Education

The Future of Distance Education

Carefully reflect on Michael Beaudoin's viewpoint about the future of distance education.

Beaudoin's views on distance education, at least in a majority of institutions, seem right on target. There has been a virtual rush to create online and other distance education programs, and to keep up with institutions that already have these programs on board. In that rush, there have been many poorly designed programs and classes, and some have already failed. There has also been a marked lack of developmental support and training in many programs, leading to programs that do not stand up to time, and must be consistently redeveloped to continue to be viable to the students.

It is not difficult to believe Beaudoin's assessment that this could lead to a host of virtual teachers in the future. He writes, "[W]ithin a relatively short time in two the new century, traditional educational institutions would undergo dramatic transformation, even to the point where all or most instruction would be provided by virtual teachers" (Beaudoin,). This is highly believable, but it is also quite believable that institutions that wholeheartedly support distance programs will never change their basic philosophy or outlook on education and its delivery, and that will keep institutions from advancing nearly as far as possible in the distance education field. In fact, the lack of experienced and transformation would hold most institutions back from achieving their true potential in the area. The entire structure and purpose of institutions is going to have to change and grow with the future, and for many that may be too large a problem to overcome. Beaudoin calls it an "elusive goal" unless leadership and ideas are transformed, and that certainly seems to be the case. It may take another generation or more before innovative new leaders are ready to lead some of the most prestigious institutions in the nation, and that may be too late for truly transformative distance education..

References

Beaudoin, M. Viewpoint about the future of distance education.