My future in ECE . . . Distributed Learning

                Chris Dede identifies distributed learning as the ability to create shared “learning-through-doing environments” that is accessible and open-ended. As a professional in early childhood education I don’t plan to leave the field I am so passionate about after I receive a degree in educational technology, instead I hope to use this new knowledge to teach the future leaders of my profession on Kauai. Our communities are rural and it takes anywhere from 45 – 90 minutes to get to the only community college from the towns that are far west and north. Using a distance education delivery for scheduled face-to-face courses here would help to ease the strain for students who are working, have families, and have travelling challenges. It also makes sense to introduce the idea of distance learning to community college students who have no choice but to do a distance learning program if they choose to stay on Kauai while continuing their education. If given the chance to change my locus of control from a preschool classroom of 4 year olds to a synchronous learning environment of future preschool teachers and directors, I will use the emerging technologies available to build our learning community online and in the classroom.

                Lev Vygotski is a very important person in early childhood education and child development. When referring to thought development he says that “children must pass through developmental stages of complexes before they form a concept” and the same can be said about adult learners in distance education. I believe it is a process and aiding undergraduate students in developing that when they are just beginning to build their post-high school education is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. By incorporating the continual use of the internet and hypermedia interactivity to build community, my curriculum would aim to connect student’s demonstrated abilities with the 21^st century skills they’ll need to move forward.

                Each of the three expressive forms of distributed learning-through-doing fits into how I hope run my course. With all of the information available on the web, it is imperative to help students sort through and organize these sources. Introducing tools for social bookmarking at the beginning of a course will assist individuals in creating a system for resources, collaborative learning, and sharing through the construction of knowledge webs. In addition, I feel that using computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) in the classroom first before ultimately substituting it for actual face-to-face classes throughout the semester would provide the gradual development needed for student success. Although I feel that the use of synchronous and asynchronous means of delivering course curriculum and content has changed the face of education, it cannot and should not replace student practicums as it relates to education. Some experiences must happen in its real-world setting like in the P-12 classroom for authentic growth to happen. One day, I will find a way to incorporate Vygotski’s theories about early childhood development and apply it to what I know about how learning evolves in adulthood. Using technology to build a truly collaborative experience for the adult learners I will one day teach will in turn change the way they view education for their young students.