Distance Education & Equivalency of Learning Experiences

Distance Education & Equivalency of Learning Experiences Equal is not best Michael Simonson

http://experts.msn.com/

Coldeway's Quadrants ST SP DT SP ST DP DT DP

Distance Education One-Time Only Events Multiple Session Events

Redefinition of Distance Education Institution based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors.

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education "The more equivalent the learning experiences of the distant learner are to the learning experiences of the traditional learner, the more equivalent are the learning outcomes."

Learning Experiences Anything that happens to or with a student that promotes learning, including what is observed, felt, heard, or done.

What Works – Distance Education • Carefully planned instruction • Structured note taking - interactive study guides • Visualizations of concepts • Less than 4 remote sites • Almost anything that works in a regular classroom - if it is planned

South Dakota Teachers Average Age ~44 Years in Education ~17 Gender ~67% Female Innovativeness ~108 DE will improve Educ. ~4.7 I know about DE ~2.7 ITV/DDN will provide + ~4.5

Instruction Paradigm Provide instruction Transfer knowledge -faculty to students Offer courses Improve teaching Learning Paradigm Produce learning Elicit discovery and construction of knowledge Create powerful learning environments Improve learning Shifting Paradigms:Mission and Purposes

Instruction Paradigm Time held constant, learning varies 50-minute lecture, 3-credit hr course Covering material Degree equals accumulated credit hours Learning Paradigm Learning held constant, time varies Learning environments Specified outcomes Degree equals demonstrated knowledge and skills Shifting Paradigms:Teaching/Learning Structures

Instruction Paradigm Learning teacher-centered, controlled “Live” teacher, “live” students required Classroom/learning competitive and individualistic Learning Paradigm Learning student-centered, controlled “Active” learner required, but not “live” teacher Learning environments cooperative, supportive Shifting Paradigms:Learning Theory

Instruction Paradigm Faculty are primarily lecturers Faculty and students work independently and in isolation Learning Paradigm Faculty are designers of learning methods and environments Faculty and students work in teams with each other and other staff Shifting Paradigms:Nature of Roles

Distance Education & Equivalency of Learning Experiences