Multiple intelligences in Distance Education

My learning style is intrapersonal (35), I agree because I like to be around people to discuss or complement ideas with others, which help me a lot for the reason I learn from them.  In second place, linguistic (29) in my opinion communicating helps to understand and learn more. Finally, in third place I am interpersonal I believe is necessary to know first myself in order to know what methods apply to learn better.

            In contrast, my weaknesses are: Logical-mathematical, musical, and Bodily-Kinesthetic (three of them 22). The Logical-Mathematical intelligence I do not like it much, so is a bit difficult for me to learn. On the same way, musical intelligence well I like to listen to music but is complicating for me to memorize or learn something by just listening. For example, to memorize a song is hard for me if I do not see the lyrics. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is great but first I like to see a model as a guide.

            On the other hand, learning in Distance Education has many opportunities but also difficulties to achieve the goal.

a)      Opportunities:

·         Acquire knowledge since concepts, theories, and/or skills that can help students in experimental knowledge; in other words practice what he/she learned.

·         To develop critical understanding of the objectives teaching.

·         Acquire knowledge of mean through which these objectives may be achieved.

·         Develop skills necessary for the effective organization of adult language learning.

·         Students and teacher becomes analytical and conscious of their work.

·         Discuss in order to improve.

b)      Difficulties:

§  Between students and teacher is hard to gain confidence because they are not in face-to-face classes.

§  Students gain anxiety on the amount of readings involves in working through course booklets and recommended reading, and on producing written form.

§  Is a lonely path! Students and teacher do not have a workshop in which they can discuss their experiences, difficulties.

§  Students and teachers feel uncertain as to how to use the professional literature.

§  You cannot know your audience in order to know how to communicate.

In my own experience, my mood is very important because it depends how I feel emotionally; for example if I feel okay I will do the assignment faster and I concentrate better. In the same way, I like to organize my own schedule with post-its in order to not forget the deadlines. Sometimes is a bit difficult to work with people I do not know for the reason I love to interact. But I try to have at least a partner I know probably because I feel support. However, is necessary students’ responsibility in doing assignments in time, but with effort and always trying to learn something not just for passing the Distance course.

            Therefore, there are several solutions a student can take in account to achieve the goal in the course. For example, considering feedback of his/her teacher and students as an important aspect; I believe, every time we can learn from others. In addition, to check often the online course because sometimes the student think he/she has under control, and later he/she missed a deadline or he/she did not do the assignment as the teacher’s instructions. And a course having the grade of each assignment later that they published because in that way students can know how they are doing, and if they need to improve something or continue with the same method

           

                  

Essay

Traditional classes vs. Distance education

The face-to-face classes and virtual classes are ways a students can acquire knowledge in order to achieve a goal, in this case will be to approve a course. Face-to-face classes are when a student needs to assist in physical way to the campus. In contrast, the distance education occurs when the instructor and learners are separated by location and/or time (Linder & Murphy, 2001). Nowadays, these two classes are very useful in order to continue receiving education, no matter which one is because both have validity.

            However, the both classes, face-to-face and virtual, have differences that a learner needs to take in account; in order to take a decision in which is better according to their necessities. In the same way, there are some advantages and disadvantages in both classes that confuse learners, so sometimes they do not take a good decision.

            In virtual classes students do not need to attend physically to a specific point, and learners need to be self-disciplined; in other words, to have independent learning because when the instructor delivers the content the student must have greater initiative to access and to understand the material  (Arleen, 2008). In contrast, face-to-face classes do not need this skill totally develop for the reason a learner could ask to the teacher in the precise moment or ask to a classmate. It will solve the problem in a short period of time; meanwhile online the student needs to wait until a classmate or the teacher sees the message.

            Distance education continues to expand because of growth of the internet, increased information technology competencies (Linder, 1999). That is another reason is different from the face-to-face classes. In this one is the choice of student is he/she wants to use it for the reason the classes are in the campus; for example, if it has an assignment it can go to the library, without having the necessity of using internet. Therefore, if the student could not assist to class for whatever reason he/she could lose the explanation of a topic, so the only way to solve the problem is to ask for notes  but is not the same if he/she will be attended the class. In the other hand, in virtual classes the learner could access to the tutorial videos or check the instruction the times he/she likes to.

            Nevertheless, in both types of classes the institutions provide students with a community where they can engage, interact, and support each other (Arleen, 2008). However, in Virtual classes the classmates and the teacher can mainly help the learner or give feedback in writing texts, and even interact in forums and being able to have communication with every person in the class. Therefore, in face-to-face classes they can ask the teacher for feedback, but sometimes even if they are in the same class students prefer to ask to their friends and not somebody else; probably because students feel shy or afraid of the reaction of their partners.

            A disadvantage of distance education a lack of instructor and learner professional development and support, copyright and intellectual property issues, and few financial models to create and sustain distance education delivery (Advanced methods in distance education , 2005). Sometimes, the time is very limited and well organized that if it happens a problem in the online courses; students could miss some explanations or not being able to send the assignment before the deadline.

            In the other hand, an excellent advantage is that some online courses are time-flexible, where students and their teachers do not need to be involved in the same activity at the same time (Arleen, 2008). This feature is really good because some students need to have a job, or just have others responsibilities; for example, having children. Learners can manage their time to do the assignments according to their free time, without worrying in assisting to the campus.

            In summary, a face-to-face class is necessary to assist physically to the campus; meanwhile, in distance education students do not need to be in the same place or at the same time in order to acquire knowledge. A difference in virtual classes is that a learner must possess certain knowledge, skills, and abilities in order to complete a planned institutional sequence and be successful (Linder, Dooley, & Murphy 2001) because is not easy to comprehend the way a teacher send the material. In the same way, the use of internet is an aspect that almost all the people have access to it, so is a good tool to use it for educational purpose. Even though, sometimes could occur problems in support. Therefore, the best advantage in online courses is the flexible- time a student could have for the reason that he/she could manage the time to do assignments, to watch tutorial videos, interact with his/her classmates, etcetera. The important aspect is that the learner only knows which class is better, virtual or face-to-face, according to their necessities.

Bibliografía

(2005). Advanced methods in distance eduacation . En K. E. Dooley, J. R. Lindner, & L. M. Dooley, Advanced methods in distance eduacation (págs. 2-4). United States of America: Information Science Publishing.

Arleen, R. B. (june de 2008). communication currents. Obtenido de Face-to-Face or Online Instruction? Face-to-Face is Better: https://www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=884

Face to face and distance education

Face to face class

* The students can express their doubts, and the teacher can respond immediately because even though the student do not still understands the teacher can use several skill, mimic, to approach a solution.

*  Students expand a lot of money in transportation and buying food in school.

* Some students think is boarding and waste of time to listen to the teacher a long period of time.

* They have to take notes every time in order to not forget information because they do not have the explanation.

* Students who like to interact in person do not like this learning method.

Distance education

*   People who are shy or afraid to ask questions, they could do it because they are not seeing the tutor.

*  They do not expend money in getting to class or buying materials as pencils, pens, in other words tangible materials because they have it electronic or they will print until the end of the course.

* Students can check the explanation or tutorials when they have time, but before the dead line.

* If the students forget the explanation or instructions they can check it again and again.

* The people are independent in their studying.