Hilee Draehn

COMM 5350a

Lesson 11

 

The April 24, 200 edition of "Newsweek" featured a study of online courses from many colleges and universities, ranging from Harvard University to Jones International University. The information is revealing.  According to "Newsweek", by the end of the year 75 percent of American's colleges are expected to offer online course work, and by the end of the year 2000, more that 5.8 million students will have logged on for coursework (Burke, 2000).  Can you imagine how these numbers must have increased already for the year 2001? 

 

Web-based instruction is at the cutting edge of technology offering significant opportunities-opening up education to the unserved or underserved, providing new multimedia tools to support learning, freeing geographical barriers to education, providing a limitless supply of information, experts, and experiences, and increasing the convenience of learners to access their course work anytime, anywhere, anyplace.  Moreover, with the proliferation of adaptive technology features, even the physically challenged are able to participate. 

However, as Dr. Ingle notes in Lesson 11, there are key areas of concern for determining success with educational environments involving the use of technology:

 

*Learner Characteristics

Everyone posses an array of learning styles, preferences, and abilities.  Regardless of the environment, the primary goal of the student is to learn.  Some articles that address characteristics of adult learners:.

1.      Characteristics of Adult Learners

http://scrtecne.unl.edu/SCRTECNE/TechTopics/AdultLearners/default.html

The article addresses problems that impaired adult learners face during web-based instruction.  Solutions are noted.

2.      Meeting the Needs of Adult Learners in Developing Courses for the Internet http://www.isoc.org/isoc/whatis/conferences/inet/96/proceedings/c4/c4_2.htm

This article discusses specific adult learner characteristics and how their needs should be met.

 

 

 

 

*Instructor

Instructors who are involved as the facilitator of an online course fulfill roles different than that of the traditional classroom teacher.  The professor must:

* be comfortable with technology

* shift to learner-centered activities

*understand the changing role of the teacher

*have the time to learn new technologies, guide students, and give positive, constructive feedback.

A site that discusses the role of the instructor is:

Learn Online http://learn.gmcc.ab.ca/lol/staff/lit_comp.cfm

 

*Learner's Technology Literacy Skills

Tips for Online Success http://illinois.online.uillinios.edu/IONresources/tips.html

This site offers tips for online learners.

 

*Quality of instructional content

Implementing the Seven Principles:  Technology as a Lever http://www.aahe.org/technology/ehrmann.htm

This essay describes appropriate ways to use technology to deliver course work.

 

*Structure of the course

Teaching Through the Web http://www.teachonweb.org/teaching/teaching.shtml

This article address ways to offer an effective program.

 

*Student to student and student to professor interactions

A form of contact must be established and ongoing to formulate a community of learners.  As a student, some of the most effective collaborative building environments have included, group work, co-authoring software, voice messages, constructive feedback, one-way video conferencing, and clear concise messages from students and professors.

 

*Aligning the course with the goals and objectives of the program

*Ease of navigation

It is imperative that the course materials be easy accessible, understandable, and clear expectations be expressed.

 

*Use of media

My personal opinion, more is not always better.  The use of the media must enhance the program rather than detract from it.

 

 

Of course measuring the effectiveness of online programs is multi-tiered.  The course web-site should be evaluated by the students and feedback used to refine the class.  Student portfolios that various tasks (even highlighting the role of the student in completing the task) should be used to assess learning. Student participation should be evaluated not to just how much but what kinds of messages are being sent to the listserv, bulletin board, and email. 

 

Reference:

Burke, D. (2000). APSU Offers Online Course for Fall. In the News. Retrieved November 17,2000 from the World Wide Web:  http://www.apsu.edu/news/7_24_2000/online_classes.HTM