Distance Learning

Elaine Adams, Ed.D

Southwest Tennessee Community College

April 23, 2003

Distance Learning

Educational system consisting of the methodologies and technologies that support learning when the learner and learning resources are separated by time and space

Promote Integrity

StudentsInstructorsDesignEnvironment

Student Characteristics

Be preparedBe self-disciplinedBe self-motivatedBe open-minded Be willing to commit

time

. . . and

View online as more convenient not easier

Accept critical thinking as part of the learning process

Feel that high quality learning can take place online

. . . And more

Communicate through writing

Possess computer skills

Testimonials

“I feel that communication during this course has been very good even though I can’t see you. ”

“I think that is great when we have to think on what we got out of the story.”

“I think this class has taught me self-discipline. I have had to set aside certain times for this class. ”

“I also enjoyed the discussion postings and being able to communicate with the other students.”

It was a real joy to tailor my participation in the online class around the times of day I am most awake and if need be, not participate at all, if I was tired.”

Facilitators of Online Learning

Process not contentPersonality & style

of instructorBe open-minded,

concerned, flexible, sincere

Active in real-world applications of subject matter

. . . and

Be willing to commit time

Communicate through writing

Accept critical thinking as part of the learning process

Possess computer skills

Design

Know your audienceTime constraintsAdjust to the experienceActive Engagement

synchronousasynchronous

ApplicationClear goals and intellectual challengeAppropriate assessment and feedback

E-Environment

Learn ing D em ands

real-world contexts non-linear materials Information highway Computer-mediation

Student reaction

I think this course has strength because of the leadership that is has. The pattern was set by the instructor and the students followed her lead. From the very beginning we all felt comfortable with each other. We were able to discuss current events and have differing points of view. This is a strength because online learning is very new and in the new arena of learning an environment has to be established of comfort and welcoming. . .and it was. Strength in comfort.

Student Satisfaction RODP

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Very satisfiedSatistiedSomewhat satisfied

Pass Rate STCC

Online 58.63%Traditional 57.9%

0102030405060708090

100

PassRate

Online

Traditional

Grade Comparison STCC

394 Online Students

392 Traditional Students

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

A B C F N W

Online

Traditional

Future of Online LearningData compiled by Ken Looney, TSU

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

STCC U of M MTSU

01 U01 F02 S

Pros & Cons

Strengths Anywhere Anytime, any place, any

pace Syngery Reflective writing &

dialogue Student-centered Level playing field Access to Resources Creative Teaching

Weaknesses Equity & accessibility to

technology Computer literacy Limitations of technology Student’s inability to

learn online Instructor’s inability to

teach online Lack of administrative

support

Education is Education

The education of a man is never completed until he dies. -Robert E. Lee

Resources

Best Educational E-Practiceshttp://www.spjc.cc.fl.us/eagle/BEEP/BEEP4.htm

http://www.aahe.org/technology/ehrmann.htm http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/

teachtip/7princip.htm http://www.winona.msus.edu/president/seven.htm http://www.cord.edu/faculty/wohlfeil/seven_principles_links.htm#Contact http://www.atl.ualberta.ca/dleweb/Pages/Development/

DEV_SevenPrinciples.htm http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/default.asp?show=article&id=839 http://www.academicsenate.cc.ca.us/Academic%20Senate%20Web/

Publications/Papers/tech_mediated_instruction.htmlhttp://www.microsoft.com/education/download/techcenter/onlinelearning/wpaper_7good.doc

Links to articles about teaching on the webhttp://www.lmu.ac.uk/lss/staffsup/desmeth.htm

Resources

Virtual Site for Teaching and Technology.  http://www.umuc.edu/virtualteaching/module1/strategies.html

Best Practices for Teaching Online.  http://courseinfo.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty/teachonline.html

Instructional Strategies for Online Courses. http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/IONresources/instructionaldesign/instructionalstrategies.html

Additional Resources

Online Guidelineshttp://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/home.rxml

Online Resources of Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System http://www.ihets.org/consortium/ipse/fdhandbook/inst_dd.htm

Design Resources

Sites for Web and Course Designhttp://www.atl.ualberta.ca/articles/idesign/activel.cfm#webdesign

Design Methodology for Web based courseshttp://www.lmu.ac.uk/lss/staffsup/desmeth.htm

Quilt  University (good ideas about patterns) Tips for Teaching Online

Distance Education Course Designhttp://tangle.seas.gwu.edu/~sbraxton

InstructionalDesign http://www.uwex.edu/disted/design.htm

Instructional Designhttp://www.ilo.uva.nl/Ontwikkeling/imictll/id1a.htm

Writing Resources

Online Technical Writing: Instructionshttp://www.io.com/~hcexres/tcm1603/acchtml/instrux.html

Writing Instructions and Procedures http://core.ecu.edu/itec/reavesr/itec3290/Instructions&Procedures/WritingInstructionsProcedures.htm

Tips on Writing Instructionshttp://duke.tnstate.edu/jordan/goodinstructions.htm

Assessing Interaction

Interaction can be assessed along several dimensions:  use of technology, types of activities involved and the extent to which they occur:  (Summarized from M. D. Roblyer and Leticia Ekhaml "How Interactive are Your Distance Courses? A Rubric for Assessing Interaction in Distance Learning"  http://www.westga.edu/~distance/roblyer32.html)

More about Interaction

Online Interaction: Synchronous and Asynchronous Interaction.  http://www.newcastle.edu.au/services/iesd/learndevelop/resources/online/synchro.htm

Tips and Guidlelines:http://www.emoderators.com/moderators/flcc.html

Facilitating Online Learning. http://www.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/olfac.html

Group Dynamics for the Online Professor. http://ausweb.scu.edu.au/aw99/papers/king/paper.html