Unit one reflection

In this unit we've learned the characteristics of open education, distance education and traditional education.

I've learned that Distance Education is more formal than Open Education because it requires a certain level of education from the student, because the students need to be registered and all students have to follow a certain pace on their own schedule although sometimes DE can be open. I also pointed out how distance education is becoming more and more a bussiness.

Characteristically OE does not grant a degree, it's generally used to teach more informal courses, I set Inglés sin Barreras as an example of it. Generally in both types though, personal compromise with the course is what will lead to being successful in the learning and completion of this.

About traditional education I made a comment that sometimes when you're in a class you don't really get what's just been taught for different reasons (sickness, you might have a lot in your mind...) and with DE you look for the right time, get the information and you have it there if you want to review any time and as many times as you want.

Finally, the biggest difference between DE and TE is that DE is so much more accesible, it reduces obstacles like time and space, economical and/or family issues, work schedules, it could also help those shy students that never speak up in class to actually participate, it promotes learner's autonomy and awareness of his/her capabilities and posibilities towards self-learning.

Overall I think this unit set ground knowledge about different types of education and their uses for us to be ready to start working directly with distance education.