RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

Education Department
M.Ed. in EDLE & CUIN
EDUC 5324: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO EDUCATION
Name:_______Irfan Soylemez______

Date: _____6/19/2016_____

Topic Selected:
What does the research say about advantages and disadvantages of distance
education?
1. LITERATURE REVIEW:
What does the literature/research say about this issue/topic? By using NAU
Library or Online Search engines, conduct a literature review.

You need to include 5 different sources (book, journal article, web article
etc.) in your review. Try to use current sources as much as possible.

You need to summarize and synthesize your sources by discussing a

common theme or issue.

You don't need to critique your sources

You don't need to evaluate your sources (if the sources are trustworthy,
weather the author has a bias or not)

You need to provide background information such as history and

definitions

Brief Literature Review:

Distance learning can be defined as a type of instruction in which the student and
instructor are separated by physical distance (i.e., not in the same room;
Wahlstrom, Williams, & Shea, 2003). By the help of the developing technology
education become easier with a wider reach range especially for nontraditional
students such as adult learners, students with outer responsibilities, students
with shortage in time and finance. The studies show that numerous benefits of
distance learning makes it more popular and preferable day by day, it's also
inevitable to have some disadvantages. The advantages can be listed as; it meet
the need of untraditional students (working students, adult learners, students with
finance problems, physically disabled learners, etc.), it has a wide range of
reaching and letting the people meeting by means of lecturer and the learner,
there is no need for extra place, in some cases the schedules can be
personalized, not only the schedules all other aspects (instructor, learning pace,
learning strategies...) are also be personalized, the connection happens only
between the learner and the content no other distraction elements around gives
more freedom and adaptability, you can learn in your own environment, it is self
controlled so you can learn more when you want, and the learning happens with
self motivation which makes it more applicable and permanent, it's easy to
access and use wherever you need, it saves time and money.

If not applied properly all the advantages listed above turns out to be
disadvantages. It needs self motivation which means if you don't have it or you
are easily distracted by a noise comes from your neighbor's backyard distance
learning is not for you. Although internet seems to be available almost
everywhere it's not a surprise to have connection problems, lack of electricity or
other technical issues. Accessibility to the instructor may be limited if it's done
overseas the time zone can be another problem if you need urgent help in an
assignment. Sometimes the learner may feel isolated or lonely and even may not
feel as a student because of the lack of the required classroom/learning materials
and the environment which are great effects on motivation also.

2. REFLECTION:

What is your personal opinion on this issue? Do you agree with the
research? If you agree or disagree, please explain why?
Provide examples/experiences regarding this issue from school
perspective or If you are not working in a school, from your profession. Be
specific with your examples. You can mention software/hardware names,
specific methods that you plan to use, etc.
How would you implement this research in your career? (At least 1
paragraph)

Reflection:
Studies show that providing many benefits distance learning is getting more common
and preferable for the learners especially the nontraditional ones. Considering the
disadvantages as solvable problems I agree that distance learning is becoming the
future type education receiving tool. People prefer personalized education in their own
places with their own pace, time and environment. Unless they have nay issue with the
technology they feel satisfied with the serves they get online. They can reach instructors
from the other side of the worlds ask questions, discuss with other students from all over
the world which enlarges their view. If they have self motivation their learning is more
efficient and permanent as having more own afford on it.
I want to mention about the home school project I'm working with. It's actually a group of
students who prefer home schooling instead of traditional learning in classrooms. For
these students we provide an environment in which they feel at home with the classroom
materials and atmosphere. They experience both within this project. Students not only
get regular core subject lessons but also some other lessons from online courses as
well. They have the chance to communicate with the instructor while they are in their
classroom and also contribute with the students who are online at the same time. Kids
are fan of technology and using it in their own learning makes us taking the advantage
of it. At the very beginning we had some issues about disciplining the students till they
realize the online lessons are as the same as the regular ones but at last they figure out
how to utilize the lessons. Now we are looking for more online courses (e.g. the ones for
which we cannot find instructor) to provide to this students.
I'm planning to work more with the project I mentioned above. Even if I may not continue
due to some changes in my position I want to use these experiences with my own kids
and share my opinions with the educators who seeks for differentiated teaching methods
and strategies. I think distance learning can also be used as an alternative tool in a
traditional classroom. Students will benefit is as much as having the teacher in the same
environment. Not only they have the chance to experience a different instructor they can
share, discuss their ideas with the students from very far parts of the world. I believe in
the use of every strategy for the sake of the kids education and today in the technologic

era the use of technology trigger the students learning and distance educations is one of
the alternate opportunity to be used effectively.

3. REFERENCES:

Cite at least 5 References in APA.

You may use http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-journal for citing
your sources in APA style.

References:

An Overview of the Influences of Distance Learning on Adult Learners (n.d.).

Retrieved
June
19,
2016,
from
http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals2007/articles/1041.htm
Distance Education: Expanding the Classroom | University Communications |
Washington State University. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2016, from
https://ucomm.wsu.edu/distance-education-expanding-the-classroom/
Distance Education - Pros & Cons of Distance Education. (n.d.). Retrieved June
19,
2016,
from
http://www.prokerala.com/education/distance-educationadvantages-disadvantages.php
Pros and Cons of Distance Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2016, from
http://www.htcampus.com/article/advantages-disadvantages-distance-learning612/
Wahlstrom, C., Williams, B. K., & Shea, P. (2003). The successful distance
learning student. Belmont, CA: Scratchgravel.