Overview and Historyof Distance Learning

Dr. Steve BroskoskeMisericordia University

EDU 568 Distance Educationand Hybrid Technologies

Outline

• About the course.• What is distance learning?– Elements of DL.– Brief history of DL.

• Hands-on:– Discussion boards.– Word collaboration/review tools.– Introduction to Sympodium.

About the Course

Logistics of the Course

• EDU 568 – Distance Education and Hybrid Technologies

• Scheduling:– Meet 7 Wednesday nights, from 6:00-8:30.– Other 7 meetings will be class, group, or individual

activity online or conducted independently.• Each class meeting:– First half of class: lecture, presentation, discussion.– Second half of class: hands-on experience.

Logistics of the Course

• Many activities will be conducted online using various synchronous and asynchronous distance learning media.

• Students need to have:– Access to a computer.– An online connection (ideally a broadband

connection).– A headphone with a microphone.

Attendance and Participation

• “This is a hands-on course. Students are expected to attend and actively participate in all course meetings and activities. Because this is a blended course, many activities will be conducted online using various synchronous and asynchronous distance learning media.”

Attendance and Participation

• Realize that some synchronous online activities will involve meeting online in addition to the in-person class meetings. These times will be arranged with students as a group, and every effort will be made to accommodate everyone’s schedule.

Attendance and Participation

• Students who are absent must contact the instructor by e-mail or voice mail.

• Students are responsible for course material that was covered.

• Students are responsible for completing and submitting any projects that were completed at the time of their absence in a timely fashion.

Snow Cancellation

• Due to the blended nature of this course, even if the university cancels classes due to inclement weather, the instructor may still hold class online using synchronous and asynchronous technologies.

Overview of the Course

1. Overview and History of Distance Learning2. Asynchronous Delivery Systems in DL3. Synchronous Delivery Systems in DL4. Achieving Student Success in DL5. Good Teaching Practice in DL6. Issues Related to DL7. Administrative Issues in DL/Presentations

Class 1: Overview andHistory of Distance Learning

• Topics:– Overview of distance learning (definition, history,

types/forms).– Theories

• Hands-on:– Discussion boards– Word collaboration/review tools– Introduction to Sympodium

Class 2: Asynchronous Delivery Systems in Distance Learning

• Topics:– Using Web pages, e-mail, Wiki, discussion boards,

blogs, and podcasts as delivery systems for content.

• Hands-on:– Wiki– Blogs

Class 3: Synchronous DeliverySystems in Distance Learning

• Topics:– Using live chat, Elluminate, and Skype as delivery

systems for content.• Hands-on:– Live chat– Skype– Elluminate

Class 4: Achieving StudentSuccess in Distance Learning

• Topics:– From research, examine the following issues leading to

student success in distance learning: characteristics and responsibilities of successful distance learners, learning outcomes, learner perceptions, interaction.

– Addressing learning styles in mediated learning.– Creating a learning community.– Addressing social interaction.

• Hands-on:– Podcasting

Class 5: Good TeachingPractice in Distance Learning

• Topics:– Skills and responsibilities of an instructor in a blended

format: ensuring student participation, facilitating learning at a distance, designing courses, conducting assessment.

– Identifying ways to enhance delivery of instruction.– From research, examine “best practices” in distance

courses.• Hands-on:– Promethean Board

Class 6: Issues Relatedto Distance Learning

• Topics:– Copyright and fair use– ADA and accessibility– Online plagiarism– What should a Web page for a blended course contain?

• Hands-on:– Second Life– Course Web page (TeacherWeb.com)– Web pages with Word– PDF files

Class 7: Administrative Issuesin Distance Learning

• Topics:– Planning, budgeting, and maintaining equipment.– Supporting students at a distance.– Course management systems and other tools

(including cloud computing and open source programs).

• Hands-on:– Moodle– Google Apps (cloud computing)

• Presentations

Grading and AssessmentActivity Grade

Participation in lecture and activities conducted in class and online. 20%

Participation in, contribution to, and product creation (more on next slide). 40%

Final project: Creation and in-class presentation of a distance learning course (Web page and supporting course materials).

40%

Grading and Assessment• Participate in discussion board topics.• Submit material to a class Wiki, and participate in organizing the

listing into a practical, usable resource.• Create and add material to a personal blog.• Teach a topic of choice (approx. 15 minutes) to 1 or 2 other class

members (or to others outside of the class using an online distance learning tool.

• Participate as a student in at least one other class member’s presentation.

• Create an audio podcast to provide educational content to students at a distance.

• Create a Web page for a hypothetical blended course, and link to resources created throughout the course.

Final Project

Web page for blended

course (real or hypothetical)

blog

Wiki

podcast

other technologies

Course Home Page

misericordia.edu/academics/education/drsteve

View the Course Home Page

We will also be using course tools found in My Courses in e-MU.

What Is Distance Education?

What Is Distance Education?

• In your experience, how would you define distance education/learning?

• How much experience have you had teaching or learning in DL?

Search Definitionsat Google

"Distance education is beset with a remarkable paradox - it has asserted its existence, but it cannot define itself" (Shale, 1988).

