Technology Has Had -- and Will Continue

¶ … Technology has had -- and will continue to have -- a significant impact on higher education." (week 5 outline)

a) The history of technology in education can be traced to the use of mathematical instruments like the abacus, or measuring sticks. However, technology in education now connotes information technology. Information technology has transformed the nature of how education is delivered and received. However, there are some barriers to adapting to the proliferation of academic technologies in all educational institutions. Cost is one of the great barriers to incorporating information technologies. Unequal access to education is already a significant social and humanitarian problem. Access to technology may be an even bigger problem because of the costs involved in implementing technological tools in places of learning.

b) Argument 1: Technology use should be maximized in educational institutions because it is crucial to expose students to technology throughout their education. The more students are exposed to technologies throughout their academic careers, the better off they are.

Argument 2: Technology facilitates the delivery of learning to students worldwide, thereby making education even more accessible to greater numbers of people. In fact, technology is an equalizer. It does not divide the world further into haves and have-nots.

Argument 3: Technology should be minimized in education, which should focus more on content and curricular issues than on the tools to acquire knowledge.

Argument 4: The emphasis on technology has made it harder for some people to acquire an education, due to financial constraints.

c) This topic impacts me directly because I rely on technology to learn, and want technology to become a tool that makes education more democratic.

d) Resolving the issue requires policies that promote equal access to educational technologies within the entire population. It requires funding allocation for educational technologies.

Issue 2: "One of the purposes of research in distance education is to determine effective practices," (week 4 outline)

a) "Online learning is gaining a firm foothold in universities around the world," (Week 5 outline). The reason why online and distance learning has proliferated is because of advancements in the technology. However, educational institutions are relying more and more on hard evidence to design their distance learning programs. This is because an effective and credible distance learning program must be rooted in empirical evidence.

b) Argument 1: Distance learning is equally as effective as traditional classroom learning.

Argument 2: Research shows that distance learning helps make education more accessible to persons who would otherwise not be able to receive a higher education, such as people with full-time jobs and families.

Argument 3: There is still insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of distance learning.

Argument 4: Research in distance learning is inconclusive, and does not account for the subtle issues at stake when a student learns in a classroom and has social interactions with other students and the instructors.

c) I am conflicted about the issues surrounding distance learning, because there is not yet enough research to support it. However, distance learning does make education more accessible for a greater number of people. Education using distance learning is cheaper too.

d) To resolve this issue, the best intervention is more research. Schools can develop more effective distance learning programs based on the evidence that supports them.

Issue 3: "Covering a wide range of distinct political, economic, and cultural trends, the term "globalization" has quickly become one of the most fashionable buzzwords of contemporary political and academic debate," (week 3 outline)

a) Globalization is not something unique to distance learning. However, globalization is one of the underlying reasons why distance learning has become more prevalent and relevant in the global marketplace. Distance learning can even be viewed as a hallmark of globalization because it shows how people from various regions around the world can access the same educational products and services.

b) Argument 1: Globalization is a positive force, because it links together people from different parts of the world and encourages an appreciation for diversity.

Argument 2: Globalization is a positive force in education; because the reality is that many jobs entail working in the global marketplace. It is now possible for a person in France to get a job in China and vice-versa.

Argument 3: Globalization is a negative force because it creates a more homogenous society that glosses over individual and cultural differences.

Argument 4: Globalization impedes competition in business, including in the arena of education.

c) The debate surrounding globalization is a difficult one because there are definitely pros and cons to the issue. On the one hand, I have seen the benefits of globalization such as the mobility of labor. On the other hand, I understand how globalization does create a homogenized experience. In terms of education, globalization can be too stifling of creativity and may even suppress different languages and cultural identities.

d) Globalization can be used as a weapon against homogenization via conscientious application of diversity training and awareness exercises in all business sectors.

Issue 4: Positive rights (claim-rights) are sometimes pitted against negative rights (liberties).