Factors to be Considered in Building up an E-learning Course Eija Kalliala Helsinki Business Polytechnic – Helia homepage:

Eija Kalliala, Helia2 Contents The manual of e-learning (Finn Lectura 2002) –What is e-learning? –11 factors to be considered More research (fall 2003) –teachers’ different pedagogical approaches –Why does a student interrupt an online course? –What makes good online teacher? online learner? online course?

Eija Kalliala, Helia3 Different kinds of e-learning Internet in contact learning –learning in the classroom, material and interaction in the Internet Blended learning in the Internet –contact, distance and independent learning –groupwork and interaction Independent learning in the Internet –no interaction

Eija Kalliala, Helia4 Why e-learning? New educational approaches Demands of working life New generation Distance learning Life-long learning

Eija Kalliala, Helia5 E-teacher A creative performer –The traditional teacher might be a creative performer, what about an e-teacher? The e-teacher has to –be active –create the schedule –give feedback –instruct the students –evaluate the students –find means to spare him- or herself!

Eija Kalliala, Helia6 How can an e-teacher spare him- or herself? Clear course structure in the beginning Learning environment or platform Interaction Groupworks Peer assessments Educational packages

Eija Kalliala, Helia7 E-learners manage their time are responsible and self-directed are collaborative are medialiterate manage the interaction in the net have technical ability skills

Eija Kalliala, Helia8 E-learning process Beginning Familiarizing with e-learning material Completing the learning assignments Assessment

Eija Kalliala, Helia9 E-learning materials Traditional books Public materials on the net Announcements, slides, instructions, link lists Assignments and tests E-books Materials created by student groups Materials created by teachers Educational packages Multimedia, virtual reality, games, simulations, learning landscapes

Eija Kalliala, Helia10 Interaction on the net Dialogue and argumentation E-post Discussion boards Chat Group work Audio- and videoconferences Text messages and multimedia messages

Eija Kalliala, Helia11 Technical infrastructure and staff Maintenance Technical support E-teachers E-learners

Eija Kalliala, Helia12 Legal aspects Copyright –Copyrights protect creative products. Data protection –The law may be different in different countries. –In Finland: You may not publish any list of personal information without the permission of the persons on the list.

Eija Kalliala, Helia13 Data security Integrity Confidentiality Availability Authentication Non-repudiation Access control

Eija Kalliala, Helia14 Characteristics of learning platforms Publishing the learning material of the teacher. Publishing the material created by students. Interaction. Monitoring students. Assessment.

Eija Kalliala, Helia15 Some criteria for choosing a learning platform The pedagogical learning approach Modularity Language User interface Data storage method Domestic support and development User training Choices of cooperation partners Data security

Eija Kalliala, Helia16 Cooperation of several schools Administrative practices Differences in the technical infrastructures Cultural differences –language, dialect and rhytm of speech –different cultures of the schools –teacher – student –strictness – flexibility

Eija Kalliala, Helia17 Tietie cooperation Information Technology Education Using Information Technology Project, duration 6/ /1998 Cooperation since 1/1999 – Goals –Increase the resources of individual polytechnics through cooperation. –Liberate learning from the constraints of time and place.

Eija Kalliala, Helia18 Cooperation partners since 6/1995 –Helsinki Business Polytechnic – Helia –Jyväskylä Polytechnic –Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic –Oulu Polytechnic –North Karelian Polytechnic since 8/2000 –Häme Polytechnic –Kymenlaakso Polytechnic –Lahti Polytechnic –North-Savo Polytechnic –Turku Polytechnic –Vaasa Polytechnic

Eija Kalliala, Helia19 Principles of Tietie Each polytechnic involved in the Tietie cooperation prepares and carries out one or more courses of one, two or three credits. Courses are available to the students of all the participating polytechnics. Students can learn in their own region without traveling.

Eija Kalliala, Helia20 Statistics YearImplemented coursesCompleted courses Total841740

Eija Kalliala, Helia21 Student experiences Learning in the Internet demands more – but also gives more than traditional learning. Clear schedule and outlined material is essential. Students have to create their own schedule and find the time for online learning. Personal feedback is excellent. Students expect teachers to be active. Online learning is suitable for the students’ current way of life (work, small children, work aboard). Groupwork keeps students involved in online learning.

Eija Kalliala, Helia22 Teacher experiences Online students set their goals higher than traditional students. The priority of online students’ is greater than other students’ . The teacher has to prepare the material beforehand and add detailed instructions. Tutoring and giving feedback takes time. Online education liberates from the constraints of time – and demands time.

Eija Kalliala, Helia23 New research Students and teachers in Tietie cooperation during fall 2001 – spring Questionaire in the Internet. Both open questions and questions with classified answers. Answers: –104 students (30 %) – 10 teachers (63 %)

Eija Kalliala, Helia24 Different pedagogical approaches Teacher-centered – Student-centered Emphasis on –preparing in advance –the schedule –instruction –learning material –interaction –feedback –cooperation and peer-assessment

Eija Kalliala, Helia25 Why does a student interrupt an online course? Lack of time Course arrangements Problems with course organization Technical problems

Eija Kalliala, Helia26 A good online teacher gives feedback answers questions is active instructs wakes up sleeping students is present creates the material is expert in his or her subject area encourages students

Eija Kalliala, Helia27 A good online learner is self-directed manages his or her time is motivated manages interaction in the net manages technology manages groupwork

Eija Kalliala, Helia28 A good online course (1/2) Assignments linked to the working life High quality learning material Goal and schedule at the beginning Examples, links, figures instruction and feedback discussion board

Eija Kalliala, Helia29 A good online course (2/2) Clear Useful You can download, copy or store the learning material easily.

Eija Kalliala, Helia30 Future ?? M-learning (mobile computers and videos) T-learning (digital tv) Development of learning platforms Learning portals in Finland –Finnish Virtual School –Finnish Virtual Polytechnic –Finnish Virtual University