DISTANCE EDUCATION: ALTERNATIVE LEARNING

SYSTEM BEYOND BORDERS

OBJECTIVES:At the end of this module, the learners should be able

to;Familiarize with the concept and context of

distance education as an alternative learning mode of delivery

Cite the advantages and disadvantages of distance education;

Describe how interaction and technology operate in distance education as a system; and

Affirm and recognize that distance education is a viable strategy for access to quality higher education

Introduction Teaching and learning are no longer

confined to the classroom or the school day. There are many technologies that can offer a great deal of flexibility in when ,where, and how education is distributed. Distances Education is rapidly becoming a strategic alternative delivery mechanism in the global education landscape. As a educational strategy other than the traditional face- to- face classroom setting, distance education has been adopted to reach out remote and diverse independent learners.

CONCEPT AND CONTEXT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

In retrospect, the history of distance education shows that it had more than one historical path and that the evolution has not been easy. Many of the same problems facing implementation and acceptance of educational innovations today have been faced by distance education throughout its history.

The history of distance education could be traced back to the early 1700s in the form of correspondence education, but technology-based distance education might be best linked to the introduction of audiovisual devices into the schools in the early 1900s.

Distance education is synonymous to distance learning, open learning, e- learning, online learning or wed-based learning. What is distance learning or distance education?

A field of education that focuses on the pedagogy and andragogy technology, and instructional systems design that aim to deliver education to student who are not physically on site.

Education where teachers and students are separated in the place and time. They communicate at times of their own choosing by exchanging printed or electronic media, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time and through other online ways

Mode of educational delivery where teacher and learner are separated in time and space, and instruction is delivered through specially designed materials and methods using appropriate technologies and supported by organizational and administrative structures and arrangements

Education that takes place when the instructor and student are separated by space and/or time. The gad between the two can be bridged through the technology. A mode of education in which students enrolled in a course do not attend the institution, but study off- campus and may submit assignments by mail or email. Instructional programs or courses in which the instructor and students need not be in the same physical place, particularly those relying on computers, audio, or video technology as the medium for delivery and, sometimes, for two-way interaction

Instructional programs or courses in which the instructor and students need not be in the same physical place, particularly those relying on computers, audio, or video technology as the medium for delivery and, sometimes, for two-way interaction.

“online learning can be a lifeline to those who have obstacles, such as geographical distances or physical disabilities”.

-Paul Levinson,Author,”The Soft Edge”

Characteristics of Distance Education(DE)DE provides learning opportunities to

individual learners and groups who may not have the chance and time to attend formal schooling or face-to-face instruction due to physical disabilities, ailment, work early marriage, etc.

DE is learner-centered. It is focused on the needs of the learner with the end goal of facilitating independent and self-paced learning. For slow and quick learners this reduces stress and increases satisfaction.

DE provides learning packages designed for self-directed learning utilizing various media, multi- media and other new technologies prepared by academically qualified instructional designers.

DE has an organization structure and clear institutional systems and procedures for managing and ensuring academic supervision.

DE is an outgrowth of research on theoretical and conceptual models of learning.

ADVANTAGES OF DISTANCE EDUCATIONDistance education does not require comminutingYou can complete most of the classes at your convenience.Live anywhere, study from anywhere while pursuing the

education of your choice.Gain extra knowledge.Self –paced learning.Accessibility Convenience and FlexibilityInteractionIndividualized InstructionVast Resources Readily AvailablePotential Cost

Key Players in Distance EducationStudent Faculty FacilitatorsSupport staffAdministrators

4 types of interaction in distance education

Thormond (2003) defined interaction as;

the learners engagement with the course content, other learners, the instructor, and the technological medium used in the course. Interaction is the result in a reciprocal exchange of information.

Learner content InteractionIt takes place between the student and the content or the

subject matter that is delivered to him/her.Learner with the help of the teacher encounter new information

and knowledge Learner –InstructorInstructor help the student to reinforce understanding of the

material or elucidate meaning.Clarify unclear points and reinforce correct interpretation of

the course Learner –learnerInteraction between student and another or between several

students. Learner –Technology/systemStudent’s experience with computers can affect their learning

in distance education as well as improve their computer skills.

Student must be computer literate.

