distance education in theory and approach tuesday, december 03, 2013 | 10:00 am –11:30 am
TRANSCRIPT
Sevaughn Banks, Training and EBP Specialist, CalSWEC
Tim Wohltmann, Distance Education Specialist, CalSWEC
Presenters
This webinar is designed for people considering the use of web-based modes of training and education delivery. The webinar will take a critical approach to examining fundamental concepts associated with teaching and learning in a distance education paradigm.
Webinar Overview
Describe the history of distance education and its impact on current practice
Highlight theories underpinning distance education, a taxonomy of theory and illustrate their impact on contemporary practice
Define key terms in distance education history and practice
Outline common delivery methods
Defining Distance EducationWebinar Objectives
Macro◦ Distance Education◦ eLearning◦ mLearning◦ Modality
Mezzo◦ Information Communications Technology (ICT)◦ Pedagogy vs Andragogy◦ Synchronous vs Asynchronous◦ Hybrid vs Blended vs Flipped Classroom model
Micro◦ Course authoring software◦ Learning Management System (LMS)◦ Course Management System (CMS) or Content Management System◦ Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Key Terminology
What is Distance Education? What is the impact of “Distance” alter the
nature of “Education”?
How does “Learning” feel about that?
Orientation to Education at a Distance
If you could define “distance education” in a picture, what would it look like?
Images of Distance Education
In a very basic iteration, distance education is a paradigm in which a learner is physically separated from the source of instruction by time, distance, space.
Beginning with a Definition
How does “distance” impact education?
The gap existing between an instructional resource (ex: a teacher to whom you might ask questions) and the student is central to building a conceptual framework for distance education. Multiple elements present in an educational paradigm Multiple elements influence learning outcomes Distance alters the elements present
?
Correct? Incorrect?
How do I…?
Incorrect! Have you..?
Defining Distance Education via Transactional Distance theory
Distance creates a relational gap between learner and instructor, creating varying amounts of learner autonomy and “transactional distance” (Moore 1972)
How can deeper, higher-order learning be achieved?
How much guidance, structure, dialog, interaction are needed between learner and teacher?
Learning Distance ? Mastery
How can we distinguish the phases of evolution of Distance Education as a field or practice?
What is the relationship between the phases of evolution, the theories and the approaches to distance education?
Intersection of History and Theory
Text + courier courses,
“correspondence” (1700-mid
1900)
Radio, Telephone (1910 – current)
Television (1948 - current)
Computer (1960 – current)
Mobile devices (2000 – current)
One version of the
History of Distance Education
Learners & Learning Processes
Theory Component Theories Instructional Impacts
Behavioral Learning Theory Connectionism & Conditioning
Task Analysis; behavioral objectives; practice and feedback
Cognitive Learning Theory Gestalt, information processing & schema
message design; rehearsal; chunking; organizers
Social Learning Theory Social cognitive theory Modeling; self-efficacy
Constructivist Theory (philosophy)
Personal interpretation of experience, relevant learning, exploring multiple perspectives, learning domains & styles
Learning facilitation; Active learning; Contextualized learning; Collaborative learning; Scaffolding; Problem-based learning; Cognitive apprenticeship
What is a “modality” or “mode” in the distance education context?
How do they differ from one another? Why are some chosen over others?
Modalities
A Modality typically refers to the way in which distance education course or content is delivered. It might also be referred to as: Delivery or distribution method Programmatic “approach” or structure Type of content
There may be a single, or multiple, modality(ies) used in a given distance learning paradigm or program.
Modality defined
The terms ‘modality’ or ‘mode’ may sometimes be used interchangeably to refer to different levels of analysis or activity
Modality confusion
Macro level descriptors are most common Context / Industry-specific Tool-based
Like an abstract piece of art, there are many ways to look at and describe delivery methods or modalities.
How do we distinguish Modalities and Approaches from one another?
Concern larger program-level considerations◦ Will there be an instructor?◦ Will it be asynchronous, synchronous, both? ◦ Will there be in-person elements? ◦ What percentage of instruction will be online? ◦ If in-person elements are present, do the online elements
only supplement that? Or, are the online elements essential to in-person instruction?
Modalities at the Macro Level
(South West Oklahoma University)
Instructor-led vs Self-guided
Picture of announcement board from Instructor-led fully online course inside LMS
Instructor-led vs Self-guided
Picture of user interface and content slide from self-guided fully online course
Synchronous vs Asynchronous
Picture of a web conferencing session in a synchronous fully online course
Synchronous vs Asynchronous
Picture of disscussion forum from an asynchronous instructor-led fully online course
Synchronous vs Asynchronous
Picture of a self assessment activity from a self-guided asynchronous fully online course
Flipped / Inverted Classroom
In a ‘Flipped’ or inverted classroom model, the more passive learning elements (such as lectures or readings) are moved online and completed prior to in-person elements.
Paradigms in which the main source of instruction occurs in-person and where access to supporting resources or learning tools is provided additionally outside of the classroom.
Web-Enhanced
Allows learners to:
• Receive Announcements• Read Syllabus• Electronic access to
materials• Submit Assignments• Complete formative
assessments• Use tools like course
calendar or grade book to manage performace
Distance Education programs may also be grouped, analyzed and understood by modalities common to particular types of organizations or via approaches focusing on particular tools / combinations of tools. For example: Education vs Training Non-profit organizations vs Technology-based
initiatives High vs Low bandwidth Mobile vs Fixed desktop New vs established media
Other Approaches to Conceptualizing Modality
Mezzo: Learning context, sector or organization type◦ Education (K-12, Higher Ed)◦ Professional (Corporate Training or Continuing Ed)◦ Non-profit / research institute◦ Open Access (MOOC / Open Educational Resource)
Micro: specific technology used to distribute content (hardware / software)◦ Mobile (podcasts, games, apps, web 2.0, augmented reality,
ePublishing)◦ Audio/ Video (ITV, interactive video, web conferencing,
screencasting, lecture capture, gaming / simulation, interactive rich media)
◦ Audio (podcast, IRI)◦ Text (eBooks, interactive ePublishing platforms, discussion forums,
blog, wiki, knowledge base forums, web 2.0)
Mezzo & Micro level variables: Context vs Tool
Moving away from Modality
• The rise of “localness” = access to learning, all the time, everywhere
• Blurring of lines between traditional education, online education and variants in between
• Popular modularization of technology and learning• Interplay between Education and Technology spurring
innovation on both sides
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/PUB720316.pdf
Webinar 2 will examine Hybrid / Blended modalities and, specifically, the ‘Flipped Classroom’ approach
Questions to be answered: - How does one flip their classroom?- What do they look like in practice? - Do they work? What is the impact? - Where to start?- Myths and FAQs
+ Mark February date on calendars!
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