Equivalency+Theory

Equivalency Theory, Desmond Keegan (1995)

Goal: "equivalent, rather than identical, learning experiences should be provided to each learner whether local or distant, and the expectation should be that equivalent outcomes, rather than identical, should be expected of each learner" (Simonson et al. 2012, p. 52).

Summary: When distance learners are compared to local learners, Schlosser and Simonson believe that the more [|equivalent] the learning experiences are the more equivalent the outcomes will be. They go on to say that students learning at a distance should experience a wider range of learning experiences, yet the sum of the learning experiences should be equivalent. Within this theory it is important to distinguish equivalent outcomes and identical outcomes; the difference is that distance learners will access different strategies that seek the same learner outcome.

Challenges: To reach equivalency when designing a distance learning course. When traditional course are converted into distance course they are unlikely to become effective, instead the role of the instructor or course designer is to provide a variety of equivalent instructional approaches for students, this applies for both local and distance courses ( Simonson et al. 2012) Addtional Information:
 * Equivalency theory maintains traditional aspects of American education (ex: rapport between teacher and students, small classes, community-based funding, etc.) while taking advantage of new technologies.
 * Recognizes that distance and local learning are fundamentally different, but students can reach the same outcomes.
 * Experiences are based on the student's needs and it is the instructors job to design those experiences. Students in distance learning environments should not be expected to compensate for their distance.
 * Core values: local control, personalized instructions

References

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education ( 5 th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Simonson, M. (2007) “Equivalency theory and distance education.” Tech Trends, 43(5), 5-8.