Online LearningOnline Learning

Theories, Characteristics, and Theories, Characteristics, and ConsiderationsConsiderations

Curriculum Services Associates

Pedagogical Concepts and Pedagogical Concepts and TheoriesTheories

Comparison of Traditional and Online Comparison of Traditional and Online LearningLearningTRADITIONAL LEARNINGTRADITIONAL LEARNING

• BehavioristBehaviorist– View of knowledgeView of knowledge

• Exists in the world Exists in the world outside and independent outside and independent of the learnerof the learner

– View of LearningView of Learning

• An observable change in An observable change in behaviorbehavior

– Instructional GoalInstructional Goal

• Learners Learners shouldshould respond respond correctly to a stimuluscorrectly to a stimulus

ONLINE LEARNINGONLINE LEARNING

• ConstructivistConstructivist– View of knowledgeView of knowledge

• Created by the learnerCreated by the learner– View of LearningView of Learning

• Acquisition or Acquisition or reorganization of the reorganization of the cognitive structures in cognitive structures in which humans process which humans process and store informationand store information

– Instructional GoalInstructional Goal

• Learners respond Learners respond correctly to a stimuluscorrectly to a stimulus

Instructional CharacteristicsInstructional CharacteristicsTRADITIONAL LEARNING TRADITIONAL LEARNING

• Behaviorist Behaviorist – Highly structuredHighly structured– LinearLinear– Instructor reinforcedInstructor reinforced– Repetition of new Repetition of new

behavior until it behavior until it becomes automaticbecomes automatic

– Teacher-centeredTeacher-centered

ONLINE LEARNINGONLINE LEARNING

• ConstructivistConstructivist– Active involvement by Active involvement by

learnerslearners– Learner-centeredLearner-centered– Emphasis on social Emphasis on social

aspect of learning, such aspect of learning, such as collaborationas collaboration

– Student are active Student are active learners who construct learners who construct knowledgeknowledge

– Teachers are facilitators Teachers are facilitators of learning – “guides on of learning – “guides on the side”the side”

The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line

• ““Constructivism asserts that knowledge is Constructivism asserts that knowledge is constructed in the learner’s mind, not constructed in the learner’s mind, not transmitted in an unchanged form from transmitted in an unchanged form from books or teachers. A teacher operating books or teachers. A teacher operating from this point of view creates a student-from this point of view creates a student-centered environment that helps students centered environment that helps students build upon their existing skills and build upon their existing skills and knowledge, rather than simply publishing knowledge, rather than simply publishing then assessing the information they think then assessing the information they think students need to know.”students need to know.”

Retrieved from “http://www.mywiseowl.com/articles/Moodle”Retrieved from “http://www.mywiseowl.com/articles/Moodle”

The Online ClassroomThe Online Classroom

• Learner Focused EnvironmentLearner Focused Environment– Participation in an active learning Participation in an active learning

environmentenvironment– Learning takes place using a wide variety Learning takes place using a wide variety

of sourcesof sources• InstructorInstructor

•ClassmatesClassmates

•The information-rich environment of the WebThe information-rich environment of the Web

•Outside expertsOutside experts

Flexible Time and PlaceFlexible Time and Place

• Flexibility in time, place, and pace of Flexibility in time, place, and pace of instructioninstruction– Anywhere and Anytime LearningAnywhere and Anytime Learning– Evens the playing field for rural studentsEvens the playing field for rural students

InteractiveInteractive

• Student becomes an active Student becomes an active participant in the learning processparticipant in the learning process

• Online learning encouragesOnline learning encourages– DiscoveryDiscovery– ExperimentationExperimentation– Multiple representations of knowledgeMultiple representations of knowledge

AsynchronousAsynchronous

• Students have the opportunity to reflect Students have the opportunity to reflect upon class contributionsupon class contributions

• Questions, comments, and responses Questions, comments, and responses are more carefully thought outare more carefully thought out

Rich Learning ExperienceRich Learning Experience

• Students learn from the instructor Students learn from the instructor and one anotherand one another

• Participants benefit from each Participants benefit from each other’s learning experienceother’s learning experience

• Collaborative learning among Collaborative learning among participantsparticipants

• Emergence of learning communitiesEmergence of learning communities

Written PresentationWritten Presentation

• All information is permanentAll information is permanent

• Students have a transcript for Students have a transcript for future referencefuture reference

Unlimited ParticipationUnlimited Participation

• All students have an equal All students have an equal opportunity to participateopportunity to participate

• The shy student often blossoms in The shy student often blossoms in the online environmentthe online environment

• A greater number of students A greater number of students actively participate in online actively participate in online discussions vs. discussions in the discussions vs. discussions in the face-to-face environmentface-to-face environment

Considerations for Online Considerations for Online Learning SuccessLearning Success

• Online learning requires self-Online learning requires self-disciplinediscipline

• Online learning requires strong Online learning requires strong written communication skillswritten communication skills

• Online learning is technology basedOnline learning is technology based– Comfort level with computers, software Comfort level with computers, software

and Internet Service Providers is and Internet Service Providers is importantimportant