RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

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

Name:__GOKNUR_ORUC______ Date:07/26/2019_________________________

Topic Selected: What does the research say about advantages and
disadvantages of distance education?

Tehrani,M.S.(2011).Distance learning:An empirical study.Information

Systems Education Journal,9(1),(41-52).

Distance learning: An empirical study

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 study presents an empirical investigation designed to identify some advantages and
disadvantages of distance learning. Ninety students from seven different courses at two
various universities took part in this investigation. The study supports that online
teaching could be more than 35% of the total credit hours in a graduate program. Also,
the study supports that online teaching has gone too far. The study suggested four
hypotheses, which were tested using a series of t-test. The author hopes that this paper
provides valuable insights into application of distance learning and educational design as
an important part of an academic’s routine activities.
Distance Education is not a new subject, but recently it has come in vogue (Terry,
2001).With the dawn of new educational and training technologies made possible by the
internet, distance education is a practical option for today’s time-starved students.
Distance education is a system of education that in which instructor and students have no
face to face interactions rather they communicate with each other through distance modes
of learning like correspondence through postal mail, online interaction through video or
audio conferencing, electronic mail, radio, television, Internet, cable, broadband lines,
fiber optics, satellite, wireless communications devices; or video cassettes, DVDs, and
CD-ROMs, etc.
“Distance education is a planned teaching/learning experience in which teacher and
students are separated by physical distance. In distance education courses and programs,
student-teacher interaction may occur and course materials may be delivered in an
asynchronous or synchronous mode over a wide spectrum of existing and evolving
media”.
Online education is growing exponentially in popularity among programs of education
throughout the country. This phenomenon called online learning has been revered as an
extraordinary change to the delivery platform of education. Distance education has
"brought new life and possibilities...No longer is learning away from a traditional
classroom the exception, but rather it is becoming a learner-centered standard many
educational models strive to replicate" (Bitter & Legacy, 2006, p.131). Other formats of
cyber learning contain a mixture of what is referred to as hybrid courses. These courses
are offered in a percentage of time spent in face-to-face contact with the instructor and
another percentage of class time spent in the cyber space classroom. Combining these
two attributes gives the student the best of both worlds in which to grow academically.
Even though there is a positive spin being endowed on cyber learning, there are
complications that need to be brought to light. If not properly understood, anticipated and
prepared for, these disadvantages can prove to be formidable obstacles. A disadvantage
that is often times overlooked or assumed is that individuals participating in online
courses are computer literate. Consider one of the basic facts pertaining to online
learning: students and faculty have to be computer literate. It’s a plain and simple fact. As
hard as it is to imagine these days, there are individuals that are less than adequately
prepared for a technology-rich learning environment (Ratliff, 2009). Without this ability,
the cyber classroom is a moot point. Although computer literacy is a requirement of
online learning, but so is online access. The lack of access either due to logistics or
economic reasons, will exclude participants from the cyber class. This is a limitation for
all online programs that are reliant on Internet access. Design and implementation is
another disadvantage to online learning. Lack of instructor face time is another issue that
has been seen as a downside to cyber learning especially for students of particular
learning modalities.

The author has direct experience with some of the advantages and disadvantages of
online learning and the role that it is playing in higher education today.
Some of the research questions (RQ) and hypotheses (H) are as follows:
RQ-1: What are the advantages and disadvantages of online courses?
H1: The main advantage of online courses is flexibility and allows working at any time
and location.

H2: The main disadvantage of online courses is no face-to-face contact with instructors
and others.
RQ-2: How should be the online courses within a program?
H3: Online teaching could be more than 35% of the total credit hours in an under
graduate or graduate program
H4: Has online teaching production gone too far?

The objective of this study was to find out about the advantages and disadvantages of
distance learning.

A questionnaire was designed based upon the concepts of distance learning advantages
and disadvantages. The institutional review board at the institutions approved the survey.
The first version of the questionnaire was comprised of 22 questions and the second
version of the questionnaire was comprised of 26 questions. Some of the questions were
designed as open-ended questions. The questionnaires were pre-tested by some students
before sending them out. The first version of questionnaire was sent out to forty-six MBA
students taking an online course, Management Information Systems at university Y.
The second version of questionnaire was sent out to forty-four students taking five
different online courses at university Z. Over 85% of the students who participated in the
study had full time jobs. In total 66 questionnaires out of 90 questionnaires (73%) were
returned.
Advantages:
*Learn more, faster and location free-24/7.
*Lower cost and additional university income.
*Bring disparate students from anywhere.*
*Undesirable weather, latest IT, force interaction, take breaks
Disadvantages:
*Face to face interaction
*Complex concepts, feedback issues, interruption, computer fail

Question six focused on advantages of an online course for MIS. The

respondents had to rank the advantages by choosing “1” as the biggest advantage and “5”
as the smallest advantage.
But, the study showed that cost issue is the least important advantage from student
perspective;
Next, students were asked to rank the disadvantages of a MIS online course using a
similar scale.

