Distance Education and the WWW
The boom in distance learning
Soren Nipper(1989) suggested the concept of three generations of distance education.The correspondance-type model represented the first generation.The open university was the second and the third is built upon electronic information systems.
The Open University:
· This university requires no entry qualification
· You can fit in your studies around the rest of your life.
· The degree courses contain a mixture of course units , notes exercise, self assesment tests ,audio tapes,assignment,records,slides,videos and so on.
Computer in distance education
Computer applications for distance education fall into the following categories:
Computer Assisted Instruction(CAI) : Uses the computer as a self-contained teaching machine to present the lessons to achieve specific but limited educational objectives.
Computer Managed Instruction(CMI): Uses the computer’s branching,storage and retrieval capabilities to organise instruction and track learner records and progress.
Computer Mediated Communication(CMC): Using this approach, learners keep in touch with the tutor and each other via email.support feedback is essential and it is useful to encourage learners to coach each other and work together to improve performance.individuals need to take responsibility for their own development.
Computer Aided Learning(CAL): This term refer to multimedia or computer aided instruction.A multimedia program is designed to support the learning process and offer the experience of listening, looking and doing in a computer-mediated setting.
Interactive Compact Disc(CD-I): This is a hardware and software standard that can combine audio,video and text on high-capacity compact discs.
Computer Aided Assessment(CAA): CAA is the new buzz-word, taking over from CAL, and can be used to support open and computer based interactive flexible learning opportunities.
Groupware
A term used to describe software to enable a group of users on a network to collaborates on a particular project.
Virtual World Learning
A 3-D modelled environment where a user can interact with the viewer.This could be through simulator.
Digital Technology
The term digital is a reference to something based on digits or numbers or their representation.
· Digital video-interactive is a hardware/software system developed by RCA, General Electric and Intel that implements compression of digital video and audio for microcomputer applications.
· Digital simultaneous voice and data technology has been patented by Multi-Tech Systems Inc., and allows a single telephone line to be used for conversation together with data transfer.
· Digital video disc (DVD) is the next generation of optical disc storage technology.Using this,video,audio and computer data can be encoded onto a compact disc.These discs can store larger amounts of data than a traditional CD.
Advantages of computers
I. Computers can facilitate self-paced learning.
II. Computers are the multimedia tools with the integrated graphic, audio, print and video capabilities, which can effectively link various technologies.
III. Interactive video and CD-ROM technologies can be incorporated into computer-based instructional units, lessons,and learning environments.
IV. Computers are interactive with microcomputer systems incorporating various software packages that are extremely flexible and maximise learner control.
V. Computer technology is rapidly advancing with innovations constantly emerging, while related costs drop.
VI. Local, regional, and national networks link resources and individuals,where they might be.
Disadvantages of computers
I. Computer networks are costly to develop.
II. Computer hardware and software market is very competitive.
III. Computer technology evolves so quickly that the distance educator focused solely on innovation will constantly change equipment in an effort to keep widely used since 1960s.
IV. There are many people who do not have access to computer or computer networks, and widespread computer illiteracy still exists.
V. Finally, learners must be highly motivated and proficient in computer operation before they can successfully function in a computer-based distance learning environment.
The internet and distance education
The internet is the largest, most powerful computer in the world.It encompasses 1.3million computers with internet addresses that are used by up to 30 million people in more than fifty countries.Myriad computers and programs are part of the internet,incompatiability problems can result because information is created using different computers and software.The object was to overcome issues of incompatibility and utilise a new way of linking made possible by computers,called “hypertext’’ .Hypertext permits information to be linked in a web-like structure and it serves as an innovative front-end to the internet,now referred to as WWW.The WWW provides users with a uniform and convenient means of accessing the vast resources of the internet.In 1993, the National center for supercomputing Application at the University of Illinois pushed scientist in creating a software tool called Mosaic.Mosaic is an easy to use graphical user interface.Mosaic was the first of the internet tools that are now referred to as ”web browsers”.Others include Netscape and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.Documents created to be viewed by a browser are formatted using HTML.HTML solves incompatibility problems by using standardised tags.Pages formatted with HTML and accessible to someone with a web browsers,are reffered to as “home pages”or “web pages”.
