Best Practices for Higher Education and K-12 Distance Education Programs Aubrey D. Crook, M.Ed. © 2006

What is Distance Learning? Distance Education is a prepared teaching and learning experience that uses a variety of technologies that are designed to encourage student and teacher interaction for increased learning opportunities Distance Education is a prepared teaching and learning experience that uses a variety of technologies that are designed to encourage student and teacher interaction for increased learning opportunities

Focus Points for Online Learning Student Characteristics Student Characteristics Role of the Instructor Role of the Instructor Instructional Methods Instructional Methods

Characteristics of Online Students Characteristics of Online Students Ages Ages Cultural Cultural Socioeconomic backgrounds Socioeconomic backgrounds Interests and experiences Interests and experiences Educational levels Educational levels Familiarity with distance education & technology Familiarity with distance education & technology

“Much of the material used to educate students at grade levels beyond primary school is largely text and lecture based, which have significant limitations.” “Much of the material used to educate students at grade levels beyond primary school is largely text and lecture based, which have significant limitations.” Nondestructive Testing Resource Center Nondestructive Testing Resource Center

Learning Retention Rate Learning Retention Rate Lecture = 5% Lecture = 5% Reading = 10% Reading = 10% Audiovisual = 20% Audiovisual = 20% Demonstration = 30% Demonstration = 30% Discussion Group = 50% Discussion Group = 50% Practice by doing = 75% Practice by doing = 75% Teach others / immediate use of learning = 90% Teach others / immediate use of learning = 90%

Roles of the Online Instructor Acts as a facilitator. Acts as a facilitator. Guide on the side. Guide on the side. Prepares learning resources for student exploration. Prepares learning resources for student exploration.

Personal Characteristics of Instructors Caring Caring Confident Confident At ease with the equipment. At ease with the equipment. Uses the media creatively Uses the media creatively Maintains a high level of interactivity with the students. Maintains a high level of interactivity with the students.

Social Presence Social Presence Students with high social presence also perceived high levels of learning in class discussions. Students with high social presence also perceived high levels of learning in class discussions.

Technology & Distance Education Technology is an integral part of distance education. Technology is an integral part of distance education. Focus on the instructional needs of the students, rather than on the technology used. Focus on the instructional needs of the students, rather than on the technology used.

Constructivist Approach Act as a stimulus for learning activity. Act as a stimulus for learning activity. Collaborative projects can engage students in designing authentic tasks and case studies. Collaborative projects can engage students in designing authentic tasks and case studies. Content can be modularized so as to scaffold learning. Content can be modularized so as to scaffold learning.

Best Practices of Instructional Design Best Practices of Instructional Design Learner Support & Resources Learner Support & Resources Organization & Design Organization & Design Instructional Design & Delivery Instructional Design & Delivery Instructional Technology Instructional Technology Effective Communication & Feedback Effective Communication & Feedback

Learner Support & Resources Link to library resources. Link to library resources. Help Desk Help Desk Guidelines for assignments. Guidelines for assignments.

Online Organization & Delivery Are the instructional materials easy to locate? Are the instructional materials easy to locate? Is the content presented in a logical format? Is the content presented in a logical format?

Instructional Design & Delivery Promote interaction & communication. Promote interaction & communication. Relate assignments to learning objectives. Relate assignments to learning objectives.

Instructional Methods & Strategies Guided Practice Guided Practice Media Based Media Based Inquiry Learning Inquiry Learning Teamwork or Groups Teamwork or Groups Self-Paced Self-Paced

Learning Factors Effectiveness depends on the I.D. method. Effectiveness depends on the I.D. method. Concept Identification Concept Identification Pedagogical styles Pedagogical styles Media enhancements Media enhancements Interactivity Interactivity Testing and feedback Testing and feedback Collaboration Collaboration

Evaluation of Student Learning Multiple Assessment Strategies Multiple Assessment Strategies Rubrics Rubrics Feedback Feedback

Teaching with Technology Discussion Boards Discussion Boards CD-ROM / DVD CD-ROM / DVD Supplemental Material Supplemental Material Video / Teleconference Video / Teleconference

Delivery Support Factors User authentication User authentication Portfolio Information Portfolio Information Records of completed activities Records of completed activities Universal Design for hearing and visually impaired students. (Alt Tags & Video Streaming) Universal Design for hearing and visually impaired students. (Alt Tags & Video Streaming)

Usability Factors graphical elements graphical elements color scheme color scheme font type font type navigational elements navigational elements usability and organization usability and organization

Technology Factors Bandwidth Bandwidth System configuration System configuration Server capacity Server capacity Web browser Web browser Database Connectivity Database Connectivity

Universal Design Making Distance Learning Accessible to Everyone (Realplayer or Mediaplayer Required) Making Distance Learning Accessible to Everyone (Realplayer or Mediaplayer Required) Making Distance Learning Accessible to Everyone Making Distance Learning Accessible to Everyone Hearing and visually impaired students. Hearing and visually impaired students. (Alt Tags & Video Streaming) (Alt Tags & Video Streaming)

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