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Presentation made to the CREAD conference, Niteroi, Brazil, July 2005
Citation preview
Preserving the Social Mandate of Distance
Education
Mark BullenBC Institute of Technology
CanadaJuly 21, 2005Niterói, Brazil
Freireian PrinciplesFreireian Principles
Dialogue vs. curriculum“banking” view of education
PraxisConscientizationSituating educational activity in
lived experienceEmancipatory role of education
Dialogue vs. curriculum“banking” view of education
PraxisConscientizationSituating educational activity in
lived experienceEmancipatory role of education
Freireian PrinciplesFreireian Principles
No specific reference to distance educationCurrent thinking about distance education
Constructivism not “banking”Learner-centeredDialogic
Social/emancipatory role of distance educationAccessEqualityEconomic development
No specific reference to distance educationCurrent thinking about distance education
Constructivism not “banking”Learner-centeredDialogic
Social/emancipatory role of distance educationAccessEqualityEconomic development
Distance Education Under Attack
Distance Education Under Attack
DE threatened by new movement: e-learningIronically, focus on efficiency, effectiveness
and quality has made DE vulnerableOur focus on these issues has blinded us to the
emergence of this new movementMore significantly, it is the prevailing
organizational and management model of DE that is making it vulnerable to this new movement
Threat is to DE in conventional higher education but has implications for all of DE
DE threatened by new movement: e-learningIronically, focus on efficiency, effectiveness
and quality has made DE vulnerableOur focus on these issues has blinded us to the
emergence of this new movementMore significantly, it is the prevailing
organizational and management model of DE that is making it vulnerable to this new movement
Threat is to DE in conventional higher education but has implications for all of DE
Distance Education Under Attack
Distance Education Under Attack
What is the threat?What is e-learning?How are quality, management,
sustainability and organizational issues related to this threat?
What can we do about it?
What is the threat?What is e-learning?How are quality, management,
sustainability and organizational issues related to this threat?
What can we do about it?
QualificationsQualifications
Argument based on: observations and experiences with DE in
Canada & USIn conventional universities
Relevance to Latin American DE?Relevance to single mode DE?
Argument based on: observations and experiences with DE in
Canada & USIn conventional universities
Relevance to Latin American DE?Relevance to single mode DE?
What is e-learning?
The Meaning of E-learningThe Meaning of E-learning
E-learning means different things to different people
Massy & Zemsky (2005) suggest three categories of e-learning:E- learning as distance educationE-learning as facilitated transaction
softwareE-learning as electronically-mediated
learning
E-learning means different things to different people
Massy & Zemsky (2005) suggest three categories of e-learning:E- learning as distance educationE-learning as facilitated transaction
softwareE-learning as electronically-mediated
learning
The Meaning of E-learningThe Meaning of E-learning
The Meaning of E-LearningThe Meaning of E-Learning
The term “E-learning” has been appropriated by people whose main interest is in e-learning as technology-enhanced teaching, not distance education (ELTET)
This new movement has little interest in the distance learner or the historical mandate of DE to provide access
The term “E-learning” has been appropriated by people whose main interest is in e-learning as technology-enhanced teaching, not distance education (ELTET)
This new movement has little interest in the distance learner or the historical mandate of DE to provide access
The Meaning of E-LearningThe Meaning of E-Learning
Main priority is providing technologically-enhanced teaching to on-campus learners
Main priority is providing technologically-enhanced teaching to on-campus learners
What is the threat?
