Introduction
This is a modern way of learning where by one is able to get the required information without the need for an instructor. These systems are analyzed so that a learner can be able to know the weaknesses and the strengths of using the distance learning system. In this learning there is the involvement of use of new technologies that can assist the learner. The learning strategies provide the necessary means meeting the readiness requirements of the teaching environment. (Rael, 2000)
Tapped in system
In the tapped in system of distance learning it is an international community of education for professionals and there is the k-12students, libraries, professional staff development, there are also faculties that are for the teachers and students and also the researchers are able to get their information and be able to engage in professional programs that enable them in taking their work of research. This system mainly targets the teachers, students and researchers and thus it provides information that is required by the concerned group. It has libraries that have information from the published and unpublished articles, posters, images, instruments and datasets.
This information helps that concerned group to get information that will help them in getting the required information. It is a system that can be of great impact to the researchers this is because one is able to get information that will help him or her get a cue for that group that one is supposed to research on this is because it allows the researcher to be able to pass their views through producing articles that are published and others not published and this information can be used by other people who will require the same information and therefore this system compared with other systems it gives allowance to people who need information.
For any one who is willing to get information that is based on the research that one has to undertake then it is readily available in the libraries in the form that one can be able to understand and get information that is not biased. The advantages of this system are that it provides information that can be saved to be used later by others and therefore changes are done in this system concerning the information that is saved. One is able to get information readily without delays this is because it is saved in the libraries and therefore one only needs to sacrifice his of her time so that information can be received.
The disadvantages are that it does not target the business people and therefore the companies have no link in this system. It only targets that educational institutions that are covered by the students, teachers, and still has a link to researchers. This system is very important to learners because they are able to get information from different writers and compare them therefore a learner will get standard information that will assist him of her in whatever information one will be in need of. Thus a learner is bale to get a lot of information that he or she can make amendments that are required so that it can fit that particular time that is required to give the answer.
There is also wastage of time this is because one has to get sufficient time so that he or she can get the information that will fit the research that one has to undertake and therefore it means that one has to waste a lot of time in this investigation that is required. (MacDonald, 1999)
Second life system
In the second life system it gives people the opportunity to live another life online where by these people are able to interact with others. In this system one can be able to purchase a product and also one can be able to start a business and sell goods and services online without the need of this person going to the market to sell that particular product. This system is used by educational institutions where by things like computers are used by the instructors to follow instructions to the students when they are far away. This means that through the internet a lecturer can give information to the students without the need of him or her been physically with the students.
Also companies are able to do their selling through the online where the consumers pay them through credit cards. Therefore this system is used by both the educational institutions and other institutions like the companies to be able to sell their products.
The advantages of this system is that it can be used as a way of refreshment through the playing of the plays that are available in these machines then one is able to feel relaxed from the days activities, also it saves time that is incase of the business people as they do not need to got to get the buyers this is because the products are readily available to them. In case of learning it helps the learners to know more than what can be provided by their lecturers and also it saves time that could have been spent in attending classes can be used to do other things that are required. (Kidwell, 2001)
Therefore this system includes the learners and the business people. Its disadvantages are that through use of these machines then one will learn things that are not supposed for that particular time. Thus incases of children then they learn things that are for adults and thus it means that the culture that was for that society will be interrupted as this generation will not be ready to follow the rules that were set for them but instead they are ready to do what they see from this new technology.
The learning through this method is also interrupted and one does not get adequate information that can be applied in one’s life this is because through the use of internet one gets bored and just gets any information whether it is for his or her benefit or not provided the information is related on what one is supposed to know.
This system has also a problem of not differentiating the audiences because it provides information for any one who is willing to know the information that is displayed. The system covers that business people and the educational institutions like universities where the lecturers give guide lines to the students when they are far off and it is the work of the student to know where to get the information so as to complete the given assignment. (Kidwell, 2001)
WebCT system
In webCT system there are the learning theories such as the behaviorism, cognition and constructivism that enable the learner to know what he or she is expected to know. In the behaviorism theory then one is supposed to have a certain behavior that is accepted in any learning department. Therefore the learner is supposed to know that in learning then he or she has to behave well so that they can be able to fit in that particular place in any learning institution the learner has to ensure that they follow the rules that are set for one to be able to get the targeted information. These theories ensure that one gets the knowledge that is expected so that he or she can get the learning goals that are set.
Without proper knowledge then it is hard for one to get the information that is expected of him or her in the learning institution. Through these learning theories then one is able to know the kind of information that has to be given to the students. The advantages of this theory are that it is able to give the guide lines of the desired behavior that one needs to possess so that he or she can fit in the society therefore it acts as a way of ensuring that one follows the right behaviors that are acceptable in the society. It helps students to compare information from different theories so that they can be able to know what is accepted of them by the tutors.
One gets information that can be applied in other areas where need be so that incase where by the information is required by a certain people then this system works. Its disadvantages are that it does not cover all the people in that it is only targeted to learners only ands thus other people are taken out. There is also the problem of the fact that one has to follow the cultures that were used a long time ago without minding of the changes that are taking place in the current world. This theory targets the students and the young generation so that they can be shaped in the right direction. (Rael, 2000)
Blackboard system
Blackboard system incorporates virtual service centers of excellence, geographically dispersed or mobile services, interoperable platforms and software’s, distributed management and support subsystems. The online degrees have improved the success rates of these students who were initially in a home based study which involved the attendance of classes for these students to be trained. In this system then it means that a learner knows what the expected information is.
The advantages in this system are that the learner gets the information that the instructor requires from him or her. The learners are also able to more information concerning the research that they are required to find. The disadvantages are that it does not provide sufficient information that a learner requires as it only gives the information in brief form. The learner also is left with the duty of ensuring that the information that is left out is incorporated in that completed work thus one is left with the duty of getting further information so that they can be able to get the information that is required. It does not have libraries like the tapped system and therefore the information that one gets is not of high standard as it can be biased.
This is because one only gets information from one source unlike in the tapped system. It is targeted to the students only and has left out the other people so that one is in a fix to give that particular information.
Moodle system
Moodle is a course management system. It is free and open source software which is designed in a way to provide sound pedagogical principles. This software is meant to provide the people with an effective online education system. In this system the learner gets information that he or she is supposed to provide and compared with other systems this system is simpler than the other systems and therefore one will be required to get information that will assist other people who will need of that particular information. The advantages of this system are that the concerned gets information easily from the sources that are provided meaning that it does not have to search from many sources.
There is limited time wastage and this the concerned will get information without having to spend a lot of time as compared with the tapped system where by one has to go in the libraries so as to get the information from the books that are provided. The disadvantages are that one can not get the information for future reference this is because the information is not saved in documents that are required for future use. It does not have to cover all the people but it has the targeted group that is the students and thus the other populations have no place in this system. (Hanson, 2002)
Conclusion
In this type of clearing then one has to get the required information that he or she is researching on meaning that the information that will be provided will be more reliable and be used later if need be. In these systems then the advantages that one gets in any of the information that is required can be later used in other places and not only on educational basis but also the society has to benefit from the information that is provided by these systems.
Reference:
Hanson, J. (2002). Rethinking innovation. Environment and Planning.
Kidwell, J. (2001). Distance Learning. Educause.
MacDonald, L. (1999). Online learning communities. Journal of Developmental Education.
Rael, M (2000). The process of community building in distance learning classes. Journal of Asynchronous Learning networks.