RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

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

Date: ___6-18-2016

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 Education is basically taking a course where students and
instructor are separated from each other by distance. (1) Online
education offers students many advantages. Perhaps one of the most
well-known benefits is flexibility. Students can log on from anywhere-from a college center, home, office, or a coffee shop--and take online
courses. This enables students to complete their assignments when they
choose within the timeframe assigned by the instructor. Transportation is
another important factor. Students enrolled in online courses do not need
to attend a physical class. That means students lacking vehicles or
access to transportation or experiencing adverse weather conditions can
still complete their assignments without delay.In addition, students who
take online courses increase their skills in technology and even become
better writers.(2) Other additional advantages of distance learning are;
Numerous choices for schools, Lowered cost and learn while working.(3)
Universities also realize advantages to hosting online classes, as student
population tend to increase. In combination with lower withdrawal rates of
online students, universities have found online learning to be very cost
effective and efficient via many avenues never thought possible before
online learning came into existence (Steen, p. 527). (4)
Depending on the researches here are some disadvantages of distance
education. While enrolled in an online course, students do not have
many one-on-one meetings with their instructors. Another possible hurdle
for online education is that it requires access to the Internet. Lack of
social interaction. Other possible disadvantages; Lack of social
interaction, Format is not ideal for all learners, Requires adaptability to
new technologies, some employers do not accept online degrees and not
all courses required to complete the degree may be offered online.
Distance learning does not offer immediate feedback.In a traditional
classroom setting, a student's performance can be immediately assessed
through questions and informal testing. With distance learning, a student
has to wait for feedback until the instructor has reviewed their work and
responded to it.(5)

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:
My personal take on these articles is distance education is here to stay and will
get more and more attraction. I do believe and have the same idea with the
advantages of the distance learning that were mentioned in the researches cited
above. The best part for me is to be able to work and get my degree at the same
time. At this point I am a stay at home mom but I am planing to go back to
teaching soon and it would not be possible to attend a school for a degree and
work at the same time. Online education provides this flexibility which is a big
plus. One of the disadvantages which I agree is it takes the social interaction
out. You do not have a friend to tab on the shoulder that you might have in
regular classroom.
These researches helped me understand the advantages and disadvantages in
a wide perspective. I agree all of the findings on these issue. Since I am taking a
online courses I face these things and I am the real life example of the
advantages and disadvantages of the distance education. One think I can thing
of is I can use the researchers (maybe others) on how to over come the
problems I am facing while taking online courses.

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: (1)
Fender, D. L. (1999). Distance Education. Professional Safety, 44(10), 26.
(2) Al-Asfour, A. (2012). Online Teaching: Navigating Its Advantages,
Disadvantages and Best Practices. Tribal College Journal Of American Indian
Higher Education, 23(3),
(3) The International Association for Distance Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved June
19, 2016, from http://www.iadl.org.uk/Article20.htm
(4) Fedynich, La Vonne (2013). Teaching beyond the Classroom Walls: The
Pros and Cons of Cyber Learning. 13,7
(5)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved June
19, 2016, from http://www.distance-learning-college-guide.com/advantageand-disadvantage-of-distance-learning.html