The Threat to Distance Education
The Threat to Distance Education
E-learning is emerging as a movement in conventional universities
Competing for same resources Gaining attention of university administrators
and academics New movement is much closer to the core
mission of traditional universities Threatening to displace DE Distance educators need to pay attention to
this new force or else gains may be lost
E-learning is emerging as a movement in conventional universities
Competing for same resources Gaining attention of university administrators
and academics New movement is much closer to the core
mission of traditional universities Threatening to displace DE Distance educators need to pay attention to
this new force or else gains may be lost
Social Mandate of Distance Education
Social Mandate of Distance Education
DE has had a mandate to provide access to underserved populations, particularly in developing countries
DE has been extremely successful at providing quality education to disadvantaged groups
Existed on the “margins” of conventional universities for many years
DE has had a mandate to provide access to underserved populations, particularly in developing countries
DE has been extremely successful at providing quality education to disadvantaged groups
Existed on the “margins” of conventional universities for many years
Social Mandate of Distance Education
Social Mandate of Distance Education
Acceptance of DE grew as more and more conventional universities began using it
Most North American universities now have DE programs
Acceptance of DE grew as more and more conventional universities began using it
Most North American universities now have DE programs
The Threat to Distance Education
The Threat to Distance Education
Status and respectability of DE due in part to the acceptance it has achieved in conventional universities
Single mode institutions like UNED, UOC, UKOU have contributed greatly to the legitimacy of DE
But the legitimacy has been enhanced by growth in DE in conventional universities
Status and respectability of DE due in part to the acceptance it has achieved in conventional universities
Single mode institutions like UNED, UOC, UKOU have contributed greatly to the legitimacy of DE
But the legitimacy has been enhanced by growth in DE in conventional universities
The Threat to Distance Education
The Threat to Distance Education
Why is e-learning a threat?ELTET has a different philosophical
orientation than e-learning as DENo social mandateIf resources are diverted from distance
education to ELTET, the social goals of DE may be longer be addressed by higher education
Why is e-learning a threat?ELTET has a different philosophical
orientation than e-learning as DENo social mandateIf resources are diverted from distance
education to ELTET, the social goals of DE may be longer be addressed by higher education
The Threat to Distance Education
The Threat to Distance Education
Growth of ELTET will cause DE to lose its newly-gained status and recede to the margins of conventional universities
This will have an impact on the DE professional community and ultimately the status of DE
The future of distance education as a socially-progressive movement is in danger
Growth of ELTET will cause DE to lose its newly-gained status and recede to the margins of conventional universities
This will have an impact on the DE professional community and ultimately the status of DE
The future of distance education as a socially-progressive movement is in danger
How are quality, sustainability and
management of DE related to this threat?
Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues
Modern DE has been obsessed with quality, efficiency and effectiveness
Organized very differently from traditional higher education
Creates an inherent conflict in traditional universities
Modern DE has been obsessed with quality, efficiency and effectiveness
Organized very differently from traditional higher education
Creates an inherent conflict in traditional universities
Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues
Two types of e-learning tend to be organized differently:
E-learning as distance education:organized and funded centrally managed approach with professional staffcourses developed by teamsattention to quality and sustainability
Two types of e-learning tend to be organized differently:
E-learning as distance education:organized and funded centrally managed approach with professional staffcourses developed by teamsattention to quality and sustainability
The Project Development Process
The Project Development Process
Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues
E-Learning as technology-enhanced teaching (ELTET):Faculty/department-basedDriven by individual professorFunded on a grant or project basisQuality is variableSustainability not usually a consideration
E-Learning as technology-enhanced teaching (ELTET):Faculty/department-basedDriven by individual professorFunded on a grant or project basisQuality is variableSustainability not usually a consideration
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Organizational culture is a key issueBerquist (1992) - institutional cultures:
ManagerialCollegialDevelopmentalNegotiated
Clash between two distinctly different organizational cultures: collegial & managerial
Sustainable, high quality distance e-learning requires a managed approach
Organizational culture is a key issueBerquist (1992) - institutional cultures:
ManagerialCollegialDevelopmentalNegotiated
Clash between two distinctly different organizational cultures: collegial & managerial
Sustainable, high quality distance e-learning requires a managed approach
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Requires course development that is organized using a project management approach
