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Distance Education: The Big Picture

Distance Education: The Big Picture. Designing Your Distance Education Program from the Ground Up Bill McNutt – Technology Coordinator Beth Ponder – Assistant Director Center for Literacy Studies University of Tennessee. What is Distance Education?.

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Distance Education: The Big Picture

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  1. Distance Education: The Big Picture Designing Your Distance Education Program from the Ground Up Bill McNutt – Technology Coordinator Beth Ponder – Assistant Director Center for Literacy Studies University of Tennessee

  2. What is Distance Education? • Distance Education is learning that occurs when the teacher and the learner are not in the same place at the same time. • Examples of Distance Education • Classic Correspondence School • Audio Tapes • Monographs • Video Tape

  3. What DE is Not • Cheaper – Distance education costs more per student/hour than traditional bricks-and-mortar education. • A replacement for an instructor – A good instructor and a high level of interaction with the learner are critical for successful application of DE.

  4. Some Things to Consider When Building a Distance Education Program • Cost – Distance Education Is Not Cheap • Instructor – DE does not eliminate the instructor • Media – Workbooks, Video Tapes, Software, Bandwidth • Training, Training, Training – instructors, support staff, and learners have to learn how to use the medium and the logistics • Accountability – How do I know the person on the other end is the one doing the work?

  5. The Ideal DE Student • An Independent Learner • Minimum Reading Level • Self-Motivated • Well-Organized Atypical of an AE Learner

  6. The Real DE Student • Unable to Attend Standard DE Classes • Has conflicting work schedule • Has travel barriers • Has child care issues • Has confidentiality concerns • Can read at NRS-level 4 and aboveOr intermediate ESOL and above • Has access to reliable communication technology (computer/telephone/fixed mailing address) • Is good at following step-by-step directions, either written or verbal • Has good follow-through

  7. The Number One Issue: Retention Qualities that Retain Participants: • Connection with the instructor/class • Feeling of community • Clear understanding of goals • Clear feeling of progress

  8. Issue Number Two: Costs • Medium and Materials – These are often more expensive than traditional instructional media. • Computers, Video Tape, Four-Color workbooks, audio tapes, and mailings • Administrative Costs – Tracking the media • Training Costs – Instructors must be trained to use the program • Turnover – New instructors must constantly be trained • Staff Time – One-on-one communication with the learner is critical for retention

  9. The Big Picture: Logistics • Initial Assessment/Orientation • “Agreements” • Media training & allocation • Must be done face-to-face • Tracking Participant Hours • Estimating • Self-Reporting • Media Recovery – How do I get my video tapes back? • Measuring Progress • Assignment logistics • Post-Assessment(s) • Must be done face-to-face

  10. Selecting a Medium • Not all AE students have reliable/affordable access to computers or internet technologies. • Most People have access to a TV/VCR • ALL dwellings have a mailing address.

  11. Resistance To DE • Resistance to DE rarely comes from students. • Resistance to DE comes from • Instructors • Employers/Community • Administrators

  12. DE Resistance: Instructors • Is DE going to make me obsolete? • No! The instructor is as critical to the education process in DE as they are in the bricks-and-mortar institutions. • Will I have to change the way I teach? • Yes! Without face to face time, directions must to be explicit/in writing, instructors must be prepared to use new techniques to gain & maintain “connection” with the student, etc.

  13. Resistance to DE from Employers and the Community • Is DE “real” education? • Yes. Distance Education is just a delivery channel. Testing and assessment can be just as rigorous as they are in the bricks-and-mortar environment.

  14. Resistance to DE from Administrators • Will Distance Education cut into my current student census (and therefore my funding)? • No. Experience tells us that when properly screened, Distance Education students draw from a different demographic: people who cannot attend traditional classes.

  15. A Real World Example: TN

  16. A Real World Example: TN • DE for Adult Education was initially rolled out statewide in TN in the Fall of 2003. • Of 81 programs trained, almost half chose to implement the program. • Mixed media – GED Connection Video and workbooks, then online management. • Media rollout was done in stages • Unfunded beyond initial resources. • Does it work? Yes – but . . .

  17. For More Information • http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/ - Search for “distance education” • http://www.knowledgeability.biz/weblearning/courses.htm • http://www.uwex.edu/disted/home.html • Or Contact Us! 1-877-340-0546 • Duren – duren.thompson@utk.edu • Beth – baponder@utk.edu • Bill – mcnutt@utk.edu

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