1. Online Theological Distance Education Bridging the gap NET@OCI
 P.O. Box 284  AG Rijssen (Netherlands)  +31 (0)
Rabobank  KvK

2. NET Foundation
Long-distance education is an integral part of the course offerings at most colleges and universities in It is therefore not a matter of if but rather how long-distance education should be conducted. What can be demanded from the students? How can teachers become familiar with this type of education? What does this mean for didactic and pedagogical methods that are being used? Etcetera...

3. NET Foundation
NET Foundation was established late 2006 as a missions-related non-profit organization to provide theological educational institutes at home and abroad with the answers to the questions mentioned before
Quick profile:
Raymond Warnaar
Married & 5 kids (from 1 through 15)
Missionary Latin America
Director NET Foundation
Consultant Educational Science & Technology

4. Themes Mission and Vision Definition & Characteristics of E-learning
Blended Learning
Opportunities, Threats & Challenges
Questionnaire
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5. Our Mission
NET aims to provide theological and missionary organizations with easily accessible and innovative technology and – together with other NET platform members – to advance theological and related education in quality as well as quantity. This includes:
Sharing knowledge and experience with NET participants regarding digital distance learning
Contributing towards the transmission of the Christian faith and the Reformed spiritual legacy.
Advancing the global cooperation between missionary and theological educational institutes.

6. Our Positioning Theological Institutes Technology Communities
LMS & Web 2.0
Communities
of Practice
Missionary
organizations

7. Main Activities
NET offers educational technology (LMS and others) through which long-distance education can be provided, and local as well as international communities of practice can be formed
NET gives advices and offers customized training for implementing distance learning and its effects on your organization
NET initiates, coordinates and financially supports international projects on the design and development of digital educational learning materials
NET aims to start with the development of a database containing a detailed oversight of global learning opportunities in theology

8. Trends in higher education
Lifelong learning
Competence-based learning
Virtualization (use of internet technology)
Personalization & individualization
Flexibility
Globalization (partnerships, contents brokers, virtual universities, new markets & research)

9. Themes Mission and Vision Definition & Characteristics of E-learning
Blended Learning
Opportunities, Threats & Challenges
Questionnaire
Join the Community

10. Possible elements At home (cyber) Using Internet technologies
Virtual communities
When time available
Multi-media
Self study
Etcetera

11. (a) Definition of distance education
“Distance education is any educational process in which all or most of the teaching is conducted by someone removed in space and/or time from the learner, with the effect that all or most of the communication between teachers and learners is through an artificial medium, either electronic or print. By definition, in distance education the normal or principal means of communication is through technology (UNESCO, 2002, p.22).”

12. Phases of e-learning Self-study and testing
Distance
Learning
Assignments and collaboration
Blended
Learning
Digital
Learning
Lectures and resources
Learning
Support
Communication and mentoring
Learning
Information
Publication and organization

13. Themes Mission and Vision Definition & Characteristics of E-learning
Blended Learning
Opportunities, Threats & Challenges
Questionnaire
Join the Community

14. E-learning facilitates blended learning
where
when
what
how
who
why

15. Variables of blended learning
Offline and online activities
Face-to-face versus online
Synchronous and asynchronous activities
Synchronous: radio, chat, MSN, videoconference
Asynchronous: tutorials, discussion boards, blogs, wiki
Different multi media assets
Picture, text, movie, animation, simulation, audio, games
Different didactical interactions (and approaches)
Information, question, reflection, discussion, exercise, quiz (self learning versus collaborative learning)

16. Variables of blended learning
Different ways of delivering the content
Paper, computer, USB-stick, CD-ROM, cell phone, personal organizer
Different e-learning technologies
LMS (or VLE), wiki, conference tools, authoring tools, etc.
Different didactical models
Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism
Formal and informal learning
Structured and predefined or at the coffee machine…

17. E-learning Technology Tools
Production tools
Authoring tools, content management system, audio and video editing, animation, etc.
Learning tools
Learning Management System (LMS), e-portfolio, testing tool, conference tools, blog, chat, wiki, mind mapping, etc.
Administrative tools
Educational logistics and design, inscription, study routes, certification, etc.

