Activity 2.1

Distance classes are a very helpful way to learn to some people, meanwhile for others can be quite stressful, and it has to do a lot with the type of intelligence each person has, and even the other experiences they have had in the past with courses in that modality. If the learner has an idea of his type of intelligence, he will have the chance to at least identify what he can do in order to learn more easily.

Also, according to what I read, anxiety is an important factor with distance learning. Since the learner does not have much face-to-face interaction with the teacher or other students, it can be a little unsettling that he has to do most of the work by himself, relaying only in what he understands of each task, and that for sure is stressful; however, it can be avoided if the teacher knows how to help the learner, mainly by being available to answer questions, and also by giving some workshops throughout the course in order to dissipate doubts.

Now, talking about my own experience with distance learning, I have to say that I actually prefer classroom attendance classes, which might be a bit odd considering my two types of intelligence are Linguistic (35) and Spatial-Visual (32), thus I should not have much trouble with the regular way in which distance classes are given—usually through activities that require reading and the use of online materials like videos—, but still, I would probably choose a class with face-to-face interaction, mainly because it represents for me a more direct way to get information.

Furthermore, I think that good self organizing can make a student’s experience with distance classes a lot easier. If the student organizes his time as if it were a presence class, it might be easier to perform for him in each task because that way he might have time to make the necessary investigation for said activity. Also, the student must know that in case he has doubts with the material or even the way he must do anything, he can get help from the teacher or even another student if he wants to, that even though they do not see each other every day, it does not mean they will not be in touch at all.

Solutions to help the students to complete a distance course:

• 1.       Variety of materials/activities. This one is more for the teacher than for the student, but I think it is a very important factor to consider. By offering different types of activities or materials to the students according to the different types of intelligence, we can assure that the task will be easier to complete and it will be less boring for the learners to do diverse activities at least once in a while.

• 2.       Organization. This applies for both the teacher and the learner. As I mentioned before, organization is very important because, as students we need to be aware of the deadlines for each activity as much as the time we have for them and how to arrange ourselves for it, and as teachers we must be alert to what our students are doing in order to make the necessary feedback. Thus, I would recommend getting an agenda, journal or, for those who can, a smartphone/tablet application (there are many where you can even set alarms to organize time better) in order to keep track of what we do and want to do.

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Here are my results of the multiple intelligences test, just in case you guys wanted to know:

Activity 1.1

Comparison between classroom education and virtual education

Classroom education requires the learner to attend a formal class in a learning center where the teacher explains, clarifies and communicates ideas and knowledge. On the other hand, virtual education does not require the student to be at a certain physical place when the class is given, but to visit a virtual site in a periodical way in order to collect what the teacher has upload for them to study; however, the student must have access to some sorts of technology, such as a computer and internet connection.

Virtual education does not need face to face communication or any type of physical interaction with other students or the teacher; meanwhile, in classroom education this interaction will be almost unavoidable. Nonetheless, both classroom and virtual education can use similar techniques to accomplish the learning process, like use of visuals, videos, presentations, etc.

I can say that virtual education is cheaper—in terms of time and money—than classroom education, mainly because the student does not have to go to another place for the class, therefore he can save the time of transportation, and since most of the materials he/she will need are going to be virtual, he/she can save the money of having to buy the physical books or materials he/she would have needed in a classroom.

Finally, I do not find either of them more important or efficient than the other, because at the end the student chooses the one that accommodates better to his/her academic needs, purposes and possibilities and, in addition, the methods or techniques the teacher uses to give the class is going to do a lot more that the medium he/she uses to do so.

Sources:

http://electiva-tic.wikispaces.com/Educaci%C3%B3n+Presencial

http://electiva-tic.wikispaces.com/Educaci%C3%B3n+a+Distancia

http://aprendizajcompartidoydistribudo.blogspot.mx/2011/12/educacion-presencial-vrs-educacion.html