Learning Portals
A portal is any website that offers a learner or an organisation consolidated access to learning and training resources.The different portals include:
Content Consolidation Portal: A good number of portals are aiming at content consolidation and aggregation business.These portals offer the learner a simple way to shop for all of their training needs on a single page.
Embedded Technology Portal: These groups are using the portal as a way of embedding and selling their technology as a component of learning or on LSP (Learning service provider)basis.
Internal Portal: A customised portal is located on the internal server, and offers content consolidation and embedded technology.This stratergy enable learning site to be rapidly built and allow secure access.
Community and Collaboration Portals: These portals focus on building community of users.These portals are recognised by the presence of standard community technologies like chat rooms, discussions and links to books to buy.
Affiliation Portals: These portals, similar to community and collaboration portals, are primarily for non-profit organisations.
Why use the WWW for distance learning?
The web provides a new way of looking at learning-at how it is organised and how it is presented.The web is a delivery medium,content provider subject matter and all in one.Using the web,eTrainers and designers can create maps to guide their learner through a new world .Creating these maps are called web pages.The web uses text and graphics interactively.Media selection diagram,Goodman’s stratergy and media selection technique are the charachteristics make the web most useful when used to explore intellectual and verbal knowledge.The fact that the ease of use of HTML makes Web Based Instruction (WBI) easy to update to meet the needs of changing subject matter.The web is not an opinion if your learners have no access to an internet connected computers.For educators,the WWW provides an exciting new opportunity for distance teaching and learning.The WWW can be used by the distance educator to build a classroom home page.The eTrainers can also provide links to information on the WWW that would be useful to learners in the class.The home page can link learners to a discussion list or listserv that is set up for learner communication.The WWW and web browsers have made the internet a more user-friendly environment.In addition,Organisations can create their own home pages independently and link to other home pages on their own computers and to pages created by other on different pc’s.
Instructional possibilities on the internet
Electronic mail(email): Like postal mail,email is used to exchange messages or other information with people and is delivered by internet software through a computer network to a computer address.Feedback from the eTrainer can be received more quickly than messages sent by mail.Learners can read messages and can store them for later references.
Bulletin boards: Many bulletin boards can be accessed through the internet.Two common public bulletin boards on the internet are USENET and LISTSERV.USENET is a collection of thousands of topically organised newsgroups,which are distributed from the whole world to single institutions.LISTSERV also provides discussion forums on a variety of topics broken out by topic or areas of special interest.
World Wide Web(WWW): The WWW is an exciting and innovative front end to the internet.It provides users with a uniform and convenient means of accessing the wide variety of resources available on the internet software interfaces, such as Mosaic and Netscape,facilitate navigation and use of the WWW.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is eLearning?
eLearning
eLearning refers to learning and other supportive resources that are available through computer. The most basic form of eLearning involves text, simple, graphics, and a limited amount of interaction. More complex eLearning includes interaction such as drills used to teach rote mathematics skills.
The web as a tool for learning delivery
Many traditional tutors today believe they must have a text in order to deliver a course. This is because print-based media has surrounded all of us since childhood and, in every class we have ever had, we’ve had a book. Most web processors can produce web pages as easily as word-processed documents. There are several positive factors in favour of new learning technologies:
· Mobile locations,
· Learners can participate at time to suit them,
· There is the potential for international learning,
· Information can be speedily transferred,
· There is increased networking potential internally and externally,
· As well as learning the core skills, there is also the organic growth of technical skills gained through using the technology.
· Learning through technology can extend the learner’s progress beyond the course boundaries and into self directed learning.
How eLearning compares with distance learning
eLearning is just one form of distance learning. Distance learning is any type of educational situation in which the tutor and learners are separated by time, location or both.
