Introduction to Web-Based Learning

1. Introduction to Web-Based Learning

2. Defining Web-Based Instruction • Instruction via Internet and Intranet only. • Synonymous with online learning.

3. Distance Education • Instruction that exists when instructors and learners are separated by time and/or location. • Synchronous vs. asynchronous.

4. Distributed Learning vs. Distance Education • Distributed Learning uses a wide range of computing and communication technology to provide learning opportunities beyond times and place constraints of traditional classrooms. • Can take place on or off campus. • Distance education and on-line learning are subsets of distributed learning.

5. Distance Education Delivery Systems • Correspondence courses. • Broadcast systems. • Teleconferencing systems and communication networks. • Computers and digital technologies. • Local area networks and wide area networks. • Internet • Text-based (Gopher) vs. graphical environments (browsers, search engines, portals).

6. Advantages and Disadvantages of WBI

7. Choosing a WBI project • Can problem be solved appropriately with WBI? • Identify the purpose of your WBI. • Choose a content area in which you have expertise and that is of interest to you. • Select a topic for which participants will be available. • Select a topic for which you have the technology available to develop and implement.

8. Web-Based Learning Environment and Community

9. Continuum of Web-based learning communities

10. Types of Online Instruction

11. For your project • What is your learning environment and community like? • What kinds of administrative and technology infrastructure do you have? • Where would your WBI be on the learning community continuum? • What type of on-line instruction would you use?

12. Current and Emerging Technologies for WBI

13. Current and Emerging Technologies for WBI

14. Learning Management Systems • Technology that supports planning, designing, developing, implementing, and administering online learning experiences. • Schedules, registers, and tracks learner progress and performance. • Blackboard, WebCT.

15. Features of LMS • Chat rooms. • Discussion boards. • Forums. • Student lists with email addresses. • Electronic drop boxes. • Assessment tools (grading, quizzes).

16. Stakeholders in WBI • Administrative stakeholders (managers, superintendents, principals, deans). • Technology stakeholders (webmasters, networking specialists, programmers). • Learning community stakeholders (instructor, learner, instructional designer).

17. Administrative stakeholders • Roles and Responisbilities • Set project priorities. • Provide approval. • Fund and allocate resources. • May or may not have daily interactions with WBI designer. • Challenges • May lack expertise; must rely on others.

18. Technology stakeholders • Roles and Responsibilities • Assist designers. • Solve problems. • May develop Web pages or multimedia products. • Challenges • Troubleshoot in timely fashion. • Upgrade knowledge and skills. • Be able to communicate.

19. Learning Community stakeholders • Instructor Roles and Responsibilities • Establish the learning community, set the tone. • Lead teaching using good teaching practices. • Be available. • Instructor Challenges • Expectation of immediate feedback. • Volume of learner contacts. • Keep current with technology.

20. Learning Community stakeholders • Learner Roles and Responsibilities • Participate! • Help establish goals and community. • Self-motivation, good study skills. • Learner Challenges • Feelings of isolation. • Issues involved with becoming a self-regulated learner.

21. Learning Community stakeholders • Instructional Designer Roles and Responsibilities • Project Designer. • Communicate with other stake-holders. • Monitor the design and delivery. • Instructional Designer Challenges • Balance quality standards and expectations with constraints of limited resources. • Communicating with other stakeholders that have unrealistic expectations.