ImplementingDistance Learning Courses

at Low Cost

José M. da Silva

José M. da Silva

Technological Minimalism

Marie (Mauri) Collins (1994)

“the unapologetic use of minimum levels of technology, carefully chosen with precise attention to their advantages and limitations, in support of well-defined instructional objectives (…) to get to know the easy-to-use technologies and make the very best use of them.”

José M. da Silva

“Maybe the best term is not ‘minimalism,’ but ‘technological sufficientism’: to adopt enough technology to meet the established learning goals; not more than enough – but no less either. We must not underestimate the power of technology; the power to make things easier, and the power to make things more difficult. It is a double-edged knife: it cuts on both sides – and it can cut on the undesired side. From my observation and personal experience, I understand that the most powerful combination is that one which unites simple technology with pedagogical sophistication. And the most deadly combination to learning is that one which unites technological sophistication with pedagogical simplicity. Not even the combination of technological sophistication and pedagogical sophistication yields better results than the combination of technological simplicity and pedagogical sophistication.”

Wilson Azevedo

José M. da Silva

► Selecting the coordinator of the program.► Selecting the IT professional.► Acquiring or configuring the equipment (servers, computers, hosting, software).► Selecting the LMS (Learning Management System).► Deciding on the courses to be offered.► Hiring the material designer (s).► Creating course materials.► Hiring and, if necessary, training teachers.► Implementing the course (s).

► Selecting the coordinator of the program.► Deciding on the courses to be offered.► Hiring the material designer (s).► Creating course materials.► Hiring and, if necessary, training teachers.► Implementing the course (s).

What it takes...

José M. da Silva

Possible solutions

● Discussion List + Blog

● Free LMS

MSN, Orkut, podcasts, wiki

redundant resources

http://moodle.org/http://www.teleduc.org.br/

[Learning Management System][Sistema de Gestión del Aprendizaje][Plataforma de Teleformación]

José M. da Silva

FORUM

► Interaction: Learner-Teacher / Teacher-Learner / Learner(s)-Learner(s)

► Activities: Individual / Pairs / Groups Deadlines Research Webquests / Scavenger Hunt Chat / Blog / Orkut

► Teacher`s Response: 24 to 48 hours / Text weaving

► Virtual Pedagogy

M1 S1M2 S2M3 S3M4 S1M5 S4M6 S3

TM 1

► Assessment Forum: 40 % Content: 60 %

Guidelines

José M. da Silva

1st Class – Semantics4 students4 (100%) pass0 (0%) fail0 (0%) dropouts

2nd Class – Academic Writing15 students11 (73.3%) pass1 (6,7%) fail3 (20%) dropouts

Configuration: List + Blog Configuration: Free LMS

3 classes – Various[New Technologies][Academic Writing][The World of Comics]20 students**11 (55%) pass1 (5%) fail8 (40%) dropouts

2nd Class[Translation Techniques]10 students*8 (80%) pass0 (0%) fail2 (20%) dropouts

*5 students from previous configuration

**2 students from previous configuration

José M. da Silva

What courses to teach on-line?

● In principle, any.

● Languages courses might require a better equipment for listening/speaking.

Skype / MSN + webcam

Reference:CUKIERMAN, J. et al. (2009) Tecnología Educativa. Buenos Aires: Prentice Hall – Pearson Education.

José M. da Silva

Thanx...:-)

mannys@terra.com.br