Session 1_ Response to Prompts

1.   As the article explained, online learning is a natural result distance learning. As technology progressed to include the Internet, distance learning also progressed; from mail service education, to television and radio education, and the natural progression to Internet online education.
2.   The biggest difference is the ability to interact immediately. This blogging is a perfect example of difference. In the past distance learning model, this immediate interaction between, instructor, student and information exchange was not possible.
3.   The three main differences, according to Moore are the different types of interactions. First is learning-content interaction. This is the immediate availability of course work, information and/or research. Second is learner-instructor interaction. This is the immediate, or the ability for students and instructors to interact/communicate immediately via the Internet. Third is the learner-learner interaction. This is the ability for students to interact with each other with ease-of-access; as we will be doing in this class via our blogs.
4.  I think i have found the biggest difference in distance learning today is the in the timing; as I have mentioned continuously- the immediate availability of both people and information. In the past, distance learning relied on the speed of the mail postal service; which is appropriately and commonly referred to today as "snail-mail."
http://www.teach-nology.com/tutorials/distlearnk12/
I wanted to predict, or find what professional educators predict, the future of e-learning for K-12 students. I have mixed feelings, and apparently others share several of the same thoughts and concerns.
I predict e-learning will, eventually be a popular alternative to traditional learning, as both the website and the assigned reading state, e-learning can be as "effective as traditional learning...when the methods and technologies used are appropriate..."
I also think that their are downsides to both the instructor and the students. The instructor will have class loads twice that of the traditional instructor, thus some instructors will be overworked and others will not have work, especially if they not are not wise enough to be on the ever-progressing side of the changes in the learning environments.
And, as for the students, those who are academically in-tune/focused, will greatly benefit from e-learning; they are more likely be able to budget their time and focus their priorities on their studies. However, I fear that many students who do not fall in to that category, will fall through the ever-widening cracks of drop-outs and fail-outs in traditional school. Another major factor, at least in my opinion, is that K-12 students may suffer the long-term effects of lack of intercommunication skills, as well as social skills that the traditional learning environment provides.