Examples of Distributed Learning
Hybrid classes - the hybrids work with universities who include a limited number of traditional campus based classes to add to their comprehensive catalog of virtual, online classes. Hybred classes may also be described as part online and part classroom, face-to-face.
Virtual classes - provided by virtual universities. The university has only a physical address, but no building and rely almost exclusively on online resources from registration, purchasing books to attending classes.
Free distributed learning - this area is multi-facited ranging from websites put up by individuals to education, product lessons created by industry to support product sales to free continuing education provided by universities with credit online capabilities. Examples would be MicroSoft Office's support with mini lessons on the Office Products and Brigham Young University's Continuing Education Site which includes topics such as Study Skills and Developmental Math.
Corporate and Academic Distributed Learning - The corporate version provides online professional development (updates) and actual new instruction training to its employees, accessable any time at anytime of day. The academic version provides the same opportunity, with the addition that educational institutions are demanding online components to the texts they purchase, therefore, all calls can have the online element or be turned into totally online classes.
Course Redesign
Course with poor resusability characteristics. How could it be redesigned? - This is a tough assignment. All of my online classes have been well written and well organized. They have appeared to be reusable. I recently needed to use a reference web site for my employment. This site could have been considered an educator's professional development web site. When I asked the reusability question, "Can I find it?" and "Will it work? The answer was no on both counts. The site was convoluted. It did not have a logical menu structure. The authors attempted to password sections for different levels of users and the result was that nonone could get it to their area of the site.
I would have reconstructed the menu and eliminated the passwords. The content could have been shared with the public, and I think most of the public would not have been interested.
Course with poor resusability characteristics. How could it be redesigned? - This is a tough assignment. All of my online classes have been well written and well organized. They have appeared to be reusable. I recently needed to use a reference web site for my employment. This site could have been considered an educator's professional development web site. When I asked the reusability question, "Can I find it?" and "Will it work? The answer was no on both counts. The site was convoluted. It did not have a logical menu structure. The authors attempted to password sections for different levels of users and the result was that nonone could get it to their area of the site.
I would have reconstructed the menu and eliminated the passwords. The content could have been shared with the public, and I think most of the public would not have been interested.
Visual for Instruction
Below is a graphic used in instruction called "Window Pane". It can be entirely visual. Teachers/students create a window pane representing a math concept, a vocabulary word, a process, etc. This window pane is for a workshop for teachers. We are using the window pane as the agenda.
Below is a graphic used in instruction called "Window Pane". It can be entirely visual. Teachers/students create a window pane representing a math concept, a vocabulary word, a process, etc. This window pane is for a workshop for teachers. We are using the window pane as the agenda.
Nanotechnology - how could it be used to improve a specific job or task?
Even without nanotechnology it seems as though information is at our fingertips and analysis of student data is almost instantenous. I see two tasks which would benefit from this technology. The first is information retreival. I see a voice activated reference storage that can answer any question applicable to the user's purposes. Many times I am working and must stop to research a small detail. This resource could have information available instantenously.
The second task is determining if students understand without using a computer or paper and pencil test. I am not sure how it would work, but I know it will be possible one day, perhaps by polling their expressions or body language.
The problem will be that as we use these resources, our own ability to solve problems, research facts and read people diminishes.
Straight and Narrow Road vs. Broad and Inclusive Road -which one I agree with and why?
I agree with the author that the Broad and Inclusive Road would be the best direction for the field. I would support this with the arguement that we do not know what the future holds. As the text points out, we will not recognize the field in ten years. Therefore, the direction should not be restricted, butflexible to change. The field could be broad with sub categories of focus such as any core field as English, Mathematics, Accounting, etc. Options for change and r edirection must always remain open. If the field is restricted, it opens up the opportunity for either the formation of a new field or another field to absorb the difference.
I agree with the author that the Broad and Inclusive Road would be the best direction for the field. I would support this with the arguement that we do not know what the future holds. As the text points out, we will not recognize the field in ten years. Therefore, the direction should not be restricted, butflexible to change. The field could be broad with sub categories of focus such as any core field as English, Mathematics, Accounting, etc. Options for change and r edirection must always remain open. If the field is restricted, it opens up the opportunity for either the formation of a new field or another field to absorb the difference.
The broad approach seems to make sense in light of all the changes happening with technology. Of course, there are those who are inclined toward the status quo.
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