Advanced Distributed Learning

"Learning Anytime, Anywhere: Advanced Distributed Leraning and the Changing Face of Education"

So is this the article, then? Lifelong Learning Anytime, Anywhere - the mantra of the TIE program at National-Louis. The article was unique in that it is talking about networking computers and the WWW and distribution of created materials for the computer without actually trying to use specific product names. Sort of talking about it at arm's length, or defining it from afar. Although they broke down and used World Wide Web.

I agree with the article that in the last few years, education has seen the value of individualized instruction through computers, especially for those with special needs. They used general terms, like "learning objects" to describe the variety of products created by computers, from images to complete courses. Having these objects available to all who can use them, or like the internet, available all the time, is beneficial in all forms of learning.

I think that we are already there, though, and getting in deeper: "ADL is building toward a future in which human knowledge, held in instructional objects, is identified and collected from the global information grid (currently the Web) and is then assembled on demand for real-time interactions tailored to each learner's knowledge, goals, interests, and needs. We anticipate that learning in the future may take place through goal-driven, tutorial, and problem-solving conversations involving handheld (or perhaps worn) devices wirelessly linked to one another and to the global information grid." We have that now; especially with iPhones and Blackberries.

I agree that education can be affordable and globally accessible with computers. I like how they described programs like Star-Online, that keep track of student progress through a course so they can see how far they've finished, and how much they have left to do. There are many, many sites that fit the bill for online educational discussions, from chatting to Second Life. It is affordable in that it is cheaper than a real tutor, FAQs can be created for recurring problems or when there is no viable real-life support. All the options open can be used by teachers or by students, whether the classroom is traditional or not.

Education over the past decades seems in some cases to be the slowest to modify itself and keep pace with the business world. Rather than be a leader, schools have been followers, waiting for clear-cut, well-defined outcomes with the use of technology before using it. It is clear that with ADL, a redefinition of administrative roles, as well as students and teachers, has to take place. I don't think this will happen anytime soon.

Business has always been the first to embrace technology because it cuts costs and improves productivity. Business always wants to be bigger, better, faster. The government and schools have been slow to follow.