Distance Education TechnologyPrint technologyPrint material were mailed to students and returned to the teachers

through the postal system. Computer technologyWith the increased popularity of internet, computer technologies

are receiving more and more attention as a means of delivering distance learning.

It includes email, online collaborations, and web based education. Video technologyAbility to see and hear an instructor offers opportunities for

behavior modeling, demonstration and instruction of abstract concept.

Videotapes and DVDs offer popular, easy to use formats for instructional materials.

Audio technologyAudio or voice technology offer cost-effective ways to enhance

distance learning courses.

ActivityTopics :Traditional face to face Instruction vs

distance LearningProcedureTotal time for each debate will be approximately 30

minutes1. For each topic, there will be a 3 minute unbiased

instruction. This neutral instruction will be assigned to someone other than the two teams in a particular debate.

2.Following the unbiased introduction, there will be a 5minute statement by the first team outlining their plan to implement the given topic.

3.the second team then gives their 5 minutes statement. Ideally, they will anticipate some of what the first team has to say and will have enough data researched to be able to show the flaws and problems with the first team’s plan. Then second team usually does not present an alternative plan, as the status quo is often the alternative.

4.Two-minute second team rebuttal5.Two-minute first team rebuttal6.Two-minute second team rebuttal7. Two-minute first team rebuttal8.Question from the judges and the audience(10

minutes)

The BALS implements two major NFE programs (Basic Literacy Program and Accreditation and Equivalency

Program) through a contracting scheme with qualified education service provides using government funds for field operations know as Literacy Service Contracting Scheme(LSCS) and Learning Support Delivery System(LSDS).The contracting scheme also includes contracting public elementary and secondary schools that implement the Balik-Paaralan Para Sa Out of School adults(BP_OSA)Program

The funds for the contracting scheme is known as Field Operation Funds for ASL as provided for in General Appropriation Act,RA9162, special Provision No.11.

CBI-Computer-Based Instruction (eSkwela)Alternative Learning system program are

being delivered in various modes such as face to face group learning, family or household approach, individual tutorials, radio-based learning and even independent learning. The computer-based delivery of the ALS A&E program is called eskwela.

Community Learning Center (CLC)Serves as a learning hub in the community

for out-of-school children, youth and adults where learning resources are available for their used and where educational activities are managed by the community members themselves.

INFED Informal EducationInformal education(INFED) is a lifelong

process of learning by which every person acquires and accumulates knowledge, skills attitudes, and insights from daily experiences at home. At work, at play and from life itself.

`Abot-Alam BrieferABOT-ALAM PROJECTThe persistence of the problem with OSY in the country can be

attributed to various factors. One of which is that not all of the out-of-school youth are tapped or given the opportunity to join or benefit from programs and services exclusively for them.

Despite the efforts of various government agencies to reach out to OSY in the country, assistance and services still have not been extended to many of them. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, for example, only 31 are OSY out of the 4, 617 young Filipinos served by the department in the first semester of 2012. This can be ascribed to the lack or absence of a unified national framework or strategy to address the issue of OSY in the country.

Furthermore, among the OSY who are privileged to benefit from programs and services such as those from DepEd, TESDA, DOLE, and NGOs such as the USAID, only a few were able to finish the program or actually utilize it to continue studying or seek employment opportunities.

In the 2010 Annual Report of the DepEd Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), statistics show that 236, 785 out of the 333, 602 learners enrolled or 70. 98 percent completed the ALS. Out of the almost 71 percent who completed the ALS, a total of 33, 197 learners or only 14.02 percent passed the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Test.

These lead to a waste of resources and bring us back to the main problem of the nation- the persistence of OSY in the Philippines. To answer this, the national government led by the Department of Education and the National Youth Commission, together with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social

Work and Development will launch the Out-of-School Youth Barangay Targeting System (OSY BTS) and the Community Reintegration Program for the Out-of School Youth (OSY CoRPs) under the nationwide umbrella campaign ABOT-ALAM PROJECT. ABOT-ALAM PROJECT is a nationwide campaign and strategy with the primary goal of targeting all OSY in the country and reintegrating them to their communities, achieving a zero percent OSY in the Philippines by 2016

Prepared by;Susan B.Bigueja BSE-Physical scienceApril B. MilanoBSE-Biological science