Distance Learning Mindmap

Distance Learning Mindmap by: Elia Lora

Week 1: Foundations of Distance Learning - Application

Distance Learning

History

In 2007 Moore wrote  “that distance education originated in Germany and the University of Tubingen”.  Rodulf Mandred Delling (1985) stated that distance education “is a planned and systematic activity that comprises the choice, didactic preparation, and presentation of teaching materials”.  Hilary Perraton (1988) stated, that “distance education is an educational process in which a significant proportion of the teaching is conducted by someone removed in space and/or time from the learner”.  And Greenville Rumble offered yet another definition in 1989 and Desmond Keegan (1996) provided yet another.(1)

Personal Definition

With all of my years in school, I had never given the subject of distance learning much thought until the second year of my undergraduate degree. I was challenged with making the decision of maintaining my current position at N Pharmaceuticals or completing my degree.  My hours were increased at the office, industry changes and new requirements for the training department which included extensive travel.

After many hours of internet based research, and a few conversation with fellow scholars, I spoke with educational counselor who recommended either online classes or blended on-line classes which required minimum attendance. This open a new world for me, not only was I able to complete my degree, but I learned that training and educational did not have to be in a traditional classroom setting to obtain instruction.

Based on my experience, my personal definition of distance education is an opportunity to obtain “planned and systematic educational activity” which allows for bridging of any gaps that would allow an individual to obtain an educational or continued studies.  After completing my first online class, I have observed  many different types of distance learning from learning management system in the corporate world to discussion boards at public and private universities.  All of which afford students of all ages and locations to receive instruction from a trained instructor with no limitation of time and space/location.

Vision

Looking into the future, I envision children participating in computer supported collaborative learning even before attending pre-school classes.  This seems to be helping them to construct their basic knowledge in preparation for their attendance to school. For example, my granddaughter who is one year old currently uses my ipad to trace letters with her figures, to select figures and numbers and even to match colors.

As a result of the “No Child Left Behind Act which requires states to offer alternative schooling options to students”; (2) we are seeing more parents conducting “home-study” because of the schools inabilities to provide the require education for certain children.  I foresee states eliminating some of the face-to-face education in K-12, as has been happening more and more in colleges and universities providing online classes and other web-based curriculum. 

Corporations are also moving towards web-based training or e-learning on learning management systems for many reasons, primarily for the benefit of cost effectiveness, which may be the same reason schools are.

My New Definition and Vision of Distance Learning

In summary, not only has the definition of distance learning changed, the constant evolution of technology is impacting how quickly it changes.

References:

1. Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson. Chapter 2, "Definitions, History, and Theories of Distance Education" (pp. 31–40 only) 

2. Huett, J. Moller, L. Foshay, w. Coleman, C.  Implication for Instructional Design on the Potential of the Web. TechTrends September/October 2008 

Week 1: Foundations of Distance Learning - Application by: Elia Lora

Welcome Fellow Scholars of EDUC - 6135

I am looking forward to reading and posting on your blogs.

Addie Model

http://www.learning-theories.com/addie-model.html

Week 7 Blog Assignment – Putting the pieces together

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, how has your view on how you learn changed?

My first week’s analysis of my learning style was a little confusing, I was under the impression that I had a  combination of Behaviorism and Cognitivism. With specific requirements such as needing the environmental conditions that produce enough stimuli to catch my attention and the provision of hands on experienced helped me to retain information. I definitely need a  “stimuli” to jolt my attention and provide me the opportunity to reprocess the information, to place it in a short term memory until it is transferred to my long term memory when applied to previous experience.   Also important to my ability to learn is the organization of information. My learning ability is almost like a progressive (step by step) instructional process. I have found that this helps me to mentally process the information and how I would apply the information learned. I have also found from past experiences, that I retain information that is applicable to my life, work, etc.

What I have realized now, after reading about the different learning theories, is the fact that my learning style favors constructivism, which although seems to be a combination of behaviorsm and cognitivism, really applies to the adult learner's needs.  I use tend to use previous knowledge to create an understanding of information, I am a self-directed learner, and am motivated by being able to apply my new learned knowledge to benefit my life or career.  Constructivism allows us to develop our own understanding and meaning of information that makes it more useable. 

What have you learned about the various learning theories and learning styles over the past weeks that can further explain your own personal learning preferences?

