Reading and Language Development

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Reading and Language Development:

Early Childhood K-3

December 09, 2005

EDTC

Advanced Telecommunications and Distance Learning

Ethnographic Study on Distance Learning

Submitted By:

Sheena Miles


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Reading and Language Development:

Early Childhood K-3

Background/Introduction

My ethnographic report was performed on theEDUC 633 Reading and Language

Development: Early Childhood K-3 class. This course is based upon learning about

reading as a thinking process, while integrating language development, learning styles,

and individual differences into the curriculum among the K-3 grade audience. The target

is to aid students in the understanding of learning as it should be developed in K-3 grade

students. During this study, I observed the various techniques that happen within a

distance learning class, as well as, what these students expect from this type of strategy

for learning, as will be discussed later in my study. Although, I interviewed more than the

three students outlined in my report, I only chose to include them because of their unique

responses of that from the other individuals within the class. My purpose was to

introduce the idea that there are various reasons why students decide to engage in

distance learning classes. The next section includes only five, but significant questions

asked to the students that are valid to distance learning and this course. These

opinionated questions lead to responses that have conducted my study as a whole. Also,

included are my reflections, as well as, my conclusions from my study conducted. Within

this section, I included noteworthy elements as to what most distance learning students

expect from taking on this style of learning. I even included responses made from the

other students that I interviewed, but didnt fully include in this study. Moreover, this

distance learning research mission turned out to be quite interesting to me as you will

now begin to examine.


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Interview/Questions

In this ethnographic study, I interviewed three distance learning students engaged in the

EDUC 633Reading and Language Development: Early Childhood K-3 class. Following,

contains some questions that I asked these students pertaining to distance learning and

this course, as well as, their responses.

Student A

1. Why did you determine to enroll in a distance learning course generally?

My decision evolved from the fact that I wanted the opportunity to gain insight from

other students at other colleges.

2. What kind of interaction do you have from other students?

When questions are brought up from the professor, students have the opportunity to

exchange and communicate their ideas to one another.

3. What dislikes, if any, do you have about taking this distance learning class?

Although, I enjoyed the experience of engaging in this type of learning strategy, I did

miss the traditional way of learning.

4. Is taking this distance learning class meeting your expectations?

Yes, it is. I was able to learn about the idea of others.

5. What do you think makes a successful distance learner?


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Reflections/Conclusions

As an outcome from the responses given by these distance learning students, I had the

opportunity to reflect on their many ideas. Most students engage in distance learning

activities because of the remote areas that they are domiciled in. Many of these areas may

lack specific courses that are needed. Others have the desire to become involved in a

different type of learning style so that they may gain insight on different issues from

students other than themselves, as well as, wanting to become more intellectually

challenged. The interaction that comes from this compressed video class includes real-

time audio and video feedback between students from different places, which is greatly

enjoyable among them because of the integration of others ideas. The only dislike that I

was given about taking the distance learning class is the extinction of the traditional way

of learning, in which I despise, respectively. Most students enjoy a new approach to

learning simply because the traditional way does not incorporate hands-on or interactive

learning. Yet, all three of the students agreed that taking the distance learning course did

meet their expectations. Moreover, I concur with their statements that successful distance

learners must be determined, responsible and highly-motivated individuals who can be

adaptive to different learning environments.


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Documents

Reading and Language Development