tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49647987732457722002024-03-13T23:48:26.479-07:00Principles of Distance EducationKaren Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-13553589999285677882012-02-16T08:06:00.002-08:002012-02-23T10:31:51.141-08:00Philosophy of Learning with Technology<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <p class="MsoNormal">Online classes were made for a person like me. I love using technology, and I prefer to learn at my own pace. I was never one to trust the ‘sage on the stage’- in face-to-face courses I always silently questioned the stories that came from the lecturer or professor. With technology, my educational experiences have been standardized and I have been left on my own to make my own determinations of what is relevant knowledge and what is fabrication. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Technology must support learning by providing an engaging, intuitive environment. Learners should be able to use this learning environment to evaluate their own needs, make decisions, make connections and network, and authenticate their experiences. Technology should support learning by doing, learning by connection, and learning by reflection.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I responded to:<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">http://toneyt.blogspot.com/</p><p class="MsoNormal">http://journalismandeducationgrist.blogspot.com/<br /><br /></p>Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-60212841010274187172012-02-03T14:56:00.000-08:002012-02-15T07:19:57.334-08:00Hesitant Users- Kellers ARCS modelI work in a traditional university setting where online education is somewhat viewed as a "threat" to traditional ground based, instructor led courses. Online learning is scary to some, and even scarier are electronic textbooks, which our university is piloting. We have seen some major apprehension when trying to implement this new way of using textbooks-the major concern being the student not being able to hold a physical text, write in it, ear mark the pages, and then resell it. In a roundabout way, we have used Keller's ARCS model, by:<br /><ul><li>giving ATTENTION to the faculty members who were most concerned. We set up meetings, let them speak their piece, showed them examples, and heard what they had to say. We validated their concerns.We got their attention by showing them studies, bringing in e-readers, and showing them what e-texts could do for our students.<br /></li><li>showing the instructors why e-texts were RELEVANT in today's society. 21st century learners welcome the opportunity to use electronic devices, textbooks are quickly becoming a rule, not an exception. We also validated their concerns by showing them multiple options for accessing a text and even getting a print version for those completely opposed to electronic.</li><li>we provided pre-training to give them CONFIDENCE in the new technologies they were about to use.<br /></li><li>we surveyed the SATISFACTION of both the students and the faculty and used their feedback to alter our implementation for the e-text roll-out. We heard their voices and rewarded them with an altered plan to suit their needs.</li></ul>Responded to:<br />http://debbiemorrislearningtheory.blogspot.com/<br />http://marthabless.posterous.com/Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-90464327613150598042012-01-24T13:42:00.001-08:002012-01-27T07:58:13.041-08:00Connectivism<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xapE6XBe480/Tx8lzj1p2xI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/Bbse1jwvlLk/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2012-01-24%2Bat%2B2.25.35%2BPM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xapE6XBe480/Tx8lzj1p2xI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/Bbse1jwvlLk/s400/Screen%2Bshot%2B2012-01-24%2Bat%2B2.25.35%2BPM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701317220998175506" /></a><br /><br />How has your network changed the way you learn? My network is very internet based, since I spend the majority of my time on the computer. I have specific websites that I visit for information, whether it be personal or professional. I feel I am a visual learner, but I do prefer to have some reading material when I learn. The best tool for me is a text based description with either a still image or a video supplement. Audio by itself does not do it for me, and I prefer to have information right at my fingertips- if I have to follow a bunch of links to get where I am going I generally give up. As far as learning goes, I need immediate gratification. If I have questions and I am looking up information on the internet, I generally will start at FAQ sections (if applicable), and as a last resort, I will contact the person responsible for the information. I learn best when left to my own research and methods that suit my time and method of learning.<br /><br />Responded to:<br />David http://8845ltedtech.blogspot.com/<br /><br />Temeka<br />http://temekashingles.tumblr.com/post/16500211309/module-4-post-educ-7105-connectivism-mindmap#disqus_threadKaren Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-17446170394203350452012-01-09T09:48:00.000-08:002012-01-09T09:49:28.919-08:00Interacting and Working as a GroupA group in generally considered two or more people working together in such a manner that each person influences and is influenced by the other. Rheingold makes a point that our ancestors had to hunt together to take down large prey, which demonstrates the cooperative nature of a human being. It is my belief that basic instinct is for humans to be self sufficient, but collaborate when necessary. It is my experience, with a husband that hunts, that collaboration is necessary when packing, gearing up, finding shelter, and preparing for the hunt, but then the act of hunting is a solitary endeavor. I think it is the same when in an educational environment. In a class, we talk as a group, share ideas, prepare a project and may even present collaboratively, but the act of ‘learning’ a concept is a solitary effort. Effective collaboration also depends on the group dynamics. Some people prefer to work separately, and some people prefer collaboration, and some prefer to be in charge. It is my belief that the learner should be given the choice to collaborate, as it can be a daunting process unless a controlled system is put into place in order to facilitate the cooperative group effort. The Internet has provided the avenue for collaboration online, and now with cloud computing, sharing is easier than before. <br />The following is a link to an article about online collaboration and the strategies to promote effective online collaboration.