What Defines Distance Education?

• Do the S and T need to be in the same room?• Do the S and T need to be engaged in learning

activities at the same time?• Does technology need to be involved?

What Is Distance Education?

• Are the following considered distance learning?– Correspondence course?– Videoconferencing?– Desktop videoconferencing?– Video course (or televised course)?– E-mail lessons?– Video Professor (CBT on CD-ROM)?– Web-based course?– Course offered in Web-CT, BlackBoard, or Moodle?

What Is Distance Education?

• Terms used to describe this phenomenon and various modes of it:– Distance learning/education.– E-learning.– Mobile learning.– Computer-based training (CBT).– Web-based training (WBT).– Online training/learning.– Blended learning.– Webinars.

Coldeway’s Quadrants

ST-SPsame time same place

ST-DPsame timedifferent

place

DT-SPdifferent

timesame place

DT-DPdifferent

timedifferent

place

Purest form of distance education.

Traditional classroom.

Ex: learning center or

video course.

Technology is involved.

Elements of Distance Learning

• In distance courses:– S and T are not at the same place at the same

time.– T uses some means to deliver content to S (mostly

through technology).– T may employ synchronous and/or asynchronous

technologies to deliver content.– T and S communicate in some way.

Elements of Distance Learning

• Blended/hybrid:– Students spend some time in actual classroom,

and some time at a distance.– Synchronous and/or asynchronous technologies

are used to deliver content, to support communication, and to facilitate collaboration.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Correspondence courses– 1728 weekly lessons in the “new method of Short

Hand” course in Boston.– 1840’s shorthand correspondence in Great Britain.

The development of the postal service in the 19th century led to the growth of Commercial correspondence colleges with nation-wide reach.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Degree programs– The University of London was the first university

to offer distance learning degrees (1858).– The Society to Encourage Studies at Home was

founded in 1873 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Local Connection: Penn Foster Career School– Distance Education vocational school founded in

1890.– Originally known as International Correspondence

Schools, or ICS.– Originally provided correspondence courses for

coal miners.– Over 13 million students are

reported to have taken classes.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Technology-based distance learning project– Charles Wedemeyer of the University of

Wisconsin-Madison is considered the father of modern distance education in America.

– Articulated Instructional Media Project (1964-1968): Utilized a variety of communications technologies aimed at providing learning to an off-campus population.

– Some feel the AIM project inspired the British to create the first Open University.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Distance education institutions– Open University: Largest distance education

university in the United Kingdom. Was founded in 1969.

– Renamed to United Kingdom Open University (UKOU) to distinguish it from other open universities which emerged.

– Originally used television and radio as its primary delivery methodologies, applying emerging technologies to facilitate distance learning.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Proliferation of distance education– Public, private.– For profit, not-for-profit.– Variety of technologies.– Variety of formats (DL only, hybrid).– All levels: elementary

through graduate degrees.

Brief History of Distance Learning

• Concerns:– Quality and rigor of learning and program.

(Existence of diploma mills.)– Accreditation.– Value of degree (recognition of validity of

courses).

Hands-on Activities

Discussion BoardsWord Collaboration/Review Tools

Intro. to Sympodium

Message Boards

• Message boards (aka electronic bulletin boards, discussion groups, discussion boards):– Modern version of the traditional bulletin board.– Place to post public notices, announce events, or

provide some information.

Message Boards

• Elements:– Post a message.– Reply to a message.– Create/follow a thread.• A thread refers to messages following one theme or

idea. Threads add organization to the postings.

– In education, forum moderator (sometimes students) can remove or edit postings.

Use in Education

• Provides an avenue to express ideas.• Engages students in conversation and learning.• Allows students forum to post information and

receive feedback from instructor/students.• Allows discussions to be conducted away from

the classroom.• Can be used as a collaborative learning tool.• Encourages enthusiasm for writing.

Word Review Tools

• Review by a teacher:– Select the review tab.– Select one of the following:

1. Highlight text and insert comments.2. Turn on track changes and make the changes.

Word Review Tools

• When the student reviews the material:– Select the review tab.– Read comments and make changes.• Right-click a comment to delete it.

– Press balloons to show balloons or show comments in line with text.

– If the teacher made changes:• Navigate to changes and accept or reject.• Accept all changes.

Word Collaboration Tools

• Under track changes, specify user name.• Make comments OR turn on track changes.

Intro. to Sympodium

• Wireless gyro mouse.• White board and pen option.• Synchron-eyes software on split screen.– Monitor student PC’s.– Turn off student capabilities.– Take over and communicate with individuals.– Broadcast instructor screen.

• Plug in options.

Assignments/Activities

1. Select a course (hypothetical or real) and a particular topic(s) for which you can prepare materials for teaching in a blended environment. You will also teach one or more of these topics through a distance medium to gain experience instructing in this environment.

Assignments/Activities

2. Participate in a discussion board.– View the readings provided on our home page

regarding definitions of distance learning.– Go to the discussion boards in My Courses on

e-MU.– Make several posts in contributing to the

discussion.– In the end, let’s develop our own definition of

distance learning.

Next Week

• Asynchronous delivery systems in distance learning.