Reaching a Diverse Population with Distance-Education

Reaching a Diverse Population with Distance-Education

REACHING THE HEIGHTS STRATEGY

Issue: The issue of reaching a diverse population with distance education is a vital issue in the educational institution environment. With the increase in the number of institutions providing online distance education to the society, it is becoming an issue as to whether these institutions are reaching or serving a diverse population.

Issue Focus: The criteria of providing online distance education are to better serve the entire population and providing leadership in education. But are the colleges/institutions actually reaching the entire population or only a segment of the population is being reached? Societal factors such as economic maladies and unawareness of technological innovations may prevent the colleges/institutions from attaining the goal of serving the entire population with the online distances education, and thus establishing leadership in education. The issue focus is that with the practices and introduction of online education, certain segment of the population is not being catered for.This part of the population is the group of minority students who could not afford the cost of technologies attached to online education. Also another segment of the population that is not reached by online education is the group who is not aware of the innovated online distance technological educat

Background: Even though there have being an increase in the use of technology in recent years, certain segment of the population still could afford to own computers. According to the article in Computerworld magazine, titled "A surge in the use computers", by Papadomous Ladino, more than three million computers were sold in the United States in the past decade, and the majority of the buyers were the middle class. It was also mentioned that most people use their computers for business and personal chores or pleasures.With the improved technological innovations, many institutions are introducing the online distance education into their curriculum. But with the costs associated with the purchase, services and internet set up, many students could not afford the online distance education.

Driving Forces: Distance online education through the internet is growing and expanding globally. Distance education and training are becoming integrated as a whole unit rather than separate entities. More interdisciplinary abilities are now required and the new generations of students and educators are bringing diverse perspectives about life, work and family. The driving forces for not reaching a diverse population of students with distance education may be attributed to economic reason and the high increase in tuition fees. The majority of our student is poor and could not afford to own computers after meeting all other college expenses. The costs of internet services and owning computers posed a great deal of problem to students who will like to participate in distance learning education.

Future Prospects: If the universities/colleges can synthesize an appropriate strategic planning method for technology and distance learning education, there may well be explosive growth and evolution of innovation. There is present competition among universities on the provisions of online distance learning education. According to Cetron and Davies, educational institutions will face much tighter competition with the online distance learning based on new available technologies. We should be aware that those who adopt state-of-the-art methods will prosper and those who ignore them will eventually fail, (Cetron & Davies, 2003, p.34). If the university can lower tuition and try to offer free computers and internet services to distance education students, then it will be able to succeed in reaching a diverse population of students across the globe.

Implications: The issues of reaching a diverse population of students with distance learning education and establishing leadership in education are vital and critical to university because tuition costs are going to be increasing and technology is only going to continue to grow and impact the society. In order to avoid problems, good strategies and techniques are needed for planning, implementation and maintenance of technology. Without the appropriate planning and methods, the university distance learning education programs may suffer. If the university is to cut tuition costs and provide each student with a personal computer and a free internet service, then the institution will be able to reach a diverse population globally, provide a better leadership education and thus, satisfy its vision and mission.

Article by

Iwasan D. Kejawa, BBA, MS, Ed.D

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