Steve Mackenzie 28-08-2013: Online Learning to Engage Distance Learners 1

Online Learning to Engage Distance Learners

A review of its importance and usefulness

August 28, 2013

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Distance Learning – The Early Days

� Largely individual independent study.� Limited interaction with tutor or other students.

Early 20c

Print

60’s-80’s

Broadcast

80’s-90’s

CBL andTeleconferencing

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� Internet and Online Learning from Early 90’s.� Institutionally controlled learning using VLE’s and Open Learning

on the web.

Distance Learning – Recent and Current

Early 90’s to Late 90’s

Internet resources and computer mediated

communications

Late 90’s to Mid 2000’s

Virtual Learning Environments

Mid 2000’s to Current

Social Media, Mobile and Synchronous

Technology, Open Learning

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Online Learning – Why so Important ?

With a clear vision and team work (teacher-facilitator, learning technologist, support staff) online learning offers many useful benefits:

� It’s convenient for learners.

� It allows for ease of communication.

� It facilitates many learning strategies.• From knowledge acquisition to participative learning strategies.

• It can cater for different learning styles or modes of delivery.

� It can be inclusive and allow more voices to be heard.

� It can promote standardisation and consistency of material.

� It captures and stores learning for learners.

� It captures and stores data about learning for administrators.

� It promotes life skills.

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Online Learning – The Really Important Thing!

Online learning facilitates interactive and collaborative online tasks that many studies have shown improves the engagement and the learning of the learners involved.

It also facilitates connectivity with people and resources on a massive scale. Informal learning using connectivist strategies allows learners to enhance and develop a personal learning network.

Studies worth taking note of include:� Paloff, R. and Pratt, K. (2001)

Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom.� Anderson, T. (2003)

Getting the Mix Right Again: An updated and theoretical rationale for interaction.

� Drexler, W. (2008) The networked student model for constructing personal learning environments (Related Youtube link).

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Online Learning: Some Tools and Applications

Social NetworkingConnections to people and resources

Connections to useful websites and other online resources

Social Bookmarking

Online MediaExamples include youtube (video), flickr (photos), itunes (podcasts) plus self produced media

Reflection

Blogs

Collaboration

Wikis

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Successful Online Learning: Essential Components

There are many tools and technologies that can be used but there are some essential components that we need to make online learning successful:

� Enthusiastic teacher-facilitator.

� Support, advice and practical help from a learning technologist.

� Student support services in place – administration, technical, academic, pastoral.

� Alignment of learning outcomes, content, learning tasks and assessment strategy to ensure a relevant and engaging learning experience.

� Clear instructions and information (good communication).

� Comprehensive Induction (options include live online web conference, pre recorded video(s) or if regional or national possibly face to face) with module guides which help orientate the learner to how best learn in the online learning environment provided.

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Teachers and Online Distance Learning

� Teachers should be at the heart of the module.

• Working closely with learning technologists for help and support.

� Teachers personality and attitude will have a big impact.

• Set culture of learning• Preparation of resources• Design of learning activities• Teaching approach• Student support

For online learning to work there must be

teacher's who have a certain love and

respect for E-learning.Discussion Comment: The other side of Online Learning: Online Teaching

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Online Learning Strategies – Things to Consider

Option A Option BDetermine your Strategy:

Strongly inclined to A select 1, to B Select 10

Knowledge Acquisition Active Participation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Individual Study Group Work/Social

Interaction1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Teacher Led LearningAutonomous Student

Learning1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Formal Informal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Synchronous Asynchronous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Private/Secure Open Education Practice 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Technology Poor Technology Rich 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Online Learning Strategies: More Considerations

In relation to teaching and learning extra things to consider are:� Strategies and tools for students to acquire core knowledge.� Strategies and tools that allow students to demonstrate

understanding of concepts.� Strategies and tools that students allow to demonstrate how

they can apply and put into practice the knowledge they have gained and the concepts they have understood.

� Strategies and tools that promote participation, interaction and collaboration (Social and Active Learning).

� Strategies and tools for communicating with your students and vice versa and other communication need of your students.

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Thank You

There are great possibilities – with a clear vision, good strategies and team work, online learning is uplifting, inspiring and productive.