2. Linking to Learn: Using Technology to Connect People and Resources Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching

3. Reaching Out to a World of Resources Our society’s recognition of the importance of ready access to people and resources is the revolution in communications.

4. Reaching Out to a World of Resources As Francis Bacon said: “Knowledge is power”, then communication is freedom. The freedom for people to reach information and acquire knowledge that empowers them.

5. Communication Technologies that Assist Learning Through: Course delivery systems Communication among teachers, students, and others Locating and consulting people and information resources

6. Linking to Learn All linking activities have one thing in common: the use of some kind of network to communicate. A link may enable one to take a college course or transmit a message.

7. Terms Distance education, remote learning, and distance learning all refer to learning situations where the instructor and learner are separated over distance/time. Telecommunications facilitates communication among teachers, & students, and permits users to locate & use people & resources.

8. Terms Distance learning activities (course delivery systems) usually replace classroom instruction and involve costly resources, implementation strategies, and changes to the traditional classroom structure.

9. The Effectiveness of Linking Activities Research has consistently found no significant difference between instruction delivered through traditional classroom methods and instruction delivered over remote technologies in distance learning from 1954 through 1994.

10. The Effectiveness of Linking Activities (cont.) However, existing research, anecdotal evidence, and project evaluations support distance learning as an effective means for delivering formal instruction (Lane, 1993).

11. How Linking can Change the Nature of Education Provides ready access to a variety of people and information resources. Creates opportunities for collaboration between classrooms. Supports leaner-initiated study.

12. How Linking can Change the Nature of Education (cont.) Offers advanced or otherwise unavailable courses. Delivers staff development programs with minimal restrictions on time and place.

13. Hypothesized Structural Changes in Educational Systems Changes related to curriculum Teaching students how to locate, access, and apply information is education’s most important goal. Changes in the physical environment Virtual Learning Communities Changes in Teacher & Student Roles

14. The Conceptual Background for Linking Networks: Any linking activity needs three basic components: 1. People who seek information. 2. A source of information. 3. A transmission technology that links the two. (Emulation modes, parameters, protocols)

15. The Conceptual Background for Linking (cont.) Linking configurations. Microcomputer with modem, communications software, and telephone line.

16. Audio-Based Systems One-way audio. Teachers speak to distant students, who cannot respond directly in real time, by using Audio programming. Audio Programming may be delivered to individuals or classrooms via radio broadcasts or through telephone service.

17. Audio-Based Systems (cont.) Audioconferencing. Audioconferencing or two-way audio allows multiple users to interact in real time. Users may converse over a simple telephone link. Audiographics. It is an advanced form of computer networking.

18. One-Way Video Systems Anyone with necessary hardware and connections can receive open- air or encrypted broadcasts. Transmissions occur via satellite, Instructional Television Fixed Service, cable telecasts, microwave or a public broadcasting system.

19. One-Way Video Systems (cont.) Student-Teacher interaction occurs through: –Telephone lines –Special response systems –E-mail

20. One-Way Video, Two-Way Audio Completely interactive, real-time instructional course delivery Benefit: increased access to courses and expert resources available remotely

21. Interactive Two-Way Audio and Video Teachers and students can see each others reactions and respond. This two-way remote learning system is much like that in a traditional classroom environment. These learning systems are the most complex and most expensive to manage.

22. Top-Level Policy/Planning The involvement of federal, state, and local governments; local school districts and schools; and the private sector will be required to develop policies for distance learning.

23. Distance Learning Considerations Training teachers to use telecommunications Technical/Support Issues- limited visual interaction & classroom management, timeliness of material, available facilitators, equipment malfunctions, copyright issues, cost

24. Assessment The implementation of distance learning in local classrooms is complicated: 1. Accountability for student achievement becomes split between the tele-teacher or facilitator.

25. Assessment 2. Educators must define an assessment system appropriate for the non-traditional learning that occurs.

26. Administrative Support A Teacher’s ability is unquestionably important to the success of a computer network, but administrative support for technology is critical.

27. Interoperablility As educators begin to use networked technologies, schools encounter a fundamental problem with the lack of uniform standards for interconnection. Today, transmission technologies vary considerably in availability and cost.

28. Interoperablility Many current systems for receiving information are proprietary in nature, restricting reception to the same or technologically compatible equipment or systems. Standards for interoperability must cover more than a single standard for data delivery, voice, video.

29. Obtaining Required Resources Teachers who want to do modem- based linking activities complain most often about: –Telephone lines. –Computers. –Modems.

30. Logistical Problems Teachers have to make sure that students have access to modems and telephone lines. –Time frames –Time zones –Real-time “chats” impossible

31. Planning a Successful Telecommunications-Based Curriculum Instructionally significant in terms of established state or district curriculum. Appropriate for the medium so to “ take advantage of instructional features that only telecommunications can provide”.

32. Ethical Issues The content of messages and databases are not always monitored. Some content may not be appropriate for minors.

33. Equity and Cultural Issues Technology’s built-in cultural bias. Access to information technology. Technology’s role in multicultural education.

34. Popular Online Information Sources ERIC National Geographic Kids Network AT&T Learning Network Internet

35. The International Network The major benefit of the Internet is the comprehensive nature of the information and services it provides: –FTP –Email –Gopher –Usenet –Telnet

36. Internet The earliest version of the Internet was developed by the U.S. D.O.D. and funded by its Advanced Research Project Agency. The Internet allow users to share resources and exchange information easily. Internet Protocol or IP makes Internet exchanges possible.

37. Types of Teaching and Learning Activities with Telecommunications Electronic penpals Cooperative research projects Electronic mentoring Parallel problem solving Electronic field trips Simulated activities Social action projects

38. The End--------