Best Practices and Organization for Distance Education Michael Simonson, Ph.D. Program Professor Instructional Technology and Distance Education Fischler School of Education Nova Southeastern University Florida, USA Build It 4.wmv

Teacher as ?

Teacher (Library Media Specialist?) as Skeuomorph

What do we know?

Definition of Distance Education Institution-based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems/media are used to connect learners, resources and instructors.

ST SP ST SP DT SP DT SP ST DP ST DP DT DP DT DP Coldeway's Quadrants

Face to Face Instruction Distance Delivered Instruction Teaching

Staggering Growth of DE

Best Practices?

Indicators of Quality: Mission Positive Explicit statement of purpose of distance education in the organization’s mission statement Positive Explicit statement of purpose of distance education in the organization’s mission statement Warning Signs Two separate approaches- DE v. F2F Two target populations

Indicators of Quality: Curriculum Positive Faculty oversight Faculty course design Positive Faculty oversight Faculty course design Warning Signs Two course approval processes “Cookie-cutter” course design

Indicators of Quality: Faculty Support Positive Faculty development process Instructional design support Positive Faculty development process Instructional design support Warning Signs Direct conversion of F2F to DE Two course evaluation systems

Indicators of Quality: Students Positive Strong technology support – 24/7 Academic advisers for DE students Positive Strong technology support – 24/7 Academic advisers for DE students Warning Signs Some services must be accessed F2F Confusion about contact people

Indicators of Quality: Sustainability Positive Systematic approach applied Clear plans for future Positive Systematic approach applied Clear plans for future Warning Signs History of started and stopped programs Administrators know, but others do not

Indicators of Quality: Evaluation and Assessment Positive Evaluation results used for continuous improvement Input from faculty and students Positive Evaluation results used for continuous improvement Input from faculty and students Warning Signs Large number of drop- outs Record of many complaints

US DOE Technology Plan 1.Strengthen Leadership 2.Consider Innovative Budgeting 3.Improve Teacher Training 4.Support e’Learning and Virtual Schools 5.Encourage Broadband Access 6.Move Toward Digital Content 7.Integrate Data Systems 1.Strengthen Leadership 2.Consider Innovative Budgeting 3.Improve Teacher Training 4.Support e’Learning and Virtual Schools 5.Encourage Broadband Access 6.Move Toward Digital Content 7.Integrate Data Systems

Best Practices Logical and Intuitive Organization Multimedia Use to Present Content High Quality Production Standards Content-Rich Design Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction Self Pacing Apparent Continuous Evaluation and Revision Logical and Intuitive Organization Multimedia Use to Present Content High Quality Production Standards Content-Rich Design Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction Self Pacing Apparent Continuous Evaluation and Revision

Rules of Thumb For a typical 3-credit course hours of student involvement 10 – 25 students/instructor Clear organization ~ 45 topics, 15 modules, and 3 units Build Communities >5 <10 Grade often and everything <1 instructor posting to 4 student postings For a typical 3-credit course hours of student involvement 10 – 25 students/instructor Clear organization ~ 45 topics, 15 modules, and 3 units Build Communities >5 <10 Grade often and everything <1 instructor posting to 4 student postings

Organizing a Course

The Standard? 3 Credit, Carnegie Unit Course = 3 x 750 minutes of class time = 2250 minutes or ~45, 50-minutes classes 3 Credit, Carnegie Unit Course = 3 x 750 minutes of class time = 2250 minutes or ~45, 50-minutes classes

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education “Learners, distant and local, should be provide equivalent learning experiences in order for them to achieve similar learning outcomes”

Learning Experiences Anything that happens to or with a student that promotes learning, including what is observed, felt, heard, or done.

Chunking of Information Pre-ChunkingPost- Chunking

Equivalency Units (vs. Carnegie Units) Modules (3-5/Unit) Topics (3-5/Module, each with a Learning Outcome)

3 x 5 x 5 Approach 3 Units/3Credit Course 5 Modules/Unit 5 Concepts/Module & 1 Objective/Concept 3 Units/3Credit Course 5 Modules/Unit 5 Concepts/Module & 1 Objective/Concept

1 Semester Credit = 1 Unit = 5 Modules = 15 Concepts

Best Practices: DE Courses Design 15 concepts/topics per credit hours of student time per credit Design 15 concepts/topics per credit hours of student time per credit

Best Practices: Instruction Content Readings Viewings Listenings Content Readings Viewings Listenings Interaction Chats Discussions Teamwork VOIP Telephone Live Presentations Assessment Exams Presentaitons Writing Journals Blogs

Examples South Dakota Florida Virtual School South Dakota Florida Virtual School