Kirkpatrick and Jakupec: research and contributions

Kirkpatrick and Jakupec

Kirkpatrick & Jakupec

What is flexible learning? How is flexible learning connected to larger societal trends?

Flexible learning is designed to ensure that all learners get what they need and are able to learn from what is offered. In the past, learning was very structured. People had to come to class during the times that the classes were scheduled. They were told how they would learn and what they would do. How they would be tested and what they were allowed to do during class or bring with them was also spelled out. Even though these people were adult learners, it was more like an elementary school classroom environment. Many students did not or could not succeed in this type of environment, and some who desperately wanted to go to school could not because they did not have the time or could not be at the classroom when the class was offered. They had other obligations, like jobs and families.

Flexible learning changed all of that. Instead of the structure that they were required to adhere to in the past, flexible learners were able to go to school on their terms. This fit in with the way that society itself became far less structured. The world has become very global in recent years, and that process seems only to be accelerating. By creating flexible learning, colleges and universities have allowed many, many more people to go to college that otherwise would not have been able to, thus fostering an educational revolution and helping society to move forward. People can go to traditional classes on traditional campuses, but they can also go to their computers at any time of the day or night and log on and do their assignments. They can learn virtually through Webcams and videos, or they can read their textbooks and submit their assignments through email. There are so many options for learning today, just like there are so many options in other areas of society, and the individuals who take advantage of them look like they will be the ones prepared for the next move that society will make.

2.What are some of the problems with the idea and reality of flexible learning?

Like any new innovation, flexible learning is not without its problems. Not everyone thinks that it is a good idea, and this includes both those who work in the education field and those who are trying to learn. With flexible learning comes easier ways to cheat. That professor does not know if you really took the test he assigned if you are not in class when you take it. Your friend who had that class last semester might have logged on and taken it for you. Did you really write the essay or read the assigned chapters? No one knows. Most adult learners take their education seriously because they know that it will help them to get ahead in their lives and in their careers, but there is also the concern that they have so many other things going on in their lives. A lot of them have full-time jobs and they go to school as they can, during the evening and nighttime hours on their computers, after the dinner is eaten and the dishes are done and the children are asleep.

The reality of flexible learning is that the structure of the educational experience is not there, and people can feel as though they are losing out when that is the case. They do lose out in some ways, because learning the traditional way is far different from online learning. Both have their inherent advantages and disadvantages, and the reality is probably much more convoluted and difficult to accept than the idea. This is unfortunate, because flexible learning options have a lot to offer to the right people - those who are seriously dedicated to their education but who are truly unable to attend classes in a standard environment. For many people, however, traditional learning still works better for them if they are able to attend. Even the traditional way of learning has become more flexible than it used to be, and that means that learners who need a little extra help or assistance can get it now, where they were not able to get it in the past. The idea of flexible learning continues to evolve, as well, which will help to improve the reality of it.

3.How does or should the development of flexible learning programs differ from that of more traditional programs?

When flexible learning programs are developed, they are designed to be for people who cannot make it to traditional classes for whatever reason. This can be for people who have jobs and family responsibilities that would stop them from going to classes at set times. It can also be for people who are physically handicapped and therefore have a hard time getting from their home to the college or getting around campus. It is certainly understandable why these types of people might need a different way to learn. What has been seen, though, is that more and more people are taking flexible learning classes where they can just stay home and do the work online. There are some problems with letting just anyone do this, and they miss out on a lot of the opportunities and experiences that they would otherwise have, and that help them to shape themselves and to grow and challenge themselves.