First, I learned that the term “learning styles’’ refers to the notion that “individuals differ in regard to what mode of instruction or study is most effective for them” (Pashler, McDaniel, Rohrer, & Bjork, 2008, p. 105); and, a learning theory explains the underlying psychological processes that influence learning. As such, it usually includes a set of assumptions about key aspects of the learning process that can be used to generate hypotheses, which can then be tested empirically (i.e., through experimentation). (A. Artino, 2010 – Week 1 Discussion).

Second, I found out that there is a place for each learning theory depending upon the situation, curriculum and environment. A key learning process for me is the use of objectives at the beginning of a lesson, it provides me with the basis of the knowledge that I should be retain. 

What role does technology play in your learning (i.e., as a way to search for information, to record information, to create, etc.)?

As I mentioned in week 1’s discussion, I have struggled with f2f learning environments, online and e-learning have been the tools that have allowed me to succeed in education.  I seem to get “cognitive overload” when I sit in a classroom and just absorb information and try to process it.  I need time to process and analyze information; to be able to match it to something I already have knowledge of in order to retain the information.  Online learning and e-learning has provided me with the time and ability to learn.  In this class I have also been exposed to Wikis and Blogs.  This will also been an excellent tool that I plan to utilize more as I feel more comfortable able the content of my postings.  E-books and electronic articles has facilitate research for my papers, as well as for my job.  I have been able to access my Walden webpage and complete assignments using my iphone.  Based on these and many other benefits, I believe that technology plays, and will continue to play an important  role in my ability to learn, and in my development of instructional design.  

 As a matter of fact, that is what I have based my career on.  As the administrator of a learning management system for over 600 learners, I can confirm that the majority of learners welcome new technology that affords them the ability to have distance learning.

Week 5, Part 2 Blog Assignment: Personal Learning Network

How has your network changed the way you learn?   

As an e-learning developer I have utilized many tools and technologies in preparing knowledge and information transfer to learners in different environments, but mainly on a learning management system.  Thinking that I was ahead of the curve in technology has really limited my learning network in the past.  This class has exposed me to different technologies;  that in a short period of time, has provided me the ability to develop my network to include Blogging, RSS, E-books, electronic articles,  and other internet based tools.  In addition, I have realized the importance of using the community to gain other perspectives by collaborating with peers and professionals.

One of the digital tools that I feel has best facilitated learning for me is the Google RSS Reader.  Now I have the ability to log onto the internet, visit one site and gain access to pertinent information on topics that I am interested in. It saves me an enormous amount of time, because I no longer have to visit 10 websites to read postings or articles of interest.  I have a “one stop shop” where I can read all the blogs, articles, forums and industry specific feeds that I need.  Other digital tolls that have afforded me benefits to gaining knowledge are e-books, blogs, Google Scholar, and On-line libraries.

I find that the internet is one of the best tools that students and professional have access to, specifically to gaining new knowledge or researching answers to a specific question.  For example, if I was interested in researching the percentage of children diagnosed with ADHD in the United States, I would simply log onto Google Scholar and type How ADHD Children are in the U.S., and the results could be anywhere from 10 – 100 links where articles and research data can be obtained.  Other ways of gaining knowledge is by blogging, which is a new tool obtained in this class for me, also communicating with your peers by actively participating in postings. 

I would like to begin my conclusion with, I did not know that I had a personal learning network until I completed this week’s Mind Mapping exercise and realized, that my personal learning network supports the central tenets of connectivism.  It consists of interactions with my peers and an expanded network of knowing community, such as industry-specific blogs, that are based on postings and conversations, on sharing knowledge and perspectives, in creating and participating in learning activities, not as a separate individual, but as a shared activity with my peers and professors.

Just as an FYI, I did a little research just to add to our networking topic:

In May, the Institute for Corporate Productivity, in conjunction with HR.com, surveyed 322 business executives whose average age ranged from 36 to 45. Surprisingly, 65 percent of respondents said they use social networking sites for both professional and personal reasons. Of these sites, the most frequently used were LinkedIn and Yahoo 360°.

The survey identified various ways business professionals use these sites:

•  Forty-nine percent use them to get answers to issues they are facing on their jobs. 
• Forty-seven percent use the networks to connect with potential clients and to showcase their skills.¹ 

 Also...

“These shared spaces can become the locus of rich and satisfying experiences in collaborative learning , an interactive group knowledge building process in which the learners actively construct knowledge by formulating ideas that are shared with and built upon through the reactions and responses of others. ²

1.     1.  James Meister, Social Networking Survey, 2007

2.     2.  Harasim, L. et al., Learning Networks: A Field Guild to teaching and learning; 2001

Application Week 5: Connectivism