Best Practicesfor

Distance Education

Fortune Telling: The Future of Distance Education

The next “killer app” or “flash in the pan?”

Michael Simonson, Ph.D.Program Professor

Instructional Technology and Distance EducationFischler School of EducationNova Southeastern University

North Miami Beach, FL

The Future of Distance Education

Distance Education---the past?Maybe the present?

Remember Him?

www.nova.edu/~simsmich

Our Agenda

• Status of Distance Education today– Who is getting into DE

• Myths and misconceptions• Distance Education – What do we really mean?• Transforming your organization

Remember Him?

MISSION STATEMENTS: Quality, Flexible, Up-to-date

Definition of Distance Education

Institution-based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems/media are used to connect learners, resources and instructors (Simonson, 2009)Encyclopaedia Britannica’s Definition

Categories – Sloan-C

The Status of Distance Education

orWho is Getting Into Distance Education?

Worldwide Reach of Moodle Open Source Course Management System

Critical MassWhen an innovation “takes off on its own.”

Critical Mass

Myths and Distance Education

The term "myth" is often used colloquially to refer to a false story!

Teacher (Instructor) as Skeuomorph

Make Distance Classes as Close to Traditional Classes

as Possible

Nope!

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education

"The more equivalent the learning experiences of the distant learner are to the learning experiences of the traditional learner, the more equivalent are the learning outcomes."

Distance Education is Different

Nope

Distance Education will replace Traditional Education

Nope

Face to FaceInstruction

Distance DeliveredInstruction

Teaching

Categories

Distance Education has Little or No Research

Nope

Best Practices

• U-M-T Design Approach• Logical and Intuitive Organization• Multimedia Use to Present Content• High Quality Production Standards• Content-Rich DesignMultiple Options• Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction• Self Pacing Apparent• Continuous Evaluation and Revision

Indicators of Concern

• Dual tracks – distance learners and traditional• Dual populations• Dual evaluation systems• Standardized courses• Duplication of traditional courses

–Failure to apply Equivalency Theory• Poor Institutionalization• Many drop-outs• Many complaints

Indicators of Quality

• A clear mission statement• Faculty oversight and input• Support ~24/7• Clear plans for the future• Rigorous Evaluation

3. Create a Vision

4. Communicate the Vision

5. Give Power to those who Act on

the Vision

6. Plan for and Create Short-Term Wins

7. Collect Successes

8. Incorporate Distance

Education Successes

1. Establish a Sense of Urgency

2. Form a Powerful

Planning Group

Transform Your Organization:

8 Steps

(Kotter, 1999)