Three things I learned after taking EDTEC 700 this summer...

1. After taking the summer session of EDTEC 700, I did not realize how much planning goes into facilitating a distance session! In many (if not all) instances, it takes more planning than a traditional classroom setting. The facilitator must also be prepared for technical hiccups and how to resolve them quickly, or have a back up plan if the hiccup cannot be resolved in real-time.

2. Facilitation, facilitation, facilitation! In contrast to the industrial model of teaching by means of dictating information to the masses, distance education allows for interaction between the facilitator (instructor) and learners, learners to learners, etc. Interaction becomes a HUGE component of the success of distance education, because it compliments and nurtures individual learning needs. I found it beneficial to think in terms of being a facilitator rather than an instructor/teacher in the traditional sense.

3. “Distance” can be deceiving to those who are not familiar with distance education: it really only refers to geography if the “dialog” is high. A high level of dialog and interaction between learners and facilitators can be obtained in a distance course, even though there is no true face-to-face interaction like in a traditional setting (not counting web cams). I think many people that are not familiar with distance education believe that taking an online course is a completely removed and sheltered experience. Not true!