Do you think it's important to 1) develop new theories or 2) adjust/revise old theories, as technology develops and changes? Please explain and support your position with creditable resources.
I did my research on the emerging theory of transactional distance and found information regarding the need for revising theories. In Rethinking Distance Learning Activities: A Comparison of Transactional Distance Theory and Activity Theory, Kang and Gyorke (2008) feel that transactional distance theory is outdated and needs re-appraised. They summarize that education has evolved, especially distance education, and since social characteristics are a large factor in learning, this theory lacks to address this and thus needs modified. However, communication and social needs have always been a part of learning, and transactional distance theory’s elements include dialogue (communication).
While communication occurs in different forms in the distance education from brick and mortar education, this does not mean it is any less valuable or lacks depth in an online environment. Much like other elements of learning, although they take on a different form, it does not mean they do not exist or are cause for changing theories. In Jung’s article, Building a Theoretical Framework of Web-based Instruction in the Context of Distance Education (2001) the pedagogical features are often similar with emerging theories to the main existing theories. As with distance education, Education is still education, the only difference is physical space.
Education will continue to evolve, and as it does so must theories. With this research, most theories consist of the same core of pedagogy. However, the main, original theories have not evolved or been revised, but rather new theories evolve out of them. Therefore I think it is difficult to revise a theory, but rather a new theory or sub-theory should be created from them.
Resources
Jung, I. (November 01, 2001). Building a Theoretical Framework of Web-based Instruction in the Context of Distance Education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 32, 5, 525-34. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.boisestate.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=faca0860-b865-467e-89a8-70c3f49a461b%40sessionmgr4&vid=2&hid=18
Kang, H., & Gyorke, A. S. (November 01, 2008). Rethinking Distance Learning Activities: A Comparison of Transactional Distance Theory and Activity Theory. Open Learning, 23, 3, 203-214. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.boisestate.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cd329660-1b3d-44f9-a63b-da044d8fd534%40sessionmgr11&vid=2&hid=18
I did my research on the emerging theory of transactional distance and found information regarding the need for revising theories. In Rethinking Distance Learning Activities: A Comparison of Transactional Distance Theory and Activity Theory, Kang and Gyorke (2008) feel that transactional distance theory is outdated and needs re-appraised. They summarize that education has evolved, especially distance education, and since social characteristics are a large factor in learning, this theory lacks to address this and thus needs modified. However, communication and social needs have always been a part of learning, and transactional distance theory’s elements include dialogue (communication).
While communication occurs in different forms in the distance education from brick and mortar education, this does not mean it is any less valuable or lacks depth in an online environment. Much like other elements of learning, although they take on a different form, it does not mean they do not exist or are cause for changing theories. In Jung’s article, Building a Theoretical Framework of Web-based Instruction in the Context of Distance Education (2001) the pedagogical features are often similar with emerging theories to the main existing theories. As with distance education, Education is still education, the only difference is physical space.
Education will continue to evolve, and as it does so must theories. With this research, most theories consist of the same core of pedagogy. However, the main, original theories have not evolved or been revised, but rather new theories evolve out of them. Therefore I think it is difficult to revise a theory, but rather a new theory or sub-theory should be created from them.
Resources
Jung, I. (November 01, 2001). Building a Theoretical Framework of Web-based Instruction in the Context of Distance Education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 32, 5, 525-34. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.boisestate.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=faca0860-b865-467e-89a8-70c3f49a461b%40sessionmgr4&vid=2&hid=18
Kang, H., & Gyorke, A. S. (November 01, 2008). Rethinking Distance Learning Activities: A Comparison of Transactional Distance Theory and Activity Theory. Open Learning, 23, 3, 203-214. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.boisestate.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cd329660-1b3d-44f9-a63b-da044d8fd534%40sessionmgr11&vid=2&hid=18