ECDL Hellas Dr. Ioannis Markassiotis Training Manager

1. ECDL Hellas Dr. IoannisMarkassiotis Training Manager

2. Distance Learning • What is distance learning? • What does distance learning look like? • Can effective learning occur within distance learning environments?

3. Distance Learning- Definition “Structured learning that takes place With or Without the physical presence of the instructor”

4. What is distance learning? • Distance education takes place when teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance, and technology (i.e, voice, video, data, and print), often in concert with face-to-face communications, is used to bridge the instructional gap. • Any time, any place, self-directed learning at a distance!

5. Classroom Online LIVE Online ANYTIME Tracking and Management Content Parity Distance Learning Training Models

6. Benefits to the Customer Distance Learning works when customers: • Don’t have the time to sit in ILT • Want a combination of self study and instructor led training • Want a more effective way to learn than traditional eLearning • Want hands on experience • Want the highest quality content and instruction available for online learning

7. Active Learning • If you tell me, I will listen • If you show me, I will see • If you let me experience, I will learn. Lao Tzu (6th Century BC)

8. Distance Learning - Outline • Need • Definitions • History • Delivery models • Opportunities • Barriers • Internet and the World-Wide-Web • Economic and social issues • Case Studies

9. Distance Learning – The need • Any time, any place • Convenience • Asynchronous access • Remote locations

10. Distance Learning - Definitions – 1 • Distance learning -- student and teacher separated in place and/or time • Asynchronous learning -- educational material may be accessed at the student’s convenience • Distance education -- the delivery of a complete course or program at distance • Multimedia courseware -- course material containing a variety of media types, e.g., text, audio, graphics, video, animation

11. Distance Learning - Definitions – 2 • Distance learner -- the student receiving educational material at distance • Distance teacher -- the person primarily responsible for developing and delivering the educational material • Mentor -- a person responsible for assisting the distance learner • Competency-based education -- assessment of knowledge learned versus the accumulation of credits

12. Distance Learning - Definitions – 3 • Content provider -- the institution that “owns” the course • Course broker -- the institution that “offers” the course • Educational infrastructure provider -- the institution that provides the services to develop and/or delivery courses at distance

13. Distance LearningHistorical perspective • Correspondence courses (1940’s to present) • Remote classroom facilities (1960’s to present) • Closed-circuit television networks (1960’s to present) • Video tape delivery (1980’s to present) • Satellite television (1980’s to present) • Video conferencing (1990’s) • Internet delivery (1990’s)

14. Distance Learning The Providers • Traditional universities • Not for profit institutions, e.g. • National Technological University (NTU) • Western Governors’ University (WGU) • Open University • For profit institutions, e.g. • University of Phoenix • Open University • ….

15. Distance LearningTypes of programs • Continuing education • Specialized training courses • Graduate courses and programs • Undergraduate courses

16. Distance Learning The Five Dimensions • Consider how a traditional face-to-face instructional process could be facilitated in the same synchronous manner using the Internet • Five dimensions of the model can be identified as: • Role (teacher, student), • Participant (individual, group) • Venue (specific, any) • Interaction (one-way, two-way) • Delivery (playback, live)

17. Distance LearningSynchronous Synchronous - Within synchronous learning; learning and teaching takes place in real time (same time) while the trainer and learners are physically separated from each other (place shift). Examples include: • listening to a live radio broadcast • watching live a television broadcast • audio/video conferencing • Internet telephony • online lectures • two-way live satellite broadcast

18. Distance LearningSynchronous A real-time, instructor-led online learning event in which all participants are logged on at the same time and communicate directly with each other. In this virtual classroom setting, the instructor maintains control of the class, with the ability to "call on" participants.

19. Distance LearningSynchronous • Advantages • Live interaction—spontaneity, immediate reinforcement • Shorter completion time • High completion rates—optimizes pacing • Disadvantages • Schedule may be inconvenient • Requires a dedicated facility

20. Distance LearningDelivery Models Asynchronous - Within asynchronous learning; learning and teaching takes place with time delay (time shift) and while the trainer and learner are physically separated from each other (place shift). Examples include: • self paced courses taken via Internet or CD-Rom • videotaped classes • stored audio/video Web presentations or seminars recorded audio tapes • Q & A mentoring • reading e-mail messages

21. Distance LearningAsynchronous Participants take asynchronous courses whenever it is convenient for them. The interaction between instructors and participants occurs intermittently with a time delay.

