Linking to Learn: Using Technology to Connect People and Resources

Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching

Reaching Out to a World of Resources

Our society’s recognition of the importance of ready access to people and resources is the revolution in communications.

Reaching Out to a World of Resources

As Francis Bacon said: “Knowledge is power”, then communication is freedom. The freedom for people to reach information and acquire knowledge that empowers them.

Communication Technologies that Assist Learning Through:

Course delivery systems

Communication among teachers, students, and others

Locating and consulting people and information resources

Linking to Learn

All linking activities have one thing in common: the use of some kind of network to communicate.

A link may enable one to take a college course or transmit a message.

Terms

Distance education, remote learning, and distance learning all refer to learning situations where the instructor and learner are separated over distance/time.

Telecommunications facilitates communication among teachers, & students, and permits users to locate & use people & resources.

Terms Distance learning activities

(course delivery systems) usually replace classroom instruction and involve costly resources, implementation strategies, and changes to the traditional classroom structure.

The Effectiveness of Linking Activities

Research has consistently found no significant difference between instruction delivered through traditional classroom methods and instruction delivered over remote technologies in distance learning from 1954 through 1994.

The Effectiveness of Linking Activities (cont.)

However, existing research, anecdotal evidence, and project evaluations support distance learning as an effective means for delivering formal instruction (Lane, 1993).

How Linking can Change the Nature of Education

Provides ready access to a variety of people and information resources.

Creates opportunities for collaboration between classrooms.

Supports leaner-initiated study.

How Linking can Change the Nature of Education (cont.)

Offers advanced or otherwise unavailable courses.

Delivers staff development programs with minimal restrictions

on time and place.

Hypothesized Structural Changes in Educational Systems

Changes related to curriculumTeaching students how to locate, access, and apply information is education’s most important goal.

Changes in the physical environment Virtual Learning Communities

Changes in Teacher & Student Roles

The Conceptual Background for Linking

Networks:

Any linking activity needs three basic components:

1. People who seek information.

2. A source of information.

3. A transmission technology that links the two. (Emulation

modes, parameters, protocols)

The Conceptual Background for Linking (cont.)

Linking configurations.

Microcomputer with modem, communications software, and telephone line.

Audio-Based Systems

One-way audio.

Teachers speak to distant

students, who cannot respond

directly in real time, by using

Audio programming. Audio

Programming may be delivered to

individuals or classrooms via

radio broadcasts or through

telephone service.

Audio-Based Systems (cont.)

Audioconferencing.

Audioconferencing or two-way

audio allows multiple users to

interact in real time. Users may

converse over a simple telephone

link.Audiographics.

It is an advanced form of

computer networking.

One-Way Video Systems

Anyone with necessary hardware and connections can receive open-air or encrypted broadcasts.

Transmissions occur via satellite, Instructional Television Fixed Service, cable telecasts, microwave or a public broadcasting system.

One-Way Video Systems (cont.)

Student-Teacher interaction occurs through:

– Telephone lines–Special response systems–E-mail

One-Way Video, Two-Way Audio

Completely interactive, real-time instructional course delivery

Benefit: increased access to courses and expert resources available remotely

Interactive Two-Way Audio and Interactive Two-Way Audio and VideoVideo

Teachers and students can see each others reactions and respond. This two-way remote learning system is much like that in a traditional classroom environment.

These learning systems are the most complex and most expensive to manage.

Top-Level Policy/Planning

The involvement of federal, state, and local governments; local school districts and schools; and the private sector will be required to develop policies for distance learning.

Distance Learning Considerations

Training teachers to use telecommunications

Technical/Support Issues- limited visual interaction & classroom management, timeliness of material, available facilitators, equipment malfunctions, copyright issues, cost

Assessment

The implementation of distance

learning in local classrooms

is complicated:

1. Accountability for student

achievement becomes split

between the tele-teacher or facilitator.

Assessment

2. Educators must define an assessment system appropriate for the non-traditional learning that occurs.

Administrative Support

A Teacher’s ability is unquestionably important to the success of a computer network, but administrative support for technology is critical.

Interoperablility

As educators begin to use networked technologies, schools encounter a fundamental problem with the lack of uniform standards for interconnection.

Today, transmission technologies vary considerably in availability and cost.

Interoperablility

Many current systems for receiving information are proprietary in nature, restricting reception to the same or technologically compatible equipment or systems.

Standards for interoperability must cover more than a single standard for data delivery, voice, video.

Obtaining Required Resources

Teachers who want to do modem-

based linking activities complain

most often about:

–Telephone lines.

–Computers.

–Modems.

Logistical Problems

Teachers have to make sure that students have access to modems and telephone lines.

–Time frames

–Time zones

–Real-time “chats” impossible

Planning a Successful Telecommunications-Based

CurriculumInstructionally significant in

terms of established state or district curriculum.

Appropriate for the medium so to “ take advantage of instructional features that only telecommunications can provide”.

Ethical Issues

The content of messages and databases are not always monitored.

Some content may not be appropriate for minors.

Equity and Cultural Issues

Technology’s built-in cultural bias.

Access to information technology.

Technology’s role in multicultural education.

Popular Online Information Sources

ERICNational Geographic

Kids Network AT&T Learning

NetworkInternet

The International Network

The major benefit of the Internet is the comprehensive nature of the information and services it provides:– FTP– Email– Gopher– Usenet– Telnet

InternetThe earliest version of the Internet was

developed by the U.S. D.O.D. and funded by its Advanced Research Project Agency.

The Internet allow users to share resources and exchange information easily.

Internet Protocol or IP makes Internet exchanges possible.

Types of Teaching and Learning Activities with

TelecommunicationsElectronic penpalsCooperative research projectsElectronic mentoringParallel problem solvingElectronic field tripsSimulated activitiesSocial action projects

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