18. E-learning technologies

19. NET Technology (1)

20. NET Technology (2)

21. NET Technology (3)

22. Main Features of LMS
Registration: enroll and administer learners online for web-based, instructor-led, and all other learning activities.
Scheduling: schedule courses and define curricula to address individual and organizational learning needs. Also off-line resources can be included (classrooms, books, coaches etc.).
Delivery: deliver online courses, learning material and assessments or schedule instructor-led courses.
Tracking: track the progress of the learners and create reports.
Communication: communicate by chat, discussion forum, wiki, blogs, mail, screen sharing and e-seminars.
Testing: test and assess competency, learning styles and student commitment.

23. Variables of blended learning (summary)
Online or classroom
Synchronous or asynchronous
Multi-media
interactions
Didactical
Mode of delivery
Technologies
models
(in)formal

24. Components are interwoven (VandenAkker, 2005)
Location
Time
Assessment
Rationale
Objectives
Grouping
Content
Materials & resources
Learning activities
Teacher role

25. How to define the optimal blend?
Institute
Identity
Culture
Budget
Infrastructure
Technologies
Staff
Vision on learning
Competencies
Experiences
Time constraints
Students
Target group
Learning objectives
Number of learners

26. Themes Mission and Vision Definition & Characteristics of E-learning
Blended Learning
Opportunities, Threats & Challenges
Questionnaire
Join the Community

27. Advantages of e-learning
Main reasons for the institute and its staff to consider the offering of online courses are: access to new (global) markets and new students, alleviation of capacity constraints (full classes), more revenues, richer programs, internationalization, technology can be a catalyst for institutional transformation and educational innovations, etc.
Considering the perspective of the student, the main advantages of online distance education are: more flexibility, cost and time savings, access to new courses, international contacts, attractive (innovative and authentic) learning, student-centered approaches, efficient interactions, deeper learning, etc.

28. Threats & Challenges
The most common issues from an institute perspective are: copyright and property issues, recognition of diplomas and certificates, change of culture, higher retention rate, possible staff resistance, time consuming (planning issue), expensive (budget issue), need for infrastructure and technology, support and training. 
From a staff, instructor or teacher perspective the following issues can be summarized: new pedagogical strategies to be defined, different roles and responsibilities, preparation or transformation of course materials, creation (skills) of new multi-media materials needed because old ones are not compatible or digitally available, online course is more time consuming, how to take examinations or assessments at a distance, interaction and relation towards students and management of student expectations.
From a student perspective possible issues can be: wrong expectations, course doesn’t engage (due to poor quality by contents overload and/or use of a single medium), social isolation, interpersonal or relational skills may not be developed, difficult access to technology and worldwide web, learning process is different and more time consuming.

29. Themes Mission and Vision Definition & Characteristics of E-learning
Blended Learning
Opportunities, Threats & Challenges
Questionnaire
Join the Community

30. Summary of Questionnaire Results will be here included…

31. Themes Mission and Vision Definition & Characteristics of E-learning
Blended Learning
Opportunities, Threats & Challenges
Questionnaire
Join the Community

33. Join the Community
OCI & NET are currently preparing a LA Partnership Agreement
Stay involved and receive online our Information about upcoming Activities
Actual Plans for 2009 & 2010
Development & Evaluation of Implementation (Transformation) Prototypes regarding E-learning
Execution of Workshops & Pilot Project

34. Transformation Prototype
Course
Execution
Personalization and
training of students
Communication
protocol
Continuous
evaluation
SPECIMEN
Course Structure
Contents segmented
by themes, feedback,
meetings or chapters
Attractive &
interactive
Multi-media
Blended
Learning
Course
Preparation
Consistent and clear
approach
Pedagogical
Strategy defined
(including roles)
Presentation of
theme, students
and teacher(s)
Basic
Conditions
Board Decision
(vision, priority,
resources)
Infrastructure
(Internet, hardware,
software)
Professional
Development
(training)

35. Online Theological Distance Education
Bridging Theology and Technology
Innovating Theology by Technology
Extending Theology towards new Areas
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
 P.O. Box 284  AG Rijssen (Netherlands)  +31 (0)
Rabobank  KvK