Teams of experts: professor, instructional designer, web designer, multimedia developer
The distance e-learning course is a collective effort
Requires course development that is organized using a project management approach
Teams of experts: professor, instructional designer, web designer, multimedia developer
The distance e-learning course is a collective effort
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Quality is ensured through the use of professionals, by building in external academic review and by building in formative and summative evaluation
Sustainability is ensured by paying attention to quality and cost which is intimately linked to managed approach that is used
Quality is ensured through the use of professionals, by building in external academic review and by building in formative and summative evaluation
Sustainability is ensured by paying attention to quality and cost which is intimately linked to managed approach that is used
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Most faculty are more comfortable with the “collegial culture”
Course development is seen as in individual endeavor
The course “belongs” to the professor
Online course development tends to be experimental
Most faculty are more comfortable with the “collegial culture”
Course development is seen as in individual endeavor
The course “belongs” to the professor
Online course development tends to be experimental
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Sustainability, Quality & Management
Costs are not monitoredQuality is difficult to control
because of approach usedNo built in academic review or
evaluation
Costs are not monitoredQuality is difficult to control
because of approach usedNo built in academic review or
evaluation
Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues
E-Learning as technology-enhanced teaching much closer to the core mission of the university
Given higher priority than distance education which serves “other” learners who are often not considered “real” university students
Organizational model more consistent with traditional university
E-Learning as technology-enhanced teaching much closer to the core mission of the university
Given higher priority than distance education which serves “other” learners who are often not considered “real” university students
Organizational model more consistent with traditional university
Organizational IssuesOrganizational Issues
DE in conventional universities has borrowed its organizational model from single mode DE institutions
Garrison & Anderson (1999) distinguish between “big” and “little” distance education
DE in conventional universities has borrowed its organizational model from single mode DE institutions
Garrison & Anderson (1999) distinguish between “big” and “little” distance education
Big Distance EducationBig Distance Education
Industrialized form of higher educationTeachers are all-powerfulStudents are passive receivers of
information, in a "dominated and alienated" position within the distance teaching and learning.
Uses mass technologies like broadcast television, the large-scale production of correspondence materials, and computer assisted instruction
Industrialized form of higher educationTeachers are all-powerfulStudents are passive receivers of
information, in a "dominated and alienated" position within the distance teaching and learning.
Uses mass technologies like broadcast television, the large-scale production of correspondence materials, and computer assisted instruction
Big Distance EducationBig Distance Education
Capital (technology of curriculum production) is substituted for labor (classroom teacher)
Flexibility for the student is provided at the cost of severely reducing interaction and increasing learner isolation
Capital (technology of curriculum production) is substituted for labor (classroom teacher)
Flexibility for the student is provided at the cost of severely reducing interaction and increasing learner isolation
Little Distance EducationLittle Distance Education
Maximizes interaction collaborative learning, pacing, learning communities
Focuses on meaningful learning outcomes challenges the student to dig deeply into the subject content
and explore the implications of this knowledge with regard to personal and societal constructs
Maximizes active learning extensive use of active learning activities, including
simulations, explorations and explanatory assessment Flexible in design
course materials are created in hyper-linked, hypermedia format and stored such that they can be easily modified, augmented, annotated, or printed by both instructor and learners as needed
Maximizes interaction collaborative learning, pacing, learning communities
Focuses on meaningful learning outcomes challenges the student to dig deeply into the subject content
and explore the implications of this knowledge with regard to personal and societal constructs
Maximizes active learning extensive use of active learning activities, including
simulations, explorations and explanatory assessment Flexible in design
course materials are created in hyper-linked, hypermedia format and stored such that they can be easily modified, augmented, annotated, or printed by both instructor and learners as needed
Little Distance EducationLittle Distance Education
Supports a systems vieweffective little DE systems provide for learner support
services, registration flexibility, credit transfer, accreditation, provision of learning and research resources through electronic delivery and virtual libraries
Compatible with research practicecreates learning environments focused on problem
solving, collaborative projects, and exploration of complex environments
Cost-effectivesubstantially increases access as courses become
available at any time of the day or night and anywhere that Internet access is available.
