distance education yorkton regional high school yorkton public school division #93
TRANSCRIPT
DISTANCE EDUCATION -- AN OVERVIEW
• Defined• Who takes Distance Education classes?• Instructional Formats• Delivery Modes• Critical Components of a DE Course• Benefits• Student and Teacher Requirements
Is instructional delivery that does not constrain a student to be physically present in the same
location as the instructor.
Defined
There are many terms describing distance education
Distance Learning
Distributed Learning
Web-based courses
Virtual Education
Cyber Schools
Education or Knowledge on Demand
e-Learning
E-learning will be the great equalizer in the next
century. By eliminating barriers of time, distance,and socio-economic status,
individuals can nowtake charge of their own
lifelong learning.
E-learning is Internet-enabled learning
Who takes distance education classes?
• Students from rural schools -- desired course is not available or does not fit into their timetable
• Students from urban schools -- Course may not fit into their timetable
• Illness• Sports• Religion• Home Schooling• Academically advanced student• Students who are having difficulties in a particular course• Teachers who would like to supplement their course• Adults who are upgrading
Instructional Formats
1. Correspondence School• Traditional delivery with a
textbook/binder mailed out to the student
• The student works independently through the course
• Utilizes telephone support from the Correspondence School
• Submit assignments by snail mail or fax
Saskatchewan• 70 courses - Grades 9 - 12
2. Satellite Instruction• Partnership with
SaskEd and SCN• Delivery mode is
done in real-time
Saskatchewan offers several courses:
• Regina (Calculus 30, Law 30, Psych.30, Physics 20/30)
• Viscount (French)• Swift Current
(Biology 30, Entrepreneurship 30)
3. Web-based Courses OR ONLINE LEARNING
• Is a course that is offered on line (World Wide Web).
• Course is set up as a web page which students access at a time that fits their schedule
• Courses allow opportunity for interaction, animation, discussion (I.e. chat)
DISTANCE EDUCATION INCLUDES:
• Print (Textbooks, newspapers, handouts, magazines)
• Radio
• Electronic Whiteboards
• Fax machines
• Video cassettes
• Instructional Television
• Internet/WWW
• Audio teleconferencing
• Audio cassettes
• CD-ROM
• Voice mail
• Video conferencing
• Software
• Electronic bulletin boards
• Electronic chats
Delivery Modes
• Synchronous Instruction Interaction is done in real
time
Interactive TVAudioconferencing
Computerconferencing
• Asynchronous instruction Students choose their own
instructional time frameand gather learning materials
according to their own schedules.
Print materials, email, listservs, audiocassette courses,
videotaped courses, WWW courses,CD-ROM interactive disks
Critical Components
• Content• Instructional Design• Student/Audience/Client• Technology Support• General Support• Evaluation Methods
Benefits
• Flexibility in scheduling for students within the high school, the division, the province
• Opportunity for schools that are unable to offer the course
• Opportunity for students with different learning styles
• Opportunity for home-based students to enroll
• Opportunity for educators to develop new learning environments, strategies and technologies.
More Benefits
• Innovative programming• E-learning empowers us• Information from a greater variety
of sources• Increased access for life-long
learners• Location/Geography is no longer
an issue
Student Requirements for Programs
• Personal motivation
• Academic skills at appropriate grade level
• Keyboarding skills
• Independent learners
• Social skills development
• Other general tips and guidelines for online students….
• Participation. Contribute your ideas and participate in discussions with other students.
• Email, email -- stay in touch with the instructor
• Be able to spend the same amount of time per week in an online class as you would a traditional class.
• Work with the technology
• Communicate through writing
• Have fun!
The Challenge to Schools...
“We must transform all formal institutions of learning from pre-K
through college, to ensure that we are preparing students for their future,
not for our past. Schools that ignore the trends shaping tomorrow will cease to be relevant in the lives of
their students will disappear quickly.”
…David Thornbug