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