Supports a systems vieweffective little DE systems provide for learner support
services, registration flexibility, credit transfer, accreditation, provision of learning and research resources through electronic delivery and virtual libraries
Compatible with research practicecreates learning environments focused on problem
solving, collaborative projects, and exploration of complex environments
Cost-effectivesubstantially increases access as courses become
available at any time of the day or night and anywhere that Internet access is available.
Big vs. Little Distance EducationBig vs. Little Distance Education
Most DE in conventional universities is not “big” but perceived as such
Seen as alien to the prevailing organizational culture
Most DE in conventional universities is not “big” but perceived as such
Seen as alien to the prevailing organizational culture
Competition for ResourcesCompetition for Resources
Resources are being diverted from distance education to support e-learning as technology-enhanced teaching
Organizational restructuring around the needs of ELTET
One of the side effects of decisions made without a full understanding of DE and how it differs from ELTET
Resources are being diverted from distance education to support e-learning as technology-enhanced teaching
Organizational restructuring around the needs of ELTET
One of the side effects of decisions made without a full understanding of DE and how it differs from ELTET
Examples: UBCExamples: UBC
Successful DE department with nearly 60 years of experience
Attempt to “decentralized”Rationale: only way that university can
increase its use of e-learning and integrate with ELTET
Reveals a lack of understanding of the differences between two types of e-learning
Successful DE department with nearly 60 years of experience
Attempt to “decentralized”Rationale: only way that university can
increase its use of e-learning and integrate with ELTET
Reveals a lack of understanding of the differences between two types of e-learning
Examples: UBCExamples: UBC
Reorganization fails to recognize that DE learners have distinct needs
Supported more effectively and efficiently by centrally-organized department that specializes in DE than by having each Faculty deal with DE separately
Reorganization fails to recognize that DE learners have distinct needs
Supported more effectively and efficiently by centrally-organized department that specializes in DE than by having each Faculty deal with DE separately
Examples: BC Open University
Examples: BC Open University
Part of Open Learning Agency (OLA)
OLA closedBC Open University now part of
Thompson Rivers University (TRU)TRU a dual mode university
Part of Open Learning Agency (OLA)
OLA closedBC Open University now part of
Thompson Rivers University (TRU)TRU a dual mode university
Examples: Télé-UniversitéExamples: Télé-Université
Télé-Université: autonomous campus of Université de Québec
Now being absorbed into main campus
No longer an autonomous distance teaching institution
Télé-Université: autonomous campus of Université de Québec
Now being absorbed into main campus
No longer an autonomous distance teaching institution
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
Distance educators have been so focused on quality, cost, and sustainability that they have not recognized the significance of ELTET
ELTET represents a new movement in higher education
Poses a threat to social mandate of distance education
Distance educators have been so focused on quality, cost, and sustainability that they have not recognized the significance of ELTET
ELTET represents a new movement in higher education
Poses a threat to social mandate of distance education
Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks
ELTET has stronger connections to the core mandate of conventional universities
Distance educators need to cultivate support, build connections, seek allies
Need support at senior levelsNeed to “appropriate” the term e-learningCan no longer rely on “marginal champions”
ELTET has stronger connections to the core mandate of conventional universities
Distance educators need to cultivate support, build connections, seek allies
Need support at senior levelsNeed to “appropriate” the term e-learningCan no longer rely on “marginal champions”
For Further InformationFor Further Information
Mark [email protected]://www2.cstudies.ubc.ca/~bullen/
BCIT Learning & Teaching Centrehttp://www.bcit.ca/ltc/
Mark [email protected]://www2.cstudies.ubc.ca/~bullen/
BCIT Learning & Teaching Centrehttp://www.bcit.ca/ltc/