Going the Distance

Given the recent rise in popularity of the concept of distance learning, it is hard to imagine a time when this was not part of how educators work. To find out more about this interesting and growing learning space, HRM spoke exclusively with current USDLA President, John Flores.

“You have to be sure that the corporation is embracing solid standards of learning, so they are sure that they know what their employees need to learn and know how this is actually going to take place”
-John Flores, USDLA

It is Boston, Massachusetts 1987, and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) has just been formed as the first non-profit association in the US to support distance learning research, development and praxis across the complete arena of education, training and communications.

Founded based on the need to meet the burgeoning education and training requirements of learning communities via new concepts of communication technologies, today the USDLA is supporting the development and application of distance learning by focusing on all legislation impacting the distance learning community and its varied constituencies.

Given the recent rise in popularity of the concept of distance learning, it is hard to imagine a time when this was not part of how educators work. To find out more about this interesting and growing learning space, HRM spoke exclusively with current USDLA President, John Flores.

What are the current trends you’re seeing in distance and online learning?
John Flores. Specifically the current trends are a dramatic increase in the number of students that are becoming engaged in online programs. Through the USDLA, we really represent a number of different constituencies. K through 12, higher education, corporate, government, military, telehealth and home schooling, and within each of those particular constituencies there has been a marked increase of the availability of programs, as well as the number of students who are taking advantage of that fact.

What we’ve begun to see is that, provided the program is designed to be as good as a face-to-face experience, and one that meets the standards that have been established by the USDLA to really reflect excellence, high demand in terms of course quality, as well as content and overall rigor, you have a usually successful program for students to participate in. Overall, the major trend is a dramatic increase in students taking classes and courses, and that’s not only in the online environment but it’s also through video conferencing as well as through satellite-based delivery systems. So across the board, each technology, and really each constituency, is currently in vertical climb mode.

“Whether you're in business or industry or the educational world, we are truly lifelong learners and if we don't accept that, then we're going to fall behind the curve”
-John Flores, USDLA

And how is technology impacting the online learning space?
JF. In terms of technology in general, when you think about the traditional digital immigrants and the digital natives (those students who have really been born into the digital age) their expectations are very different than perhaps what mine were when I was in public education: they expect technology to become an integral part of their daily life.

It wasn’t that long ago that you were asking who offers a distance learning program in the States? Whereas today the question really is, who doesn’t? Most colleges or most corporations rely on online instruction as an integral part of their HR services as for not only professional development but just for day-to-day communication.

So do you believe that distance learning courses can really provide as rich an experience as those of a traditional classroom?
JF. Oh, positively; I think based on standards that have been established in terms of when you design a class or a course or a program, I think first and foremost you have to have goals and objectives that fit within the mission of whatever the school district or the corporate entity might be, and from that you build upon very high level standards, making sure that you have built integrity into the program.

Users want to be sure that any kind of learning environment that you design is one that really provides an infrastructure in terms of support, and when you’re thinking of the teaching and learning process you have to be sure that the professor or the teacher who is conducting the class is comfortable with and understands technology. You have to be sure that whether it’s a help desk or whether it’s reference and research resources, that’s all built into it along with a very strong program evaluation that’s an ongoing process of when you think about a distance learning classroom, whether it be online or satellite-based, or media-conference based. You have to think in the same terms that you think of the best classes that you had as a student where the professor knew his or her material, presented it in an exciting way and gave the same support services. The same holds true for online; it has to be as good as if not better than the face-to-face experience. And that’s easy to determine through an evaluation process.

And in what ways do you think businesses are using these distance learning programs? Are they utilizing them across the board or are there elements to it that they need to improve on?
JF. In terms of most companies that are using it for professional development, distance learning is usually the way in which major corporations tend to go. And that's because it makes the any where, any time, any place philosophy, which most companies have to deal with when it comes to producing and providing products and making sure that their employees are receiving the most up-to-date, accurate information, a very tangible possibility.

However, you have to be sure that the corporation is embracing solid standards of learning, so they are sure that they know what their employees need to learn and know how this is actually going to take place.

And given that distance learning can sometimes be quite a solitary experience, how is it possible to ensure that teamwork skills are not overlooked when using these programs?
JF. Actually I think that’s something of a misnomer. If you look at quality distance learning programs you’ll discover that the professor or the teacher really engages the students many times more than what happens in a classroom situation. You can hide in a traditional face-to-face classroom; you can’t hide in an online class. And that’s done through chat, that’s done through threaded discussions and that’s done through the professor engaging those students as part of the delivery of the lessons and as part of delivery of a lecture. So, while in terms of isolation you may have to have a certain level of ability to be able to work on alone on occasion, an online program where there is no interaction with a professor, in my opinion, is not as good as a blended approach, which is a combination of online elements as well as solid communication with whomever is teaching that program.

What you’re saying links into how businesses can be sure their people are engaged with an online program. After all, in the absence of a physical teacher, surely it is more important that corporations can be sure that their people are giving 100 percent?
JF. When you look at the absence of a physical teacher then you have to build a system that, in essence, is creating an environment where the student wants to succeed and the student wants to achieve, and there are new technologies that are coming on board that deal with different learning styles. In the past, for instance, most of distance learning programs were designed by a teacher, professor or an instructor that pretty much were one size fits all: the professor would design a class or course based on their learning style – what was most comfortable for them – and then they would deliver that to their particular students; but today, there are new technologies that are available that allow you to recreate digital coding as the course is being delivered so that, based on the learning style of the student, he or she can be engaged in lessons that meet their particular needs in a much more specific way.

As a result, the whole concept of online completion increases dramatically, up to 90-95 percent, and subsequently there is a level of student satisfaction that keeps that student engaged.

So how can encouraging employees’ education help companies achieve their own goals? And does an investment in your workforce’s education always equate to business success?
JF. Any company that invests in their employees through education, whether it be face-to-face or whether it be online, is obviously going in the right direction. Professionals or paraprofessionals need to be challenged on a regular basis to increase their skill level and their knowledge base, and it’s really about lifelong learning.

Not to use that as a cliché, but whether you’re in business or industry or the educational world, we are truly lifelong learners and if we don’t accept that, then we’re going to fall behind the curve. You constantly have to be prepared to learn about new opportunities within your company, whether it’s new products, new services or whatever: the bottom line is not only incumbent upon companies to provide that level of service but, in my opinion, it’s morally required as well.

And bearing in mind that concept of lifelong learners, what do you think the future is for the distance learning space? Do you see any future trends on the horizon?
JF. Well as an industry we’re definitely on a vertical climb, with the digital natives of the world really expecting distance learning to be part of their educational process throughout their lives. Meanwhile, we are seeing that older generations are beginning to see very sharp increases in terms of utilization, and in the US at least some of the retired associations of our professionals now have strong distance learning departments that provide all kinds of learning. So in the future we’re going to see an increase in utilization that is not necessarily just for when you are in a corporation or a company. And again that goes back to being able to learn those kinds of things that give you a sense of satisfaction.

As you look at distance learning and where it’s going in the future, there are just a myriad amount of opportunities for folks across the board from all of those constituencies that I mentioned earlier, the K-12, the higher ed, the government, military, and we’re just going to see that continue to grow.

John Flores is President of USDLA, a role he has been in for the last 10 years.