Using the Internet as a delivery platform for Open and Distance Learning materials

Slideshow Transcript

1. Slide 1: Using the Internet as a delivery platform for Open and Distance Learning materials. Canterbury Christ Church College Saturday 28th February, 1998
2. Slide 2: Agenda Definitions „ The History of Open & Distance Learning „ What makes good Open & Distance Learning? „ Why use the Web for Open & Distance Learning? „ The Rise of the Cybernation „ Being ‘wired’ „ Designing Online Open & Distance Learning materials „ What makes good Open & Distance Learning „ Courseware? „ Other Issues „ Evaluating the effectiveness of online materials
3. Slide 3: Definitions (1/2) „ Open Learning ƒ A “philosophy”. It gives learners more access to learning, more choice and control over what and how they learn. „ Distance Learning ƒ A “technology”. It enables learners to learn without being in the same place as their teacher with the aid of specially prepared learning packages, conferencing and correspondence with a distant tutor.
4. Slide 4: Definitions (2/2) „ Multimedia ƒ Integrates many types of media into a single package - text, pictures, animation, video and sound. Synonymous with CD-ROMs. „ Hypermedia ƒ Integrates many types of media into a single package - text, pictures, animation, video, sound and hypertext (links to other documents). Synonymous with the Web.
5. Slide 5: The History of Open & Distance Learning „ First Generation ƒ Printed materials delivered via postal service. „ Second Generation ƒ OU’s and the use of broadcast and recorded media. e.g. radio, TV, fax, telephone, audio/video tape. „ Third Generation ƒ Interactive and digital technologies. e.g. interactive TV, electronic networks, computer based multimedia.
6. Slide 6: What makes good Open & Distance Learning? (1/3) Psychological Support Learners are usually highly motivated - this motivation needs to be stoked by stimulating materials. - Relevant to learner’s needs - Attractively presented - Written in a clear and friendly style - Designed to boost learner’s confidence
7. Slide 7: What makes good Open & Distance Learning? (2/3) Pedagogic Support Learners need to know where they stand in a course; what they are expected to learn; where their strengths and weaknesses are; and what progress they’ve made. - Clear structure and effective ‘chunking’ - Precise objectives - Self-checking mechanism - Feedback (on answers to questions) - Summaries
8. Slide 8: What makes good Open & Distance Learning? (3/3) Physical Support The relationship between the material and the learner should be a happy one, and there are simple ways in which the process of using materials can be made physically less tiring. - Access devices (e.g. ‘signposts’, headings, links) - Attractive and helpful layout - Helpful visuals - User-friendly packaging
9. Slide 9: Why use the Web for Open & Distance Learning? User-friendly „ Availability of content-rich materials „ Customisable by tutor „ Integration of text, graphics, sounds, video, animation „ and communication into a single tool A minimal learning curve to use tool „ Students study at own pace „ Continuously accessible „ Cheap to prepare „ Low cost „
10. Slide 10: The Rise of the Cybernation (1/2) The number of Internet Hosts since 1990 35000000 30000000 25000000 20000000 15000000 10000000 5000000 0 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98
11. Slide 11: The Rise of the Cybernation (2/2) It is estimated that over 50,000,000 people in 90 countries are now ‘wired’...
12. Slide 12: Being ‘wired’ (1/3) „ Electronic Mail (e-mail) ƒ Tutor communicates with students and facilitates interaction amongst them. „ Online Resources Library Catalogues ƒ Databases ƒ Electronic Journals ƒ Information Gateways ƒ Gopher Searches ƒ Web Searches ƒ
13. Slide 13: Being ‘wired’ (2/3) „ Online Discussion Groups Local mailing lists ƒ List Servers (over 3000) ƒ Newsgroups ƒ MUDs / MOOs ƒ 3D Virtual Environments ƒ „ Technology Tools ƒ Applications (e.g. Word, Excel) ƒ CAI (e.g. tutorials, simulations, etc.) ƒ Assessment (e.g. SAQs, ITQs, MCQs)
14. Slide 14: Being ‘wired’ (3/3) „ Conferencing ƒ Data ƒ Audio ƒ Video
15. Slide 15: Designing Online Open & Distance Learning materials (1/3) „ Spend LESS time playing around with HTML, fancy graphics and backrounds. Spend MORE time thinking about the purpose and content of your web pages. „ Become familiar with new software tools for developing web pages, e.g. Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe PageMill, HotMetal & Microsoft Office 97. „ Utilise information that has already been developed for your course. „ Look at what is already available online.
16. Slide 16: Designing Online Open & Distance Learning materials (2/3) „ Consult web sites that provide advice on web page layout and style. „ Utilise a consistent format for each of your web pages. „ Keep page lengths short, thus minimise on the amount of scrolling the student will have to do. „ Provide easy access to web pages and information using glossaries, indexes and site maps. „ MAXIMISE links to internal information and MINIMISE links to external information.
17. Slide 17: Designing Online Open & Distance Learning materials (3/3) „ Don’t use unnecessarily large graphics or sound/video clips. These can take too long to download on a slow modem. „ Don’t let you web site become stale and out-of-date. Continuous development and maintenance of your web site is essential. „ Test, proof-read, pilot and evaluate your web site.
18. Slide 18: What makes good ODL Courseware? (1/5) Course Information office hours „ course aims and objectives „ course syllabus „ course calendar „ course handbooks „ reading lists „ examination time-table „ who to contact „
19. Slide 19: What makes good ODL Courseware? (2/5) Class Communication „ tutor’s e-mail „ discussion groups to facilitate peer-to-peer discussion (e- mail, newsgroup and web) „ feedback forms „ electronic noticeboard „ FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) „ knowledge bases (learning trees)
20. Slide 20: What makes good ODL Courseware? (3/5) Assignments & Assessment „ distribute assignments „ provide assessment - SAQs, ITQs and MCQs „ give solutions, hints, or samples of what you expect Material covered in the classroom „ make lecture notes, presentations and hand-outs available either as web pages or downloadable files
21. Slide 21: What makes good ODL Courseware? (4/5) Reference Material „ list materials in print and electronic form that supplement the course „ provide links to other web pages „ electronic journals & magazines „ online libraries „ online tutorials „ information gateways
22. Slide 22: What makes good ODL Courseware? (5/5) Interactive Tools spoken word - audio clips „ demonstrations - video clips „ simulations - animation „ modelling - Java / Javascript „ CAI - ‘Shockwave’ productions „
23. Slide 23: Other Issues Copyright By default work is copyright - Berne Convention „ Don’t necessarily need copyright notice „ Nothing is Public Domain - unless author says so! „ It is very hard to enforce copyright „ Accessibility The Disability Act, 1996 „ Every graphic should have associated text „ Provide transcripts of audio/video clips „ Provide alternative mechanisms to online forms „ Make hypertext links descriptive not verbose „