From the student’s point of view the biggest disadvantage of online courses is “there will
be no face –to- face contact with other participants and speakers” followed by “not
having constructive feedback on complex concepts” and “more interruptions while taking
the course online rather than interruptions in the classroom”.
Question twenty-three asked whether some online schools become degree producers. As
Table-6 shows 75% agreed. Only 25% responded negative. This indicates that the
perception about online degrees is not positive among students. This may be true for
applying a job with an online degree.
The next question was directed at whether online teaching production gone too far. As
Table-7 shows 75% disagreed while 25% reported agree.
The last question asked what should be the percentage of online courses within an
undergraduate/graduate program. As Table-9 shows 39% reported 100% while 18%
responded less than 75%. Only 25% reported less than 25% and another 25% responded
less than 50%.
Online learning permits educators and students to exchange ideas and information,
work together on projects, around the clock, from anywhere in the world (Hiltz,1994;
Albert, D. et al, 2008, McLinden, M. et al, 2010). This study has discussed several
advantages and disadvantages regarding online learning in the higher education
environment as supported by research findings.
 From the author’s point of view, there is no doubt that we should use online learning
in higher education. This was supported by the findings of this study both from
descriptive and inferential analyses. More, the online teaching may be used successfully
for general corporate training exercises and advanced career-specific educational
advancement.

This study presented a lot of data related to distance learning (DL) which can be used for
further research and concepts development. In addition, considering the findings of this
study, this paper provides valuable insights into the notation of educational design as an
important part of an academic’s routine activities. Another direction for future study is to
collect more data from more online courses from various universities to further validate
the advantages and disadvantages. One may say that this is a kind of ongoing research as
the IT advances.

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:
I think, online courses offer an excellent way for students to broaden their educational
opportunities and stay competitive in the ever-demanding realm of education. Students
embarking on the path of higher education through online coursework need to be self-
motivated, independent, and responsible learners. Understanding one’s learning style and
skills will allow students to more accurately determine if online learning is suitable for
them. Instructors and course designers will also benefit from understanding the aspects of
a course that increase students’ understanding and participation. Communication in terms
of supportive comments, constructive criticism, and prompt feedback from instructors to
students is a key component of online courses. Clear directions and an easily navigable
course are also elements of a well-structured course. Overall, online learning
environments allow for learning to occur in a setting that is not restricted by place or
time. Online learning has the ability to disassemble barriers that have been constructed by
poverty, location, disability, as well as other factors.
The best part of the distance learning is its flexibility which makes it much more
convenient for the students. It is not like the traditional style of education where there is a
fixed time of class and you have to be present in the classroom.
Another great thing about distance learning is the convenience. It doesn’t matter how far
your college is located from your place, you will be able to get educated anyhow. This is
the online education system. One of the hugest benefits of online distance learning is that
you do not have to travel. Everyday traveling to and from college and home can be
tiresome as well as a waste of a lot of time and money. Once you come back home from
your job you can start your distance learning.
After 17 years of teaching and administration, for some reasons, I changed my
profession. It is great to do online distance masters. Because I am in a very busy work. If
I didn’t have this chance it would be impossible to participate in international business
trade and then to have a traditional education. But now I can easily focus on both my
work and masters program.
Another thing I experienced when I started my first master's program, I thought I couldn't
understand anything, because I was used to the traditional education system before and I
had a fear of that. Later on, I seriously gained enough time by online distance masters. I
plump for it. I think that there is a very meaningful education model that can be done by
people who have more intensity after some age.

Approximately I participate in 40 trade shows in a year and I may also consider having
online distance educational programs on business sector. I want to learn and improve
some of my computer program skills.

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:

Bitter, G. & Legacy, L. (2006). Using technology in the classroom (brief ed.). Boston:

Pearson.

Garnham C., and Kaleta, R. (2002). Introduction to hybrid courses. Teaching With

Technology Today, 8(6), 1-5. Retrieved from

http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/garnham.htm

Gilbert,B.(2015).Online learning revealing the benefits and challenges,Education

Masters,p.303.
Hiltz, S.R. (1994). The virtual classroom: Learning without limits via computer networks.

Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Corp.

McLinden, M., McCall, S., Hinton, D., Annette Weston, A. (2010). Developing

Authentic Online Problem-based Learning Case Scenarios for Teachers of

Students with Visual Impairments in the United Kingdom. Journal of Visual

Impairment & Blindness,Jan, Vol. 104 Issue 1, p30-42