Distance Learning
SCHOOL OF POLICY PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT

Objectives
 Define Distance Learning and provide examples
 Explore Distance Learning strategies for SPPD

What is Distance Learning?
 Instructional systems design that aim to deliver
education to students who are not physically \"on
site\"
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_education

Methods of Delivery
 Media Rooms – equipped with cameras, microphones, and
video conferencing technologies
 Tools used:
o Mediasite – streaming video accompanied by powerpoint slides,
http://ondemand.usc.edu/SPPD

Methods of Delivery
o Mediasite is best suited for classes that are mainly lecture based,
with little group discussion (used by SPPD, Pharmacy School,
Gerontology, Social Work)
o Media room example:
http://www.marshall.usc.edu/elearning/virtual-tour.htm

Methods of Delivery
o Videoconferencing - a set of interactive telecommunication
technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-
way video and audio transmissions simultaneously
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_conference
o Videoconferencing is useful for collaboration between remote
groups and individuals (used by SPPD, Social Work)

Methods of Delivery
o Online collaboration (Adobe Connect, WebEx)

Methods of Delivery
o Online collaboration tools combine video conferencing with
computer screen sharing, white board, chat, polling, and
meeting recording,
https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/_a500201843/p46153453/
o Great for highly collaborative classes and virtual office hours (used
by The College, Pharmacy, DEN, and large tech companies like
Yahoo!)

Methods of Delivery
o Blogs, Message Boards, and Wikis
o Blogs: A blog (a contraction of the term \"Web log\") is a Web site with
regular entries of commentary, Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
o Examples: Blogger.com, WordPress.org, Movabletype.org
o http://interactive.usc.edu, http://sppdweb.usc.edu/news
o Great for online discussions and information sharing
o Message Boards: A discussion/message board is an asynchronous
communication tool that allows one individual to post a comment or
question online, Source: http://www.edtech.vt.edu/edtech/id/ocs/discuss.html
o http://www.selu.edu/resources/howdoi/blackboard/discussion/index.html
o Example: http://boards.fool.com/Messages.asp?bid=112959
o Wiki: a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who
accesses it to contribute or modify content
o Examples: http://uscta.wikidot.com/, http://www.wikipedia.org/

Methods of Delivery
 PPD 613a uses video conferencing and Mediasite
 http://ondemand.usc.edu/SPPD
 PPD 587, and PPD 509 use Mediasite, Blackboard Messageboard, Chat, and WebEx
 sn: ppd587student
 pw: MM587dpps
 sn: ppd509student
 pw: LL509sppd
 Fall ’08
 PPD 545, PPD 501a
 6 DL Students
 Spring ’09
 PPD 587, PPD 509, PPD 613a
 12 DL Students
 Support Provided
 To Faculty:
 Technical Support with systems (mediasite, blackboard, videoconferencing)
 TA support
 To Students
 Technical Support (mediasite, blackboard, videoconferencing)
 One contact person for all DL related issues

Methods of Delivery – The Future
o Second Life – an immersive, 3-dimensional virtual world within which people can meet,
collaborate and create
o Used by the Marshall Business School
o To prototype business models
o As a collaboration environment
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOFU9oUF2HA
o Can be used as an Urban Planning learning tool:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeLwFqDHPz8
o Autonomous agents – dentistry school
o http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/16221.html
o 3-D videoconferencing
o http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/3DTeleconferencing/
o Horizon Report
o http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/16181.html
o Support from Center of Scholarly Technology
o Provided SPPD with new YouTube channel www.youtube.com/uscsppd

DL Opportunities for SPPD
 Sectors
o Health
o Public Policy and Homeland Security
o Transportation
o Continuing Education
o Health
o PPD’s Health classes
o Health Certificate
o VSOE’s health systems operations certificate uses PPD classes,
http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2008/schools/engineering/industrial/degree_requi
rements.html
o A PPD health certificate may serve as a great lead-in to the MHA or EMHA program
o VSOE’s MS Health Systems Management Engineering
o Gerontology – PPD classes are offered as an option in Online Master of Long Term Care
Administration, (http://www.usc.edu/dept/gero/academics/graduate3.shtml)
o Pharmacy School
o Online Regulatory Science degree uses PPD classes as electives,
http://regulatory.usc.edu/distance.aspx
o Occupational Therapy

Health Classes

DL Opportunities for SPPD
 Homeland Security
 Certificate and/or concentration
 Transportation
 Transportation Certificate and/or concentration
 Health
 Health Certificate and/or concentration
 Continuing Education
 DCI
 Urban Planning
 Planning using SecondLife
 Other uses for Distance Learning
 Increase connectivity and sharing of resources with Sacramento
 International Labs
 MPA Labs

Frequently Asked Questions
 How can group discussions take place?
 Group discussions can take place using video conferencing,
online collaboration tools such as Adobe Connect, and
asynchronously via message boards and discussion forums
 Instructors can post questions and discussion topics via a message
board or forum and have students reply
 Participation grades can be based on quality of participation in the
forum or message board
 How can DL students take exams
 Students can be required to take exams on campus or via a test
proctoring service