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Distance Education Technologies. Eileen Schroeder October 2002. Model of communication. Distance education is based on the model of communication: Instructional ideas encoded in some transmittable form (spoken word, pictures, writing)
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Distance Education Technologies Eileen Schroeder October 2002
Model of communication • Distance education is based on the model of communication: • Instructional ideas encoded in some transmittable form (spoken word, pictures, writing) • Sent to learner over channel (e.g., wire, hand delivered, broadcast over the air) • Media allows communication over a distance or at a different time • Learner provides feedback on messages (interaction) • Minimize and interference in communication - use multiple channels such as auditory, visual, textual
Dale’s Cone of Experience • This model categorizes the ability of media to convey information • Children respond best to direct, purposeful experiences because they lack previous experiences to refer to whereas older students can handle less realistic and more abstract messages • When new information is presented, it is best to be as realistic as possible • But more realistic is less efficient in terms of uses of resources and may be less effective due to distractions of realistic instruction • Must determine how to be only as realistic as needed to learn effectively
Taxonomy of Technologies • Different time, different place, limited interaction: • Correspondence courses • Uses mail system (snail mail or email) to connect teacher and learner asynchronously • Learner receives lessons, readings, and assignments, completes independently, sends in for grading • Prerecorded media • Pictures and graphics, audiotapes, videotapes sent to distance learners with correspondence study guide
Taxonomy of Technologies • Same time, different place, some interaction • Two-way audio (with and without graphics) • Phone or radio with telephone call-in, or short wave -- live • Added graphics- electronic drawing board or computer • One-way live audio • Often accompanied by packets of printed materials • May have telephone office hours but generally just complete assignments • Two-way audio, one-way video • ITFS or community cable networks or teleconferences (satellite) • Connect synchronously to many locations • Toll-free phone number and packet of materials
Taxonomy of Newer Technologies • Different place, same time: • Two-way audio/video • Compressed video (fewer than 30 fps, over T1 line) OR uncompressed, full motion (uses fiber optics - DS3) • Special classroom - audio and video equipment with CODEC at each site -- expensive, cumbersome • Generally school districts belong to a distance education network and share courses with other schools in that network • Need to reserve special rooms and network time
A typical distance education classroom • University of Wisconsin- Whitewater • Compressed video using PictureTel system • Connects with other UW System campuses • Used for • Entire courses • Individual classes • Meetings • Professional development
Taxonomy of Newer Technologies • Different place, same time: • Desktop two-way audio/video • Use personal computers • Can use reflector sites to connect multiple sites • Free or inexpensive: CUSeeMe -- low quality • Need camera with each computer • Over 56K modem - only low speed is possible, poor quality • Transmitting at 126K or 256K (ISDN) - medium speed, uses compression • Over Internet: limited ability to carry high quality video, will change as bandwidth increases
Taxonomy of Newer Technologies • Different time, different place • Computer-mediated without audio or video • Could incorporate chat to make it synchronous • Asynchronous discussions, email, course content, student assignments, testing, multimedia resources, track student progress • Course management software • WebCT • BlackBoard • BigChalk • Some entire virtual schools have begun to appear
Virtual Schools • Kentucky Virtual High School (see virtual library) • http://www.kvhs.org/ • Florida Virtual School • http://www.flvs.net/ • Wisconsin Connections Academy (Appleton) • http://www.connectionsacademy.org/wi/about/default.asp • Maryland Virtual High School (science & math) • http://mvhs1.mbhs.edu/ • Choice 2000 Charter School • http://www.choice2000.org/
More Information • Online Teaching and Learning • www.ion.illinois.edu/resources/olo/index.html • Distance Education Clearinghouse • http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html • Distance-Educator.com • http://www.distance-educator.com/