Jesus Vargas

EDTEC 561

Chapter 14: Distance Education

The chapter discusses how distance education has transformed itself form a novelty to an important aspect of mainstream education. This review focuses on section 14.4.5. This section looks at how recorded audio and video can be used as an educational media.

According to the article, the main advantage of this type of delivery is the “control” that the student possesses by using the stop, rewind, and play buttons. This feature enables the student to replay sections that may require clarification. Besides being able to replay the lessons, this means gives the student the option of choosing when to listen or view the tapes. Furthermore, audio tapes can be heard anywhere by using portable players or even car stereos. Other advantages of audio and video media include cost effectiveness and the ability to check for pronunciation when teaching language via distance education.

While the benefits are obvious, I think that there are some drawbacks that may be an issue. The main one is the absence of an instructor to clarify existing questions. Question/answer sessions, or even simple things as staying a few minutes after class to discuss something with the instructor are not available. I also see the feature of replaying lessons as problematic. Unless the student is replaying a very short piece of the lesson, lack of time would not allow for this. Very often students will not have the time to replay a two hour lesson.

However, the chapter discusses a possibility that seems more likely to work. That is a video course that is accompanied by a “tutored video instruction” program (TVI). Here the student can have a video lecture plus an opportunity for an on-campus group discussion where students can clarify doubts. This scenario seems best if the group discussion is considered optional. It can be used as a resource to be used only by those who need it. This way, the student doesn’t lose its control over when and where they want to receive their instruction.

Gunawardena, C., McIsaac, M. (2001). 14. Distance Education. [Electronic version]. AECT: the Handbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology.