Online Education Any experience? Advantages & Disadvantages? Research findings? What skills or knowledge required? Does teacher role change?

The Range of Online Experience A course with some online elements A hybrid course A course taught entirely online

Basic Elements Instructional Methods (knowledge & experience) Human Interface (Art & Psychology) Reliability & Interactivity (computer skills)

Main Difference?

online Nonverbal Communication does not exist. (smile, head shake) You can’t tell if they’re learning You cannot estimate the scope of the content like a book. (how big is each chapter) You cannot estimate the quality of the course (publisher, the cover quality)

You need some computer skills Basic computer terminology Basic troubleshooting Email & attachments Communication technology & tools Search tools Web page development Advanced Multimedia development and Interactivity ?

Advanced Multimedia skills? Subject (science or social studies) Your instructional design (individual or collaborative learning) Hybrid or online Level of learning (informative or conceptual learning) Availability of free interactive sources

Changes your role Makes you more a facilitator or moderator than the expert from whom all knowledge flows.

Your notes Your notes and online material become very important

How about student role? Students must be motivated. Balancing the demands of work, learning and family Self Directed Learning (knowing where to find info Time management (Requires discipline) Communication skills

What should we do about online assessment? No observation = Plagiarism

Misconceptions Myths Facts

True False On-line syllabus should include tasks that must be performed online Some tasks should be done in a lab, in a room or office, in a field or library (example, online course in Science, music, nursing or surgery)

Everything you need could be found online True False Everything you need could be found online Remember not everything is online yet In fact the majority of resources are not online

Students need to stay online for a long time to find info. True False Students need to stay online for a long time to find info. Requiring students stay online for a long time (hunting for online material) has proved to be counterproductive. Example, some useless webquest activities Instead Use the web to publish or for collaboration

True False Technical support is available for the teacher and students.

True False Interactivity = interaction with the instructor Interactivity = interaction with other students Interactivity = with computers (Games) Interactivity = Animations Interactivity = buttons or navigation

Instructional interactivity Interaction that actively stimulates the learner’s mind to do those something that improves ability and readiness to perform effectively

True False Facilitator = help desk Facilitator = answering machine Facilitator = spoon feeder Facilitator = Nobody

I used to look forward to Wednesday afternoons Remember filmstrips? I used to look forward to Wednesday afternoons when our fifth-grade teacher would dim the lights, pull down the screen and advance the projector to an electronic beep. All the students loved filmstrips. For the next hour, we didn’t have to think. Teachers liked them too. With arms folded in the back of the class, they didn’t have to teach.  

True False Face 2 Face learning is superior to online learning. Fact http://www.nosignificantdifference.org Why?

Why? there are good classroom classes and lousy classroom classes. The quality depends on the teacher, the course, the attentiveness and interest of the students.

Research Trend Can distance learning be as good as classroom learning” How technology can help? “Can technology help make online learning even better than traditional instruction?”

True False Online education does not allow important teacher-to-student and student-to-student interaction. Have you ever been in a college lecture hall? Everyone is connected and everyone is encouraged to participate. Students get customized instruction and one-on-one teacher feedback.

More personal attention Faculty can concentrate less on delivering lectures and devote more time to interacting personally with students reviewing assignments, advising, tutoring and answering questions.

True False Online learning is only good for certain types of students. Distance education has evolved to the point where it’s so easy and intuitive that almost anyone can benefit from it. Online learning is the biggest equalizer of all. Education is no longer a one-time event that ends at age 18 or 22.

True False Online learning is only good for certain types of subjects. certain sciences that require expensive calibrated equipment or laboratory equipment

True False Employers don’t value web-based learning as highly as traditional classroom learning As the number of people earning online degrees grows, more employers are recognizing their value It is less and less of the case today

True False Online learning is a quick and easy way to get a degree. These programs are not accredited Online courses may give you more flexibility than traditional classes, but they require just as much work.

True False Accredited schools always offer a good education. NCATE and other six nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies.

Accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA) Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NWCCU) New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement(NCA)

True False Online degrees are expensive: small state schools enrolling in a non-U.S.-based school financial aid and tuition assistance save money on gas and car maintenance

True False The Credits You Earn Online Won't Transfer to Traditional Colleges If you earn your degree at accredited online institution, your credits are equivalent

True False You’ll Never Set Foot on a College Campus

An Issue to Consider

Computer support? Programmers or network specialists who don’t know much about application programs? Lab administrators who don’t know what a web site can provide? Teachers who don’t know technology Schools who don’t trust technology

You Who is a person who knows teachers’ language and the computer language?