The need to evolve distance education in the next generation is due to the dramatic increase in distance education. With the use of technology for connecting teaching and learning; it will grow significantly, but not in a revolutionary way. Traditional school will not be abolished nor will colleges and schools of education and universities. It will be highly structured and plan. Distance education technologies will be used just about in teaching/learning process in K-12, higher and professional education and in business and corporations training environment (Simonson).

The future for distance education is positive when e-learning is chosen as the question instead of the answer. E-learning with the Internet makes things possible when the decision is made as trainers and educators for exploiting intelligently and systematically possibilities. The instructional design field has grown in many directions (Huett, Moller, Foshay & Coleman, (2008).

I agree with the positions of both articles. Distance education is growing more and more. A lot of people have to work and raise their families and this has made it easier for them to go back to school and get a higher education. Everyone is not cut out for distance education so they still have the convenience of the traditional school, college and universities. With the Internet numerous opportunities are available; it is at the click of the mouse.

References:

Simonson, M. (Speaker). (n.d.). Distance Education: The Next Generation. Retrieved September 8, 2009.

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W.R. & Coleman, C. (2008, Sept-Oct). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web. TechTrends, 52, 5, pp. 63-67. Retrieved September 8, 2009 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org.