RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

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

Date: 6/19/2019

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:

This article review has been done by analyzing five different sources about advantages and
disadvantages of distance education. These resources consider their main forms, types and
importance of the distance learning in educational process. Almost all articles describe
distance education as different from traditional education and they mostly describe distance
education as educational information and instruction that is taught to physically distant
learners from the source of that information and instruction. Distance education which is also
interchangeably used as distance learning in these articles, depicts such learning process as a
chance to people who could not afford time or money for traditional classes or who live in
remote areas or far from the educational institutions. All sources also agree that because of
the recent expansion of the World Wide Web, the Internet has become the most crucial
means of delivering distance education. (Cook, D. A. 2007).
Most of the articles reviewed discussed how the distance learning occurs and how it is
conducted in terms of distribution means and technology. When we look at how the
educational materials are distributed through distance learning programs we see that printed
and mailed materials have been existed for well over a hundred years, but still the distance
educations history is short and it has flourished in recent years by the technological
innovations like; printable materials, televisions, DVDs, teleconferencing, computer, and

internet. Among them due to its immediacy and functionality the Web learning or E-learning
has become most popular choice for many distance learners. (Bourn, D. d., & Bootle, K.
2005). Thus online learning programs took advantage of many emerging technologies to
make effective communicating ideas easier and more efficient than ever before.
Articles also defined the main advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. So as per
the articles some of the major advantages of the distance learning are flexibility, studying at
your own pace, time, and convenience, completing degree or getting additional job-training
while balancing work and family commitments. The most significant advantage of distance
learning is that one can pursue her choice of education during any time of her life. (Porter,
L.R. 1997). Another advantage of distance learning is money saving since this program does
not require regular classes, it saves money and time in commuting. You can also take
advantage paying more qualified teacher instead of paying to the premise. Besides in distance
education course materials can be kept for later use and instructional materials are available
for later reviewing.
Like any kind of educational program, distance learning comes with some disadvantages.
Some of the shortcomings that are stated in the articles are limited contact with the other
students, isolation from the tutor, and difficult technology and accessibility. Almost all
articles underlined self-motivation, discipline requirement and taking responsibility for study
time as the main disadvantage of distance education.

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:
From my point of view distance learning occurs when there is a difference between the
teacher and the student, usually because of geographical and/or time concerns that prevent
the student from attending an on-campus course. These educational programs have usually
been specially designed to help best meet the needs and requirements that arise when learning
is taking place outside of a traditional classroom setting.
I agree that the majority of distance education today takes place using the Internet, that is
readily accessible for the vast majority of people/students whether in their own homes or at
facilities such as local libraries. Because the hours when class work can be completed are
flexible, as most distance learning programs allow students to work at their own place and on
their own time, many students can complete their work during times when they are free,
rather than scheduling their lives around a set classroom time. Of course with more flexibility
comes more responsibility on the part of the learner. Thats why online education students
must learn to work well independently and without the constant guidance and monitoring of
an instructor. According to me this makes distance learning challenging for those who are not
easily self-motivated.
Some of the disadvantages mentioned in the articles which were written few years ago has
been solved, and I believe that year by year distance learning will become more popular. I
am one of the distance learning students who has a full work schedule and a lot of family
responsibilities. Having flexibility in education gives me chance to academically improve
myself and continue my education.

I am one of the online learning believers who use this tool or I could tell this opportunity in
every aspects of my life and my career such as attending online trainings, webinars as well as
sending our employees to complete their state required annual trainings. Distance education
will remove barriers between students and educational institutions and will give great
opportunity for those are not able to get traditional education.
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. Bender P. Multimedia Reviews: Books. Media & Methods [serial online]. May
1999; 35(5):20. Available from: Education Source, Ipswich, MA. Accessed June
19, 2016.
2. Bourn, D. d., & Bootle, K. (2005). Evaluation of a Distance Learning, Post
Graduate Advanced Award in Social Work Program for Child and Family Social
Work Supervisors and Mentors. Social Work Education, 24(3), 343-362.
3. Cook, D. A. (2007). Web-Based Learning: Pros, Cons and Controversies.
Education for Primary Care, 18(3), 417-41.
4. Adevia, D. An Internet-based introductory college astronomy course with realtime telescopic observing. The Journal [serial online]. January 1999; 26(6):71-72.
Available from: Education Source, Ipswich, MA. Accessed June 19, 2016.
5. Porter, L.R. (1997) Creating the virtual classroom: distance learning with the
Internet. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
6. Ryan, M. (1997) Education casts wide net. TechWeb News, October.