A Brief Review of

Online & Distance

Learning
 A bit of History

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZk-Wd
YHkoc
 Motivation of Students
• Frequent contact between teacher/student

• Interactive

• Teamwork/collaboration
• Communication & Relationships

• Creativity

• Publication/recognition/feedback

• Tracking of performance
Pattern A of Distance Learning
• Podcasts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

• Dr Dan’s Minicast
http://minicasts.podomatic.com/play/112206
6/2116897
Vodcasts:
http://blog.uelconnect.org.uk/warren/2010/04/20/an-overview-of-the-fe-sector-
vodcast/

Teleseminars:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleseminars http://www.freeconferencepro.com/?
f=goog&r=Teleconferencing-teleseminars-
ad001&gclid=CKLguvq6w6gCFQtPgwodFnFSpg
RSS feeds
http://www.whatisrss.
com/

Blogs
Wikis: A Web site developed collaboratively
by a community of users, allowing any
user to add and edit content. 

Forums
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_forum
 A bit of Forum humor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=B9q2jNjOPdk
 Pattern A has limits
• Tends to be one way
• Limited feedback
• Allows publication of ideas/images

Think of it as a Radio or TV news show.

The learner is passive

 Pattern B
Live Conferencing

Teleconferences with switchboard for callers

Set locations for 2, 3, or more places for

participants to gather
 Web based conferencing
• http://www.arkadinexpress.com/?gclid=CN
CRrIK8w6gCFRphgwod2FOVoA

• http://www.live-conferencing.com/

• http://www.coolconferencelive.com/
 Pattern C:
• Learning Management System

• Such as:

• Moodle, Blackboard, Manhattan Learning

System, ATutor and others.
 Each has Advantages
The Vodcast:

Often used for set material that is taught by

lecture.

Real estate training is an example.

Instructor video tapes self doing the lesson,

burns to DVD, then publishes to secure web.
 Vodcast/Podcast, etc
• It is one way (lecture)

• Saves travel time/costs

• Flexible viewing

• Relatively inexpensive
 Live Conferences
• Good interactivity

• Saves travel costs/time

• Expensive equipment costs and setup

• Continued need for on-site person to

coordinate and set up equipment
 Technical Knowledge
• Each requires some level of computer
knowledge

• Each requires some degree of equipment

such as online access, computer, web
cams, headsets, mics

• Keyboard skills
 Learning Management Systems

The idea of a LMS is to:

engage trainees in the process of

collaborating to create “new knowledge.”

Best are

a hybrid of Pattern A and B

using a LMS as the platform

 The Weaknesses
Drop-out rates can be high.

If there is little interactivity between

instructor and students, confusion and
frustration can set in.
 Motivation Issues
People are herd animals.

If they don’t get to know others in a class

and they don’t feel obligated to participate,

they punt
 Recognition & Attention
If students perceive that their papers, blogs,
podcasts, videos and other projects aren’t
being viewed or aren’t being taken
seriously, they stop producing.
 Technical Challenges
Sometimes students get irritated or lost when it
comes to producing something via a
computer and/or online.

Without direct instruction and help….

Punt!
 Quality Work is Hard Work
It is no more easy to produce quality online
than it is in real life.

The online tools are merely videos,

recorders, typewriters and the like that
have migrated online.

Its fun at first, but then….

 Stop Podcasting Yourself
Comedians do a podcast on why you should
stop podcasting yourself.
• http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/stop-p
odcasting-yourself
 Time Management
Students often fail to calculate how much MORE
time an online course will take.

They get behind

And

Punt!
 Instructors pile it on

Instructors of online courses tend to:

A. Assume because there isn’t a class

meeting, students have more time.
B. Provide too many links
C. Assign MORE work
 Its all about ME!
• Inspires students who are seeking
recognition.

• May inhibit students who don’t want the

attention from others.
For some students
 Issues
• Copyright/cut & paste

• “junk” opinions online

• Verification that the student did the work

• Privacy
 Some Methods
• Source scanners for plagiarism

http://www.dustball.com/cs/plagiarism.check
er/
 Verification
• Passwords

• Biometrics (fingerprint, eye scanners)

• Onsite final assessments

• Webcam meet-up classes

 References
Nice overview of Distance Learning:

http://www.umsl.edu/services/ctl/DEID/destination7techdevelopment/7aindex.html