Distance Learning: No Longer Pure—If it Ever Was

CSG May 281998

Types of Learning Environments by Time and Place

Same Time Different TimesSamePlace

Campus BasedLearning, and liveseminars, conferencesin the same place

Flexible Learning, asin labs, libraries,learning centers.

DifferentPlaces

Synchronousactivities, such asbroadcasts, webcasts,telecasts, with folks indifferent places

Distance learning, ascorrespondencecourses, distributedlearning, computer-based tutorials (CBT),AsynchronousLearning

Key Variable: Relative Place

Asynchronous Learning NetworksSloan Foundation Model

– On or Near campus

– Commuting Distance

– Different Time Zones– http://www.sloan.org/education/ALN.new.html

Key Variable: Delivery Model Percentage of Prepackaged Materials and Faculty

Interaction is a key variable in design and delivery.

– “Course in a box” (95%)

– Tutors with developed course (80%) Example-Open University

– Campus “web course” delivered by faculty (60%)

– Seminar courses provided by research professor (30%) The 30% is probably a book selected by the professor.

NOTE: Number in parentheses represents the percentage of the course that is prepackaged.

Key Design Variable: Types of Teaching and Learning Dialogue

Faculty to student dialogue, as in lectures, tests, and office hours

Student to student dialogue, as in study groups, and projects

Student to learning resource, as in books, tapes, cds, and experts

Course Design Example

Synchronous interaction 20%Asynchronous interaction 30%Fixed content resources 35%Dynamic content resources 15%

Key Variable: Learner

Student - UndergraduateStudent - GraduateCareer Professional Staff personnel Life-Long learner

Key Variable: Program Type

Full Degree programCertificationSpecific skill focusSpecific product focusGeneral upgradingEnrichment

World Wide Web as the Logical Classroom

Real-Time Interactive

Dialogue

Tutorials and Questioning

CollaborativeProjects

SecureEvaluations

Research - Knowledge

Creation

MulticastPresentations

Real-TimeSeminars Net as the

Gathering Place

Continuum of Learning Resources

Datapoints & Insights & concepts

Face to Face Seminars

Expert Events

Virtual Seminars on CDVirtual

Seminars on net.

• Cost• Reach• Return• Structure

• Books• Trade Rags• News• Web sites

Generations of Distance Learning - Seven DimensionsPrimary distinguishing featureTimeMedia and media mixCommunication featuresStudent characteristics and goalsCurriculum design and ed philosophy Infrastructure components and costs

Fourth Generation of Distance Learning

1995-2005Mix of digital technologies (Internet,

cdrom, WWW, email, chat, online databases and videoconferencing)

Two-way interactive communication (synchronous, asynchronous)

Fourth Generation Distance Learning

Students in a learning communityMaterials are 30 to 100% prepackaged,

combined with mentors, tutors Limited access to digital technologiesStudent as active learner, participant,

and contributor

Creating effective teaching and learning environments -

Questions on Learning

Where are these mixed and matched T&L environments?

What is learning? When do we know it happened?

How do we measure quality of programs?

Creating effective teaching and learning environments -

Questions on Delivery

How do faculty, students know how to use the environments and the tools?

How do we provide support? How do I know who is whom ? How do we provide access?

When you create a new context, you create a new

realm of possibility, one that did not previously exist.

Tracy Goss, Last Word on Power