Distance Education

Distance Education : Distance Education ED901-Technology in Education

Distance Learning: Not a New Idea : Distance Learning: Not a New Idea Correspondence Schools Mailed content and tests Usually certificate or diploma programs Mixed Face-to-Face/Correspondence programs. Usually cohort groups Involved weekend and summer sessions Typically degree programs.

Distance Learning: Today : Distance Learning: Today Increased number of programs Changed delivery systems No longer obscure learning institutions Includes high school, certificate, and degreed programs. Many different models. What made the difference and caused the changes? TECHNOLOGY

Old Technology : Old Technology US Mail Telephone New Technology Internet Chat Rooms/Email/ Instant Messaging Content Management Systems(Blackboard/WebCT) Streaming Video and Audio Web 2.0 (Blogs/Wikis)

Changing the Learning Landscape : Changing the Learning Landscape Distance Learning is changing the face of all levels of learning. It extends the learning environment beyond the classroom. Enables teachers to provide remedial, enrichment and enhancement to the traditional classroom. Has potential to include and provide services to those unable to be in the classroom. (disabled/extended illness/home schooled)

Changing the Learning Landscape : Changing the Learning Landscape Models of Distance Learning Total distance delivery. (Virtual High School & Online Degree programs) Course Supplemental Instruction Course Information Delivery of assignments Combination Some Face-to-Face delivery Some On-Line Delivery

Online Teaching : Online Teaching Any educational process in which Internet technologies are used to facilitate a student’s ability to access and interact with course content and activities, and to communicate and interact with the instructor and other students.

Higher Education : Higher Education Programs are expanding rapidly. Even Ivy league schools are embracing the medium. On-line universities 100% on-line learning. Accreditation Benefits Flexibility for students and faculty. Reduced costs for universities Compresses time to degree

Professional Development : Professional Development Explosive area of distance learning. Provides huge opportunities for professional growth. Many organizations and models can effectively be delivered in this manner.

Virtual High Schools : Virtual High Schools Benefits Home school students Increased offerings for students Ability to meet student demands in times of shrinking budgets and staffs. Provides options to gifted and talented students

Virtual High Schools : Virtual High Schools Issues with Virtual model Misuse of tool to fill students schedules Assigning less than motivated students and students will attention-deficit issues Dedicated space for VHS students. Availability of home computers Lack of academic supervision at the school level.

Virtual High School : Virtual High School How it works? 1 teacher is committed from the district to teach one class. That teacher has a reduced load of 1 class, which gives them an additional prep. For the one teacher the district gets 25 seats each semester the teacher teaches. (Potentially 50 seats for students) Determining the alignment of standards to disparate course from across the world.

Classroom Management Systems : Classroom Management Systems MOODLE-Modular Learning Environment. (www.techkiva.com/moodle) BLACKBOARD (WSC) WebCT

Classroom Management System : Classroom Management System Password Protected Forums On-Line Testing Lesson Development Audio/Video Conferencing

On-line Learning Support : On-line Learning Support How can teachers use these technologies to aid, enhance and enrich their own learning environments? Go paperless All work for absent students are available on-line Make instruction available for students to review and to get access when absent. Differentiate instruction, particularly for gifted and talented population. Enrich the learning experience Provide homework in a new and innovative way.

On-line Learning Support : On-line Learning Support What do teachers need to have to effectively use distance learning tools? They have to see the value in it for their students and for them. They need to have an infrastructure that is intuitive to their needs and that is reliable. They need effective professional development and support. They need to be able to move at their own pace.

Are we there yet? : Are we there yet? Essentially NO Technology moves fast, paradigms move slower, mindsets even slower. It will likely never replace the school, but will reshape and enhance the instruction that comes from the school’s learning environment. It can potentially expand the learning day.