RESEARCH PAPER TEMPLATE

North American University

Education Department

EDUC 3316: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE CURRICULUM

Name: Enrika Huseni Date: 11/17/2022

Topic Selected: (3) What does the research say about the advantages and disadvantages
of distance education?
1. LITERATURE REVIEW:
What does the literature/research say about this issue/topic? By using NAU
Library or Online Search engines, conduct a literature review.
● You need to include 5 different sources (book, journal article, web article
etc.) in your review. Try to use current sources as much as possible.
● You need to summarize and synthesize your sources by discussing a
common theme or issue. 
● You don't need to critique your sources
● You don't need to evaluate your sources (if the sources are trustworthy,
weather the author has a bias or not)
● You need to provide background information such as history and
definitions

Brief Literature Review

Distance education (DE) is an instructional practice between learners and

educators when they are in different geographical locations. Technology innovation and

media contribute significantly to accomplishing this program. Different researchers have

conducted extensive research to explore the benefits and limitations of this approach.

According to Fidalgo et al., DE has become a prevalent norm, especially in higher

learning institutions such as universities and colleges. On the other hand, Mensah et al.

indicate that the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic contributed to fueling this educational

practice as many institutions were forced to shift to digital learning to respond to the

social containment measures such as lockdowns, social distancing, and temporary closure

of public places (Mensah et al., 2020). Fidalgo et al. suggest that the practice has

provided vast benefits, including addressing the diverse educational needs of students in
various parts of the world (Fidalgo et al., 2020). Thanks to the program, information

access to the distribution of educational content have become more accessible and

available to global populations.

A similar article by Manijeh Sadeghi examines the advantages and disadvantages

of DE. The author suggests that the approach has its significant share of benefits and

limitations. The article also highlights the indispensable role technological advancements

have played in revolutionizing the educational field. Based on this perspective, DE is

perceived as part of the innovation which has played a pivotal role in allowing students to

maintain contact with their teachers, bridge the gap, and facilitate the distribution of

educational materials. As a result, the instructional method facilitates flexibility since

students can study from anywhere and at any time. The source also indicates that distance

education contributes significantly to saving monetary resources since they can study

from wherever they are without being required to relocate from one place to another or

travel daily to school. DE also enables students to earn while studying by offering a

flexible learning schedule that makes it easy to study after school (Sadeghi, 2019). The

instructional method also helps in saving time and provides the flexibility to choose

between different types of learning schedules that are more convenient and help meet

their needs without having to stick to a fixed schedule. The journal article by Al

Rawashdeh et al. also affirms that DE offers flexibility by allowing learners to take

classes anywhere with various learning approaches (Al Rawashdeh et al., 2021). The

source also indicates that the practice may result in a better quality of teaching and

learning. The reason is that it ensures that students participate in the learning process,

often accompanied by visuals, collaborative sharing, interactive graphics, and other

techniques that may aid in making the learning process more exciting and beneficial.

A study by Korolkov et al. suggests that reduced personal contact between

students and teachers is among the limitations of e-learning. The reason is that the

phenomenon increases the possibility of cheating and minimizes direct control (Korolkov

et al., 2020). Social isolation may interfere with some aspects of hands-on skills

development and limit the capacity to understand some practical subjects. Manijeh

Sadeghi also highlights some limitations of distance learning, including a relatively

higher possibility of getting distracted since there are no supervision, physical

interactions, or students who can help with constant reminders about impending

assignments. This learning activity requires the integration of complicated technology to

facilitate distance learning which often necessitates investing in various equipment, such

as a stable internet connection and a PC (Mensah et al., 2020). Again, the class sessions

may stand still if there is power disconnection, software or hardware malfunction, and

other technical issues. DE also limits social interactions since an individual study at home

alone, minimizing the physical interactions that a traditional classroom offers. The

approach may also limit learners' interaction with teachers since it relies on

communication platforms such as emails may often hinder the immediate response.

2. REFLECTION:
● What is your personal opinion on this issue? Do you agree with the
research? If you agree or disagree, please explain why?
● Provide examples/experiences regarding this issue from school
perspective or If you are not working in a school, from your profession. Be
specific with your examples. You can mention software/hardware names,
specific methods that you plan to use, etc.
● How would you implement this research in your career? (At least 1
paragraph)

Reflection
Generally, researchers view distance education as an approach that has played a

crucial role in breaking geographical barriers to education. The phenomenon has allowed

learning to thrive between individuals in different locations. Studies affirm that the

learning program has its advantages and disadvantages. Some benefits include saving

time and resources, flexibility, and improving the quality of learning. The drawbacks
include increasing social isolation, overreliance on complex technology, hindering

immediate response by the instructors, lack of direct control, and the possibility of

cheating.

Therefore, there is a crucial need to reexamine the method and invent appropriate

measures that can help enhance its effectiveness while ensuring that learners and

educators reap maximum benefits from the innovation.

3. REFERENCES:
● Cite at least 5 References in APA.
● You may use http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-journal for citing
your sources in APA style.

References
Al Rawashdeh, A. Z., Mohammed, E. Y., Al Arab, A. R., Alara, M., Al-Rawashdeh, B.,

& Al-Rawashdeh, B. (2021). Advantages and disadvantages of using E-LEarning

in University education: Analyzing students’ perspectives. Electronic Journal of

e-Learning, 19(3), 107-117. https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.19.3.2168

Fidalgo, P., Thormann, J., Kulyk, O., & Lencastre, J. A. (2020). Students’ perceptions

on distance education: A multinational study. International Journal of

Educational Technology in Higher

Education, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-020-00194-2

Korolkov, A., Germanov, G., Langueva, O., Shevyakova, A., & Poskrebysheva, N.

(2020). Advantages and disadvantages of distance learning on students and

teachers of the physical culture faculty opinion. BIO Web of Conferences, 26,

00058. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20202600058

Mensah, E. A., White, K. R., Yankey, B., & Brown, S. S. (2020). COVID-19 and

distance learning: Effects on Georgia State University School of Public Health

students. Frontiers in Public
 Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.576227

Sadeghi, M. (2019). A shift from classroom to distance learning: Advantages and

limitations. International Journal of Research in English Education, 4(1), 80-

88. https://doi.org/10.29252/ijree.4.1.80