of knowledge and meaning, reflection, and transformative learning” (p. 4). As it relates to the development of critical thinking skills and the co-creation of knowledge and meaning, learners collaborating allow the learners to actually learn from one another… Through collaboration, “The ability to create knowledge and meaning is enhanced” (Paloff & Pratt, 2005, p. 6). This leads me to think about a quote by one great mind that says, ‘two heads are better than one.’ For instance, if I work with someone else, this allows me to consider perspectives other than my own. Finally, I say that collaborative interaction and communication are intertwined because in order to collaborate, there must be communication. In distance education, this communication may seldom times be verbal; instead it will be written, using various technologies such as email, blogs, wikis, social networking sites, video conferencing, etc.. Furthermore, to support communication, Simonson (2008) says that distance education “allows us to communicate in conversations outside of what we would have previously had.” Additionally, distance education isn’t just beneficial in educational settings, but also in “corporations by allowing them to interact with different offices around the world” (Simonson, 2008).

Reference:
Palloff, R. & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Learning together in community. Jossey-Bass.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer) (2008a). Distance Education: The next Generation. Baltimore, MD: Author