1 A debate: Distance Learning in Education and Training Baek-Kyoo Joo, Merry Rendahl, Jaci Seeman, Yelena Yan. HRD/AdEd 5001 June 28, 2003.

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A debate:A debate:Distance LearningDistance Learning

in Education in Education and Trainingand Training

Baek-Kyoo Joo, Merry Rendahl, Jaci Seeman, Yelena Yan.

HRD/AdEd 5001

June 28, 2003

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Team Introduction

4D4D

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Content

I. Distance Learning Overview

II. Debate Questions

III. DL in Education

IV. DL in Training (Corporate E-Learning)

V. Conclusion & Recommendation

VI. Class Discussion

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I. Distance Learning Overview

“In a time of drastic change,

it is the learners who inherit the future.

The learned find themselves equipped

to live in a world that no longer exists.”

- Eric Hoffer, in Vanguard Management, 1989

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Definition of Distance Learning

“Distance education is planned learning that normally occurs in a different place from teaching and as a result requires special techniques of course design, special instructional techniques, special methods of communication by electronic and other technology, as well as special organizational and administrative arrangements”.

(Source: Moore, M., Director, The American Center for the Study of Distance Education, Penn State)

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Subset of Distance Learning

Source: W. R. Hambrecht and Co. 2000. Corporate e-learning: Exploring a new frontier.Retrieved from http://www.wrhambrecht.com

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Distance Education: US Perspective

Distance education has grown to a great extent o

ver the past 30 years.

Past

– Correspondence

– Videotapes by Mail

– Satellite

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Distance Education: US Perspective

Some studies show that there is no significant diff

erence between distance education and tradition

al education.

Present

– Videoconferencing

– Web-based learning

– Completely on-line educational experiences

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Distance Education: Int’l Perspective

“A U.S. perspective alone does

not represent the entire field.”

McLean & McLean, 2001

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Distance Education: Int’l Perspective

Terms similar; Practice varies widely Majority World countries face considerable

education and training challenges.(Hawkridge, 1996; Patru & Khvilon, 2002; McLean & McLean, 2001)

Distance Education seen as promising solution(Patru & Khvilon, 2002)

Key differences between NA and MW– Level of technology– Centralized vs. Localized Educational Systems

(Patru & Khvilon, 2002)

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II. The Debate

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The Debate

“no significant difference”

Significant differences

Janette McDonald (2002)

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Comparisons Between Traditional and e-Learning Approaches

Source: PrimeLearning, Inc. (2001). E-learning: A strategy for maximizing human capital in the knowledge economy.

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The Real Question?

Question should center around usefulness of any/all methods in helping individuals learn. (McIsaac, 1999)

Andragogical principles still apply and new methods and theories are evolving.(McDonald, 2002)

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?

?

??

The Debate Still Rages

Traditional

Something New

E-Learning

Blended

Learning

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Our Conclusion:

Things are Changing in Education and Business

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III. Distance Learning in Education

“Education is about to change. … Almost everything

we know about education is up for grabs: the way it is

funded, designed, managed, and even delivered.”

Source: The New Education Economy, 1999 , as cited in W. R. Hambrecht and Co. 2000. Corporate e-learning: Exploring a new frontier. Retrieved from http://www.wrhambrecht.com

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DL in Education

In 1998, only 58% of colleges in the United States reported offering distance learning courses.

By 2002 it was about 84%.

U.S. Department of Education

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DL in Education

Schools and colleges try to embrace the

new technology-mediated environment.

– Technology-enhanced learning in a regular

classroom

– Technology-mediated learning environment

Instructor vs. student performance

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DL in Educational Setting

What factors influence adoption of innovative DE practices?

DLDL

BehavioralBehavioral

EnvironmentalEnvironmental CognitiveCognitive

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DL in Educational Setting

Environmental factors (campus culture)– Administration support– System of financial and social incentives,

benefits, and rewards– Wide network of support resources– Peer pressure – Availability of workshops, trainings, and

consulting– Availability of hardware/software

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DL in Educational Setting

Cognitive factors– Cyber-anxiety– Self-efficacy– Need to re-evaluate one’s own teaching

philosophy– Unfamiliarity and lack of experience with

the specifics of new learning environments and instructional practices to be used

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DL in Educational Setting

Behavioral– Time commitment– Lack of compelling reasons to try new

teaching/learning technologies– Personal risk

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Possible solutions

Creating a supportive campus culture

Establishing a system of rewards and incentives

Resources to develop self-efficacy through computer training and workshops, coaching, mentoring

Assessment (does it work?)

Communication with emphasis on inclusion

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IV. Distance Learning in Training - Corporate E-Learning

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What is E-Learning?

E-learning can be defined as instructional content or learning experiences delivered or enabled by electronic technology.

Functionally, E-learning can include a wide variety of learning strategies and technologies.

CD-ROMs Computer-based instruction

Videoconferencing

Satellite-delivered learning

Virtual educational networks (Source: ASTD, 2001)

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DemandDemand• Rapid Obsolescence of knowledge

• Need for just-in-time training delivery

• Cost-effective ways to meet learning needs

• Demand for flexible access to lifelong learning

DemandDemand• Rapid Obsolescence of knowledge

• Need for just-in-time training delivery

• Cost-effective ways to meet learning needs

• Demand for flexible access to lifelong learning

SupplySupply• Internet access becoming standard at work and home

• Advances in digital techno- logies enable creation of interactive, media-rich content

• Increasing bandwidth and better delivery platforms make e-learning more attractive

SupplySupply• Internet access becoming standard at work and home

• Advances in digital techno- logies enable creation of interactive, media-rich content

• Increasing bandwidth and better delivery platforms make e-learning more attractive

E-commerce/ E-businessE-commerce/ E-business

e-learning

(Sources: SRI Consulting and WR Hambrecht + Co, 2000)

Why Companies Choose E-Learning?

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E-Learning Market Gaining Market Share

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A Statistical Portrait of E-Learning

The percentage of organizations using the Internet for training purposes grew from 3 percent in 1996 to 38 percent in 1999. For intranets, the rate of growth was even higher, from 3.5 percent to nearly 40 percent. (Source: ASTD)

Web-based training, according to the survey, is expected to surge by more than 900 percent between 1999 and 2003. (Source: International Data Corporation)

A key reason is that “online training is far cheaper than bringing in a live instructor, let alone sending employees to an offsite training location. And productivity doesn’t suffer as much when employees get their how-tos at their own computers.” (Source: Business Week)

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Advantages of E-Learning

E-learning is learner-focused.

E-learning allows employees to learn at their own pace.

There is no lag time between hiring and training.

E- learning offers cost and time savings.

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Disadvantages of E-learning

E-learning has no personal touch. E-learning does not promote problem-

solving. E-learning does not allow students

to build network. E-learning is expensive to develop.

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Future of Distance Learning

“Online learning is not the next big thing;

it is the now big thing.”

- Donna J. Abernathy,

Editor of Training and Development, 1999

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Future Trends

UNESCO is expecting the following trends toshape Distance Learning in North America

– Blended Learning Solutions

– Continued simultaneous cooperation and competition among traditional colleges and universities and new online only entities

(Patru & Khvilon, 2002)

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Blended Learning

Blended LearningBlended Learning

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VI. Class Discussion

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Questions

What experiences have you had with distance learning, both as learners and as instructors?

How do the principles of andragogy play out differently in Distance Learning?

How do you imagine Distance Learning will affect your career?