<br /><a href="http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/675/1271">Brindley, J., Blaschke, L. & Walti, C (2009) Creating effective collaborative learning groups in an online environment.</a>Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-40397302034659781382011-12-19T14:18:00.001-08:002012-01-01T15:43:39.664-08:00CognitivismI have a hard time sticking to one school of thought when it comes to learning theory. While I think theories are valuable, I believe that learning theories provide a solid foundation, however multiple theories and procedures should be in place when designing online courses- similar to instructional design processes, learning theory should be adaptable to suit the learner’s needs. We can’t say we are going to design a course based solely on behaviorism or cognitivism, as that would lead to a stagnant environment. Cognition is the process where people are active in acquiring knowledge, and the cognitivism theory relates to how skills are acquired and the goal of instruction is to communicate effectively by breaking down knowledge into smaller tasks that build upon each other. This is an overall great way to design courses so the learner does no get overwhelmed, however should be combined with other types of learning theory in order to create a well rounded learning experience. <br />I agree with Karl Kapp (2007), when he says “What we need to is take the best from each philosophy and use it wisely to create solid educational experiences for our learners.” The links to two other blogs on cognitivism are found below:<br /><br />http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html<br /><br />http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/<br /><br />Responded to: http://jtarr56.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/what-is-the-best-way-to-learn-what-is-the-relation-of-theory-to-educational-technology/#comment-4<br />http://belindavannormaneduc7105.blogspot.com/2011/12/cognitivism-as-learning-theory-module-2.html#comment-formKaren Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-27490686633817652032011-12-05T12:44:00.001-08:002011-12-19T12:59:08.595-08:00Learning Theory In Educational TechnologyWhat are your beliefs about how people learn best? What is the purpose of learning theory in educational technology? <br /><br />I believe people learn best by being able to choose the delivery method of their learning and by utilizing multiple intelligences to access the material they are trying to understand and apply. In educational technology, it’s important to understand that there are internal processes that the student goes through, and the students have a slight disadvantage because of the lack of face-to-face interaction. Concepts need to be built upon and reinforced, along with being delivered in a way that holds the students interest. In order to effectively deliver an online lesson, there should be opportunity for recognizing a concept, discussion and collaboration, visualization, application and reflection. This can be done with tutorials, drill and practice, discussion boards, case based scenarios, reflection, audio/video and interactivity. Understanding the various learning theories helps a course/content designer construct content that is meaningful for all students, and that promotes critical thinking at all levels within the course. Knowing learning theory as it applies to educational technology sets a stage or purpose fro the construction of digital age material.<br />Posted To:<br />Fred: http://journalismandeducationgrist.blogspot.com/ <br />Belinda:http://belindavannormaneduc7105.blogspot.com/Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-36369995158608894782011-11-06T16:23:00.000-08:002011-11-06T16:24:36.137-08:00Minority Report and Red QueensI actually had the DVD Minority Report in my dusty collection of Dvd’s I say ‘dusty’ because I really don’t use them anymore, with the exception of viewing Disney Princess movies for my three year old because they are not licensed on Netflix. <br />The competition between DVD’s and Streaming Video services is an example of the dreaded Red Queen- one technology runs as fast as they can to keep up, but ultimately gets left behind. In this case, the convenience of streaming and on demand video all but shut out the storefront dvd market, as hard as they tried to keep up with marketing conveniences such at RedBox. As much as the brick and mortar store such as Blockbuster have tried to keep up by adding services such as videos by mail, streaming services created by Netflix have surpassed. Even Netflix’s own mail service is suffering due to the convenience of streaming and pricey mail service. Customers in today’s age demand fast service and don’t want to wait for a dvd in the mail. Streaming essentially ‘streamlines’ the customer service process and alleviates the overhead created by a brick and mortar store. <br />Streaming services will eventually obsolete dvd’s. As televisions and media players such as blu-rays and gaming consoles become more advanced, wifi becomes faster and cheaper, and the laptop smaller and more touch screen friendly, dvd’s will become phased out in lieu of streaming video.Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-55054484735884383712011-10-18T11:23:00.000-07:002011-10-18T11:24:10.063-07:00Second Life Disruptive TechnologyA disruptive technology is a technology or invention that helps create a new market, or removes and existing technology from the market. <br />I am not a user of Second Life. I have tried it, I have written projects about it’s capabilities, and I believe it the idea of it, however every time I have used it, I have not found that it has created a new niche market, in fact I think it has become somewhat of an outdated technology because of its cumbersome interface and the learning curve when using it. Some universities do use the virtual worlds as areas of collaborative learning and virtual lecture halls for their students, however I have not encountered an online university with a huge Second Life presence. I don’t think that Second life has changed the way we learn, have fun, and do business. I think the idea of virtual worlds may have started to emerge as a disruptive technology, but I don’t see Second Life to be as life changing as, let’s say, Facebook. Facebook is inundated in every aspect of society- from advertising to education, politics to religion. There is a Facebook page for almost everything, not a Second Life virtual world. <br />Second Life for education has been used to create virtual classrooms, and can be used to offer the space of a virtual community, however this has also been done with social networking sites in a more streamlined and effective manner- one can hop on their IPad and get a classroom update, rather than logging into a virtual worlds which at times can be cumbersome to navigate. <br />Virtual Worlds have become a higher education phenomenon; however tend to lead more toward simulated activities or proprietary activities geared toward a content are or concept, rather than the Second Life world as a whole.Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-72383135970705808732011-10-10T12:17:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:17:47.705-07:00Rhymes of HistoryOne technology that rekindles history is the Wii family gaming console. As a child, I distinctly remember playing board and card games with my family well into the evening hours. As I grew older and technology such as movies and computers progressed, that family time seemed to disintegrate. This could be because my family was no longer ‘engaging’ to me…what could a game of Scrabble do that was better than a Saturday night at the video arcade? Now, however, consoles such as the Wii and the Kinect bring back that family time- with the added bonus of a technologically engaging format. This type of technology is geared toward the multigenerational family and could reasonably bridge the gap between the Silent Generation (1925- 1945) and generations Y and Z. A modern child can play an interactive baseball game with Grandma, and rekindle the aura of times past as Grandma tells the child about the female baseball league during WW1. What a great bonding moment! <br /><a href="http://musaaykac.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/why-the-wii-is-so-popular-598548.html">Why is the Wii So Popular?</a>Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-12915513964121049062011-09-22T10:30:00.000-07:002011-09-22T10:31:33.027-07:00Telephony/VOIP/Communication and Conferencing Progression<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAtEVxMnayw/Tntw7bddSKI/AAAAAAAAAEA/8UTj9J19nCQ/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-09-22%2Bat%2B10.26.07%2BAM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 176px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAtEVxMnayw/Tntw7bddSKI/AAAAAAAAAEA/8UTj9J19nCQ/s400/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-09-22%2Bat%2B10.26.07%2BAM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655237923379693730" /></a><br />Telephony/VOIP/Communication and Conferencing Progression<br /><br />In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone. He conceived a sort of electrical telegraph that mailed signs as musical notices produced by shaking needs. Eventually the landline based telephone morphed into wireless communications.<br /><br />The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks. Millions of systems linked are collectively. Traditional communication media including telephone, music, film, and television are or have been reshaped by the invention of the internet. <br /><br />VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is a technology for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet or an Intranet. VOIP does away with traditional landline and cable based communication procedures. <br /><br />Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.<br /><br />When you bring all of these communicative pieces together, you get an invention similar to Skype, or VOIP with chat/IM capabilities, multiple person conferencing, video conferencing and multiplatform performance. Skype is a software application that allows user to make voice and video calls over the Internet. Skype has additional features such as instant messaging, video conferencing and file sharing or file transfer. Skype is a peer-to-peer system, not a client-server system.Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-16335000236432014582011-09-12T09:13:00.001-07:002011-09-12T09:13:56.346-07:00Simulation in Online Education- TrendsMost people’s ideas of current distance learning include the use of technology. Most online courses today include elements such as audio, video, email, and some level of technological interactivity. Environment can now be customized to suit the specific needs of the student, and include emerging forms of technology such as simulations. While simulated learning has been around for decades, their widespread use in education has not. With the advances in web based or LMS based learning, educators are now realizing that simulations and virtual worlds can assist in reaching all levels of learners, especially those who are visual and kinesthetic learners. The users are able to experience learning and take an active role in the learning process. <br />Simulated learning can be difficult and expensive to produce. Additionally, there can be an overall lack of support when problems arise in the virtual environment. Certain simulations are user centered (working through a problem on their own) which takes out the social element of learning. Instructors may feel that they can take