How eLearning compares with computer-based training and web-based training
Computer-based training: Courses presented on a computer. The course does not provide links to learning resources outside of the course. Often, learners take a computer-based training course on a computer that is not connected to a network.
Web-based training: A form of computer-based training, refers to coursed available on an intranet, extranet, internet and that are linked to learning resources outside of the course, such as reference, electronic mail, discussions etc.
Technology-based instruction: Refers to training through media other than the classroom. That includes computers, but also refers to television, audiotape, videotape and print.
Traditional benchmarks for learning success also apply to eLearning
Most of the benchmarks for success that applied to distance learning in the pre-internet era are still valid for eLearning learning, according to the report by Institute for Higher Education policy(IHEP). These benchmarks are particularly important to the success of an internet-based, distance-education program and should be adopted whenever possible.
Benefits and challenges of eLearning
Challenges
There are several challenges that the eLearning provider must address:
· There can be problems with the learner’s dedicated time,
· It is less protected in both time and attention,
· Easy to drop out,
· Can soft skills training successfully be delivered via this method?
Benefits
· eLearning fosters interaction among learners and eTrainers that stimulates understanding and the recall of information,
· lessens transport difficulties and reduce travel time and travel costs,
· Accommodates different learning styles and fosters learning through a variety of activities that apply to different learning styles.
· Fosters self-paced learning whereby learners can learn at the rate they prefer,
· Convenient for learners to access any time, any place,
· Ability to bring remote working teams together,
· Encourages learners to browse information through hyperlinks to sites on the worldwide web and thereby allows learners to select knowledge, interest and what they need to know to perform more effectively in their particular activity.
Types of interaction in learning
Learning involves two types of interaction: interaction with content and interpersonal interaction.
Improving distance learning
Becoming and staying responsible for themselves: High motivation is required to complete distant courses because the day-to-day contact with eTrainers and other learners is typically lacking. eTrainers can help distant learners by providing consistent and timely feedback.
Owning their strengths, desires, skill, and needs: learners need to recognise their strengths and limitations. They also need to understand their learning goals and objectives.
Maintaining and increasing self-esteem: Distant learners are balancing many responsibilities including employment and raising children. Learner’s performance is enhanced if learners set aside time for their instructional activities and if they receive family support in their academic endeavours.
Relating to others: Learners often learn most effectively when they have the opportunity to interact with other learners. When learners are unable to meet together, appropriate interactive technology such as email should be provided to encourage small group and individual communication.
Clarifying what is learned: Distant learners need to reflect on what they are learning. They need to examine the existing knowledge frameworks in their heads and how these are being added to or changed by incoming information. Examinations, papers and class presentation provide opportunities for learner and eTrainer to evaluate learning.
Redefining what legitimate knowledge is: If the eTrainer takes a facilitative rather than authoritative role, learners will see their own experience as valuable and important to their further learning.
Dealing with content: Learning is enhanced when content is related to examples. eTrainer’s tend to teach using examples that were used when they received their training.
eLearning Today
US eLearning research and consultancy Lguide have produced a comprehensive report into the state and availability of eLearning today. The report, which runs to 280 pages, gives an in-depth analysis of content from 40 well-known eLearning publishers, providing eLearning in business skills, desktop applications and professional information technology. The report also include a further ‘full publisher evaluation’, looking at 23 eLearning providers in terms of their company history, products, financial overview, partners, and notable clients..
Europe and eLearning
Europe has problems with eLearning, for one thing learning in Europe is more a part of the social fabric and less business-driven-in contrast to the US, with its faster-and-cheaper corporate ethos.
Constraints on European eLearning:
· eLearning so far hasn’t been very good. That highlights a key difference between Europe and North America. European want to know if it works before they try it. In contrast the US tendency is just do it and see if it works.
· European doesn’t expect learners to learn independently. eLearning mentoring and other support tactics that seem to be a relatively new discovery in North America have long been European priorities.
· A shortage of good instructional designers limits growth of eLearning in Europe. Few learning professionals have to know-how to innovate using pedagogical technology.
