Distance and Open education: Their reality

Distance and open education share similar features. Perhaps the main difference is distance education is a lot alike traditional, where they have a teacher, even if far away, as a guide, however, the students do not attend a classroom to be able to take their lessons. In open education, the learners only have a system to follow.

Just like in about everything, these systems have their good and their bad side. On the pros, it is known that distance and open education are a great option for those who have something else to do besides attending classes. Activities such as working and taking care of a family become priorities, many times making studies aside. However, with these two options, education becomes, once more, available for these people to learn and improve their academic life. This availability also allows the student to organize himself according to his needs and schedule; he can work at his own pace and by his personal learning style. Inclusively, when a student enrolls to these classes, he can develop the skills he needs to be an online learner if he is yet not ready when within the program. Another advantage is that, thanks to the freedom the student has, he can dedicate the time he can to his work.

On the negative aspects, we can see some students are not ready for this kind of learning and do not reach the maturity needed for such programs. Not everyone is autonomous and can go into an open or distance education  system believing a teacher will be on his back telling him how and when to do assignments, which is not so. This could also lead the student to feel lost or lose track of his learning, resulting in poor motivation and even a drop out.  

Systems are not perfect either. Online platforms are best known for not connecting to the server when needed than for doing it. System black outs will always be a great disadvantage for online learners because the student, even when a good planner, is not able to foresee situations of this kind. More than once, people will have to restart their work from scratch, which affects the student’s organization directly.

Added to the before mentioned, the access to a computer is not always for granted even if schools now offer technology and internet. As open and distance education offer more freedom, that is a feature the student looks forward to, and being limited by a physical object is not an option. Many also believe having access to technology can be enough, but a learner in Computer Science and a learner in Communication, to mention two poles, will have different needs. Sometimes learners do not only need a computer, they need a good quality computer which is most likely unaffordable considering monetary issues are the main cause for people to enroll in these courses.

In addition, socially speaking, as every kind of online relationship, open and distance education are underestimated and not considered real. The concept of school being a building filled with classrooms, teachers and students is persistent till this day in people’s head such as the concept of s psychologist in a room with a patient laying down in from of him telling them their problems, which is traditional, yes, but not particularly correct.  Nonetheless, there are schools that have successfully implemented these education systems, such as the Universidad Autónoma de México and the Instituto Tecnológico de Aguas Calientes, proving that open and distance education are now official and produce graduates like traditional education does.

On a personal note, I think that, although the student is the focus of these two systems, the teacher in distance education plays an important role for this experience to be good. As a teacher, I would like my students to feel we are in contact even when we do not see each other in real life. Here, the facilitator does not cease being the guide. Whenever the student has a doubt, there should be a person available to aid him and solve any problems presented throughout the course. After all, they may be enrolling to pay less, but that does not mean they study for free. So on, the system must engage with the student and let him know he is not alone. 

Finally, I think open and distance education do not mean to take traditionalist’s place, they rather complement each other and suffice different needs. These three systems are the first of perhaps many more options to come, allowing each time more people to rise in their academic competences. As future teacher, we must be prepared for these changes. School’s change their ways often, and what we are taught today may not be of much use tomorrow, however, if we carry the basis of education with us, we will be able to overcome the gaps that exist between the traditional teacher and technology.