a backseat when simulated learning is present, but in fact, the learner should experience the instructor as a coach in order to discover the full benefits of experiential learning. <br />In order to successfully implement a virtual environment for student learning, there needs to be team members involved that are familiar with the technology and are able to troubleshoot, modify and adjust when problems arise. Social elements should be built into the learning environment so students do not feel as though as they are lost in cyberspace. Students and instructors must also realize that certain simulated environments are subject to user bias. The environment relies on human input, and the outcomes of the environment are dependent on that human input. The simulated learning environment may not necessarily be as accurate as what would happen in a real world scenario. <br />The University of Maryland has been using simulations in education for some time, both online and on ground. Their website is found here. http://www.icons.umd.edu/highered/home#.Tm4urU_bG9o <br />http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/ss_tc.htmKaren Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-53124854889822734922010-05-14T12:43:00.000-07:002010-05-14T13:09:57.563-07:00Final Project<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykvLfFlwP7muVgPZZFOlFRDkWVK5ds9svv7hX497z5bLo4ly9mGbrc71o8uC2g0o32qrFTo2jPSJpX1D9-HQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-19986811620023936982010-05-11T11:59:00.000-07:002010-05-11T12:00:50.709-07:00Week 5 concept map<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YB9dyZ9WL0M/S-mpXeFeJHI/AAAAAAAAADI/QbDjTmexQro/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-11+at+12.00.18+PM.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YB9dyZ9WL0M/S-mpXeFeJHI/AAAAAAAAADI/QbDjTmexQro/s320/Screen+shot+2010-05-11+at+12.00.18+PM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470089443096274034" /></a>Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-21900158477343697282010-04-27T13:07:00.001-07:002010-04-30T13:40:46.365-07:00Week 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YB9dyZ9WL0M/S9dEIQVmg5I/AAAAAAAAAC8/W3GrPe4HbSc/s1600/Week+4+graphic.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YB9dyZ9WL0M/S9dEIQVmg5I/AAAAAAAAAC8/W3GrPe4HbSc/s320/Week+4+graphic.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464911581452600210" /></a><br />When designing online courses, it’s important to include various tools that will encompass different learning styles of students that may enroll in the class. In order to explain difficult concepts, one must refer back to Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and account for diverse learning style.<br />Content should be presented in mediums that encompass text, audio and visual. One should strive to include different ways to parlay the information. While a student may not want to read a written lecture, they will readily listen to it via Ipod or download.<br />Collaborative groups should \be allowed to communicate via different mediums. While some may like live communication such as skype, other would prefer text-based communication such as discussion forums. Regardless of delivery, communication is a vital part of the online learning experience, so learners may bounce ideas of each other as well as collaborated to accomplish a task.<br /><br />Responded to: <br />http://waymyers-distanceedu.blogspot.com<br />http://farawaylearning.blogspot.comKaren Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-12606171205005143732010-04-15T08:32:00.000-07:002010-04-15T08:39:43.455-07:00Week 3 Blogs posted toThis week I posted to: <br />http://lkortecc.blogspot.com/2010/04/assessing-collaborative-efforts.html<br />http://waymyers-distanceedu.blogspot.com/2010/04/module-3-motivating-adult-learners.htmlKaren Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-63276614176524690152010-04-09T10:25:00.000-07:002010-04-09T10:26:09.929-07:00Week 3 Assessing Collaborative EffortsAssessment in a collaborative community can be difficult due to the varying skill levels of students and the nature of communication issues in an online learning environment. Collaborative learning communities focus on higher level thinking skills, not the standard “read and repeat” of yesteryear. As Siemens (n.d) states, collaboration is not the issue, it is how we rework the former models of assessment to accommodate this new type of learning. Peers can assess each other in a collaborative manner to assist the educator and the educator needs to realize that not all assessment translates into a ‘mark’. As with younger students, peers can sometimes explain things to each other in a more simplistic form that an educator may not. Collaborative community assessment needs to be incorporated in the course design. Outcomes of the project need to be stated clearly. The educator then can manage the collaboration by using technology in the LMS to assess the students via hourly participation, logins, posts, etc along with peer assessment. Education is shifting to participation in a larger environment, much like in the workplace. The concept of assessment needs to broadened. <br /><br />Sometimes students are unwilling to participate in the online collaborative group. Students have been conditioned to work by themselves and find a loss of self when asked to work within a learning community. Within a collaborative community students need to be made aware that they will be assessed on participation as well as be recognized as an individual and rewarded as such. Design of the collaborative task is important. The learning community task should be practical and engaging. It’s also important to introduce these students, who for so long have worked by themselves, to the experience within the online community first before jumping into full-blown collaboration.Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-37939353338443356232010-04-01T08:28:00.001-07:002010-04-01T08:37:31.779-07:00Global Diversity in Distance EducationSiemens discusses global diversity in education as a cohesion between the current corporate arrangement of being able to communicate and collaborate online with members of the same team or workplace no matter where they are in the world and distance learning in higher education, thus ultimately creating something akin to a world university. This type of global communication can lend itself well to workplace training, because the training models are workplace specific and reflect the mindset and goal of the company. However in education, global diversity is much different. Geographically diverse content that reflects global perspectives is possible but the immediate future of a world university does not seem to be on the horizon. Some educational institutions, like Grand Canyon University in Phoenix Arizona, open their programs up to international students, but the curriculum may not be geared toward these learners. The online curriculum has been written for the majority of the learners being based in the United States. I believe there is another level of curriculum design that would have to take place if universities wanted to open up their online doors to the world. International structure and educational procedures would need to be examined and considered before fully aligning a distance educational program to be globally and culturally diverse. <br /><br />Siemens, G. (n.d.)The future of distance education. Vodcast. Retrieved from Walden University, EDUC7102<br /><br />Posted to: http://waymyers-distanceedu.blogspot.com/<br />http://lkortecc.blogspot.com/Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-82934730265687503972010-04-01T08:28:00.000-07:002010-04-01T08:29:23.475-07:00Global Diversity in Distance EducationSiemens discusses global diversity in education as a cohesion between the current corporate arrangement of being able to communicate and collaborate online with members of the same team or workplace no matter where they are in the world and distance learning in higher education, thus ultimately creating something akin to a world university. This type of global communication can lend itself well to workplace training, because the training models are workplace specific and reflect the mindset and goal of the company. However in education, global diversity is much different. Geographically diverse content that reflects global perspectives is possible but the immediate future of a world university does not seem to be on the horizon. Some educational institutions, like Grand Canyon University in Phoenix Arizona, open their programs up to international students, but the curriculum may not be geared toward these learners. The online curriculum has been written for the majority of the learners being based in the United States. I believe there is another level of curriculum design that would have to take place if universities wanted to open up their online doors to the world. International structure and educational procedures would need to be examined and considered before fully aligning a distance educational program to be globally and culturally diverse. <br /><br />Siemens, G. (n.d.)The future of distance education. Vodcast. Retrieved from Walden University, EDUC7102Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4964798773245772200.post-62986922275494238932010-03-18T08:16:00.000-07:002010-03-18T08:18:43.251-07:00The Next Generation of Distance LearningSimonson(2000) describes distance education as formal education, that is institutionally based, where learning groups are separated and technologies are used to link the learning groups with their resources. The millennial generation has grown up with technology being linked to society and it’s resources, however their educational experiences have fallen behind where technology is concerned. Brick and mortar schools have always suffered and lacked resources where technology is concerned- when making budget cuts, the choice between keeping a teacher and keeping a computer is obvious. However, distance learning changes that. Through distance learning, students are connected to people and places they may not have the connection to in face-to-face instruction. <br /> According to Moller et al. (2008) distance education is become widely adopted and respected. Traditional learning institutions are beginning to use the technology to their advantage, transferring what was once taught on the ground to a virtual format and expanding the resources available to students. Schools at all levels are now putting thought into what constitutes good instruction and forming their online classes based on the best practices of face to face and virtual learning. Rather than taking a one size fits all approach, institutions are now customizing learning to suit different learning styles, needs and want of both students and instructors alike. <br />In my experience as an online course developer, I have seen the negative and positive aspects of distance learning. Some institutions are so quick to jump on the virtual education bandwagon they neglect to account for the student experience, the customization of programs and fail to incorporate the best resources into their courses that would make for an engaging learning experience. The millennials are not satisfied with lecture based courses delivered via computer- they want interaction, engagement and resources at their fingertips. Institutions that have strong leadership, collaborative efforts between faculty and distance learning course developers and who plan their learning according to pedagogically sound practices find that student retention and satisfaction is abound, and that the learners and instructors experience a solid education that is delivered over space and time. <br /><br /><br /><br />Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008, July/August). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the Web (Part 2: Higher Education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66–70. <br /><br />Simonson, M. (2000). Making decisions: The use of electronic technology in online classes. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 84, 29–34.Karen Wondergemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110389092257946681noreply@blogger.com3