A Brief Review of Online & Distance Learning
Dec 14, 2014
A Brief Review of
Online & Distance Learning
A bit of History
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZk-WdYHkoc
Motivation of Students
• Frequent contact between teacher/student
• Interactive
• Teamwork/collaboration
• Communication & Relationships
• Creativity
• Publication/recognition/feedback
• Tracking of performance
Pattern A of Distance Learning
• Podcasts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast
• Dr Dan’s Minicast
http://minicasts.podomatic.com/play/1122066/2116897
Vodcasts:
http://blog.uelconnect.org.uk/warren/2010/04/20/an-overview-of-the-fe-sector-vodcast/
Teleseminars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleseminars http://www.freeconferencepro.com/?f=goog&r=Teleconferencing-teleseminars-ad001&gclid=CKLguvq6w6gCFQtPgwodFnFSpg
RSS feeds http://www.whatisrss.com/
Blogs http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/02/05/what-is-a-blog/
Wikis: A Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content.
Forums http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_forum
A bit of Forum humor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9q2jNjOPdk
Pattern A has limits
• Tends to be one way
• Limited feedback
• Allows publication of ideas/images
Think of it as a Radio or TV news show.
The learner is passive
Pattern B
Live Conferencing
Teleconferences with switchboard for callers
Set locations for 2, 3, or more places for participants to gather
Web based conferencing
• http://www.arkadinexpress.com/?gclid=CNCRrIK8w6gCFRphgwod2FOVoA
• http://www.live-conferencing.com/
• http://www.coolconferencelive.com/
Pattern C:
• Learning Management System
• Such as:
• Moodle, Blackboard, Manhattan Learning System, ATutor and others.
Each has Advantages
The Vodcast:
Often used for set material that is taught by lecture.
Real estate training is an example.
Instructor video tapes self doing the lesson, burns to DVD, then publishes to secure web.
Vodcast/Podcast, etc
• It is one way (lecture)
• Saves travel time/costs
• Flexible viewing
• Relatively inexpensive
Live Conferences
• Good interactivity
• Saves travel costs/time
• Expensive equipment costs and setup
• Continued need for on-site person to coordinate and set up equipment
Technical Knowledge
• Each requires some level of computer knowledge
• Each requires some degree of equipment such as online access, computer, web cams, headsets, mics
• Keyboard skills
Learning Management Systems
The idea of a LMS is to:
engage trainees in the process of
collaborating to create “new knowledge.”
Best are
a hybrid of Pattern A and B
using a LMS as the platform
The Weaknesses
Drop-out rates can be high.
If there is little interactivity between instructor and students, confusion and frustration can set in.
Motivation Issues
People are herd animals.
If they don’t get to know others in a class
and they don’t feel obligated to participate,
they punt
Recognition & Attention
If students perceive that their papers, blogs, podcasts, videos and other projects aren’t being viewed or aren’t being taken seriously, they stop producing.
Technical Challenges
Sometimes students get irritated or lost when it comes to producing something via a computer and/or online.
Without direct instruction and help….
Punt!
Quality Work is Hard Work
It is no more easy to produce quality online than it is in real life.
The online tools are merely videos, recorders, typewriters and the like that have migrated online.
Its fun at first, but then….
Stop Podcasting Yourself
Comedians do a podcast on why you should stop podcasting yourself.
• http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/stop-podcasting-yourself
Time Management
Students often fail to calculate how much MORE time an online course will take.
They get behind
And
Punt!
Instructors pile it on
Instructors of online courses tend to:
A. Assume because there isn’t a class meeting, students have more time.
B. Provide too many links
C. Assign MORE work
Its all about ME!
• Inspires students who are seeking recognition.
• May inhibit students who don’t want the attention from others.
For some students
Issues
• Copyright/cut & paste
• “junk” opinions online
• Verification that the student did the work
• Privacy
Some Methods
• Source scanners for plagiarism
http://www.dustball.com/cs/plagiarism.checker/
Verification
• Passwords
• Biometrics (fingerprint, eye scanners)
• Onsite final assessments
• Webcam meet-up classes
References
Nice overview of Distance Learning:
http://www.umsl.edu/services/ctl/DEID/destination7techdevelopment/7aindex.html