Educational Technology : Data Driven Decisions and Technology in Instruction

Implications for the Future of Distance Learning

In an every changing technological world, students need to have access to the newest innovations to be success in the global marketplace. Many students are taking advantage of the flexibility and cost effectiveness of online instruction to achieve their educational goals. High quality learning communities can help students learn new material in a variety of ways not available in a traditional classroom. As the move towards virtual education progresses, school systems will have to implement strategies to meet the demands of an ever changing student population. Global competiveness is a hot topic across educational forums. Remaining competitive in a global job market means that our educational practices must match or exceed best practices applied in different countries. Virtual learning allows educational institutions to meet student demand for educational opportunities more readily than traditional brick and mortar schools. Inherently, distance learning provides the flexibility necessary to adapt quickly to changing educational goals based on job market conditions. Virtual educational institutions and programs can better prepare students for current employment vacancies because they have the ability to reach more people, accommodate change more rapidly, and provide superior educational options when compared to traditional schools.