Reflection

In 5-10 years distance learning will continue to emerge internationally with more web 2.0 tools integration. Distance learning in the higher education will offer more degree programs online for the traditional and non-traditional student even while students are living on campus. The cost of education is rising which will increase the need for employment for traditional students while obtaining their education. Distance learning will continue to benefit corporations by allowing them to interact with different offices around the world (Laureate Education, 2010).

In 10-20 years based on the economy and the era of “consolidation” distance learning will be the only option. The brick and mortar institutions that can, will close physically however “go live” online to cut costs, be more competitive and survive. Corporations will continue to rely on digital media to train and maintain nationally and internationally while incorporating new communication technologies. Instructional designers are going to bridge the gap between the subject matter experts and the organizations. 

Instructional designers will be the human performance technology specialists that will look for the problem and use technology to fix the problem. Instructional designers need to continue to show the benefits of distance learning in comparison to face to face classrooms.  Flexibility, convenience/lifestyle, quality and operational is all characteristics that instructional designers are responsible for when implementing an online course.

In order to be a positive force for continuous improvement in the field of distance education; I will use the AEIOU approach. It uses quantitative and qualitative methodologies, which has two primary purposes as an evaluation strategy (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). I like the formative information that the model will produce for the staff and the summative information about the value of the project and its activities (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). The AEIOU model will provide questions necessary for effective evaluation within each component.  As an effective instructional designer, I must identify what organizational contexts support effective distance education systems (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). Using quantitative and qualitative procedures to determine will ensure a positive impact. 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Teaching and learning at a distance. [DVD]. “ The Future of Distance Education”. Boston, MA: Dr. George Siemens.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

 

Converting to a Distance Learning Format

Converting to a Distance Learning Format

A training manager has been frustrated with the quality of communication among trainees in his face-to-face training sessions and wants to try something new. With his supervisor’s permission, the trainer plans to convert all current training modules to a blended learning format, which would provide trainees and trainers the opportunity to interact with each other and learn the material in both a face-to-face and online environment.

In pre-planning the trainer needs to ensure the technology infrastructure is sufficient and able to be supported (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). If there is support, then there has to be a working relationship between distance education and information technology established. For example, if a trainee is locked out of their account, the trainer needs to be able to contact someone from IT support to unlock the account efficiently. Another pre-planning task for the trainer is that he or she knows the software and is familiar with the technology so it is almost transparent (Laureate Education, 2012). Then the trainer must make sure the students can use the technology and have access to the technology.

The original training program could be enhanced in the distance learning format by converting any printed materials to electronic coursepacks that include journal articles, individual book chapters or sections, workbook sections, conference papers, reports and virtually any other document that has educational value (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). The original content also included video that will most likely need to be put into the delivered online portion of the course. As we learned in our resources, a trainer needs to know when to consider technology and when not too (Laureate Education, 2012).  If you can do it in a classroom environment than why add technology because technology adds another layer of complexity and anything can go wrong (Laureate Education, 2012).  The role of the trainer is more challenging because they are not face to face.  Communication must be established from the start and remain consistent. The shift in communication changes the focus from teacher-centered to student-centered learning environment.  Barr and Tagg explains the new trainer as a coach that collaborates with active learning and customized materials (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012).  In order to encourage trainees to communicate online a trainer should make sure that trainees’ responsibilities are made clear and the trainer’s expectations are clear as well (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012).  A trainer that is present in the class consistently is also encouraging to the trainees.  In conclusion, I had a trainer who used a flip chart to write down our ideas during our training session.  Using the flip chart encouraged the class to want to add more ideas while she was writing but it also helped us see from each sheet of paper that she posted throughout the room our learning pattern from beginning to end. Below are additional best practices for facilitating online learning retrieved from:  

 

http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-discussion-board-facilitation.pdf

 

Best Practices	Tool	Task
Community Building	Discussion Board	Have pairs of students interview each other on a given topic and post the interview results in the discussion board.
Critical Thinking	Gotomeet.com	Reach more trainees worldwide and cut travel costs.  Make tests and materials available online. Easy to set up!
Reflection	Blog	Post reflective activities that will require students to share a synthesis of the learning experience and personal situations  that should allow for honest and open responses.

 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance. [DVD]. “Facilitating Online Learning”. Boston, MA: Dr. George Piskurich & Jacqueline Chauser.

 Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

 

The Impact of Open Source

http://www.openculture.com/

 

The Open Culture website is a combination of MOOC (Massive Open Online course) and online courses that highlights courses created by other educational venues.  The Open Culture website offers increased return on investment for other educational venues and provides increased access for students whenever and wherever as if they were face to face in a classroom, which relates to the equivalency theory (Laureate Education, 2012). Courses on the website appear to be carefully pre-planned and designed for a distance learning environment.  There are many topics in modules that are not placed in any particular sequence or order (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). The design of this website is “learner-directed”and the learners decide in what order the topics are studied (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). The website provides ways to organize courses which follows the recommendation for online instruction (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek, 2012). The courses are organized by the topic which explains, clarifies and supports the modules. The idea is to keep the website simple and in order for the student to easily navigate as well as provide increased access for students (Laureate Education, 2012).

 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance. [vodcast]. “Theory and Distance Learning”. Boston, MA: Dr. Michael Simonson.ce

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: foundations of Distance Education. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.