The diffusion of distance education is prevalent in society. Long gone are the days of World Book and Encyclopedia Britannica. At the touch of a button, people have unlimited access to an infinite amount of information. This is very powerful because access to information is the key and what learning is all about. I agree wholeheartedly with George Siemens and his view and the direction and diffusion of this innovation.
There are a litany of innovations that offer access to all 3 of the effective learning experiences. Oh where do I start? There are so many new innovations that allow users to connect globally and communicate through social media like Face Book, MySpace, Instagram, and Google+. You also have blogs, wikis, and websites that offer opportunities for collaborative learning.
I believe the innovations of communication are front and center in society these days. We have become a nation where we write, blog, photograph and video our every move and share it with the world. The many innovations that have taken root in society over the last 10 years are quite prevalent and a major thread in the fiber of society. Programs like Face Book, MySpace, Twitter, Instagram, Skype, Tumblr, Vine all offer users the ability to communicate and share with people all over the world. In most instances, which makes it that much more powerful, it is done for free over some form of mobile technology. WOW!
Most all new innovations include platforms that allow users to communicate with others using various forms of correspondence whether it be pictures, text, audio, or video via the particular interface of choice. Most of these innovations come in the form of apps and software and use mobile technology like cell phones (iPhones/Android), iPad/tablets, iPods, and hand held gaming systems that allow the user access while on the go.
Most of these tools can serve a dual role for leisure and education. Most of the mobile technology provides access to the Internet which allows users to research any and all subject matter. iPhones, iPads/tablets, and kindles offer the user the ability to read books and periodicals simply through purchasing the rights to access the information.
