Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

Technological innovations have played a significant role in the evolution of distance education and influence the design of distance education worldwide (Technology of Distance Education). The selection of technologies, which are appropriate for online instruction according to Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek, should be guided by the following: –

“
i. Assessing available instructional technologies
ii. Determining the learning outcomes
iii. Identifying learning experiences and matching them to the most appropriate technology
iv. Preparing the learning experiences for online delivery.” (2012, pp. 115-120)
These guidelines have informed my selection of technologies for my chosen scenario.
My chosen scenario is “A high school history teacher, located on the west coast of the United States, wants to showcase to her students new exhibits being held at two prominent New York City museums. The teacher wants her students to take a “tour” of the museums and be able to interact with the museum curators, as well as see the artwork on display. Afterward, the teacher would like to choose two pieces of artwork from each exhibit and have the students participate in a group critique of the individual work of art. As a novice of distance learning and distance learning technologies, the teacher turned to the school district’s instructional designer for assistance. In the role of the instructional designer, what distance learning technologies would you suggest the teacher use to provide the best learning experience for her students?”

The top two technologies, which will be useful for this setting, would be the use of media-sharing sites and discussion technologies. The assumption here is that students will take a virtual tour of the museum, which is independently provided by the museum. A web conferencing tool like WebEx can be utilized to first of all take a tour and also interact with the curators, however, in the absence of that media-sharing sites can be used to view the art pieces and then students can comment on the pieces as appropriate.

The use of a media-sharing site such as VoiceThread which allows subscribers to “Upload, share and discuss documents, presentations, images, audio files and videos” (VoiceThread) will be useful in having students critique art either in groups or individually. The students are bound to find this interactive and engage with their learning since they would have an integration of both “visual and verbal modes of learning together” (Laureate, 2012). Using VoiceThread, both the teacher and students obtain feedback and are able to respond to other student’s critique. “ In one recent evaluation at Sierra College, where VoiceThread was used in distance learning courses in art appreciation and art history, stu¬dents noted that the tool helped establish a sense of community and reinforced the impression that the instructor was involved in their learning process.” (7 things you should know about VoiceThread, 2009, p. 1)

A discussion board can also be employed, however, if a technology exist which provides a convergence of media sharing and discussions, I would think that is the best way to go. I am of the view that any tool, which is a convergence of many tools, is better than having to complete tasks in separate locations.

Reference:
7 things you should know about VoiceThread. (2009, June). In Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved July 20, 2013, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7050.pdf

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

The Technology of Distance Education [Online video]. Walden University. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_7699855_1&content_id=_25321144_1

VoiceThread. (n.d.). Communicate, Collaborate and Connect. In VoiceThread. Retrieved from https://voicethread.com/about/features/

Distance learning as far as I was concerned had to do with an individual signing up for a course by mailing their application form to an address elsewhere after which the person would receive tons of literature, which they must read. Over the years, however, this impression has changed mostly as a result of the available technology at any point in time. I have heard distance learning being referred to as Online Learning, e-learning and virtual learning and these names suggest a definition for distance learning. Before I proffer a definition, it might be necessary to understand the changes my definition has gone through.

Having taken some correspondent course in basic school, I understood distance learning to mean that one could access learning only from a distance; a location otherwise not easily accessible to the learner. In my mind, this did not require me at any point in time to be physically present at any institution; I must have been not more than 9 years old. Many years down the line, in my country Ghana, one could not hear enough of the talk on distance learning which required interested learners to travel to their chosen University campus during the summer holidays to take a module or two. This was quite confusing but quickly evolved and reset itself when my husband signed up for an MBA online. He later confessed that he had regrets; this programme required him to attend face –to-face lectures and none of his learning took place in an online environment. Meanwhile, another colleague was buried in quite heavy volumes in the name of distance learning with little contact with his instructor. At this rate, the definition of distance learning has evolved but a few things that remained constant had to do with the how access was a challenge for learners previously due to distance of the institutions.

Distance learning has gone through a number of changes (Distance Learning Timeline Continuum, 2013) and Tarmakin (2010) posed questions on distance learning and this has influenced my current definition – “How is technology evolving, and how is this changing your work? How are people, positions, and processes changing and what is the role of evolving technology in causing these changes?” Dr. Simonson (n.d.) also offers a definition for distance learning as “formal education in which the learning group are separated by geography and sometimes by time, using communication technology to link learners, teachers and resources”.

In my opinion, distance learning must do the following to be duly recognized as such. Distance learning must: –

– Employ the use of appropriate ICT tools and services
– Encourage conversations between learners and instructors as part of the learning process
– Provide meaningful feedback for the learner to improve
– Be well-designed based on Instructional Design theories and methods
– Be designed to meet various learning needs

I do not think that distance learning can or should replace the conventional classroom as we know it (Simonson, 2013) but it would rather respond to gaps identified in access to many either through a complete online experience or a blended approach. For learners who subscribe to distance learning programmes to feel their degrees carry some weight however, institutions that would like to offer programs must base their design on sound ID practices for those who earn degrees through these means to be deemed as completing “legitimate scholarly work” (Moller, Forshay and Huett, p. 69). The ID community is therefore charged to ensure that there is a standard, which is employed and met by interested institutions.

References:
Simonson, M (2013)). Distance Education: The Next Generation [Online video]. Walden University. Retrieved January 6, 2013

Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 2: Higher education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66-70.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Tamarkin, M. (2010, November). You 3.0: The Most Important Evolving Technology. In Educause Review Online. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/you-30-most-important-evolving-technology

This blog is primarily for my blog assignments as a student of Walden University, however, I look forward to continue writing as my experience is training me to share my reflections on learning.