22. Title Distance Learning - Asynchronous Characteristic for asynchronous learning is the fact that that the trainer prepares the courseware material before the course takes place. The learner is free to decide when he wants to study the courseware. • Advantages • Self-paced • Anytime, anywhere • Disadvantages • No live interaction • Longer completion times

23. Distance Learning Examples of asynchronous and synchronous learning

24. Distance LearningA Common Theme • Interaction • Communication So, by definition, e-learning is not meant to be a solitary activity

25. Blended Learning There are two types of blended learning, which includes: • E-Learning and Classroom Training • Synchronous and Asynchronous E-Learning

26. Blended Learning Whatis blended learning? … a solution that combines several different delivery methods, such as collaboration software, Web-based courses … learning that mixes various event-based activities, including face-to-face classrooms, live e-learning and self-paced learning.

27. Distance LearningOpportunities • Increase access to education around the world • Improve the quality of learning • Expand the educational marketplace • Partnerships

28. Distance LearningInternet and WWW • One-third of all college courses make use of E-mail • One-quarter draw on resources of the internet • One-eighth make use of multimedia applications

29. Distance LearningBarriers - 1 • Costs • Development • Delivery • Higher education funding models • Faculty and staff training • Existing policies and regulations • Security • Intellectual property issues • Access to resources • Library • Computers

30. Distance LearningBarriers - 2 • Quality control • Market forces • Accreditation • Student assessment • Delivery of examinations • Assignments • Projects • Pedagogy • Need for open, non proprietary standards

31. Distance LearningSocial Issues • Absence of peer groups • Student support services • Absence of campus life

32. Reasons for Distance Learning • Provide access to those for whom conventional classes are difficult or impossible • Accommodate different learning styles • Make learning more accessible • Educate more people

33. Who benefits from Distance Learning • People with old computers and limited band width connections (i.e., those who are poor or live in rural areas) • Text and markup rather than bitmap images of text (to increase download speed)

34. Accessible Distance Learning Tips Ensure accessible interaction among students and instructor CAUTION: Real-time chat presents problems for people who compose their thoughts slowly or use slow input methods, and not all chats are accessible by screen readers. Chat sessions may be optional, or you may provide alternative, equivalent assignments.

35. Accessible Distance Learning Tips Ensure accessible interaction among students and instructor • Chat products that offer both text and voice options, such as MSN Messenger or Simple Software’s Chatterbox (combined text and voice), are considered accessible and are well supported by assistive technologies.

36. How People Learn

37. Why online teaching • Attractive to younger generation • Means of communication • Attractive to nontraditional and international students • Economically profitable

38. Strengths of Online Learning • Any place, any time, anybody • Dynamic interaction among the participants • High quality dialogue • Student centered • Access to resources • Creative teaching

39. Weaknesses of Online Learning • Computer literacy • Accessibility to computers and internet • Student must be independent • Lack online teaching abilities

40. Successful online students • Are highly motivated; • Are independent; • Are active learners; • Possess good organizational and time management skills; • Have discipline to study without external reminders; and • Can adapt to new learning environments

41. What students expect from the teacher / facilitator • The students should expect that the facilitator would create a learning environment that utilizes life, work, and educational experiences as key elements in the learning process in order to make it meaningful. • The facilitator should be able to present the curriculum in a manner that allows the student to easily translate theories into applications. • The students should be given the proper tools to transcribe theory into practice. • Every student should be given every opportunity to improve until the learning experience comes to an end.

42. What students expect from the teacher / facilitator • Reasonable accommodations for the students' needs and desires should be made. • The facilitator should solicit feedback from the students and listen throughout the entire process. • The facilitator should be concerned about the students' success. • The facilitator should keep students aware of where they stand with respect to the course evaluation process on a regular basis (i.e. weekly updates of what has been turned in and what is missing).

43. What students expect from the teacher / facilitator • The facilitator should give the student timely and quality feedback on student contributions to discussion, homework, and quizzes. • The student should expect little or no lecturing. Lecturing yields marginal results in the online environment. • The student should not be subjected to tests requiring memorization. Case analysis would be more appropriate. • The student should be treated politely and with respect. • The facilitator should be online everyday (at a minimum 5 of 7 days).

44. The main components of an online course • Syllabus • Course outline • Objectives • Resources • Requirements and grading • Submitting assignments

45. The main components of an online course • Schedule (calendar) • Units /lectures • Forum (message/discussion board) • Group work • Drop box • Tests/quizzes • Grade book

46. Instructional strategies • Group Work • Discussion • Project • Lecture • Collaborative Learning • Self-Directed Learning • Case Study • Forum

47. Distance Learning Discussion On what topics would you like to have e-learning courses developed? For each topic, let’s discuss some ways you can make it engaging.

48. Distance Learning Thank you for participating in today’s discussion. QUESTIONS