EDAE 590 - Teaching and Learning at a Distance
Course Grade - A
This course addressed the newest and perhaps the most influential trend in Adult Education. Distance Learning (DL) is the fastest growing sub field of the discipline and its impact on Adult Education is evolving rapidly. In many ways, this emerging trend represents the future of Adult Education and Training. Therefore, achieving a thorough understanding of Distance Learning is vitally important and interesting to me as a student of Adult Education. As a distance learner myself through the CSU program, I had formed my own impressions based on personal experience and was excited to be studying the professional literature and engaging in learning activities addressing this important subject.
For my first assignments, I interviewed a teacher and administrator to gain a deeper understanding of Distance Learning in practical applications. I first interviewed Jamie Collins, a DL high school English teacher with the Paradise Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Arizona. For my second interview, I met with Sheryl Hart, Educational Technology Manager for the Arizona Department of Education, Adult Education. My reports on those interviews are attached below.
I then prepared a PowerPoint presentation on Moodle, a free Learning Management System (LMS) being utilized by the Paradise Valley Unified School District as well as other ABE programs in the state of Arizona. I learned that it is a worldwide DL phenomenon. I participated in several of its many tutorials and gained an understanding of its diverse capabilities and applications.
My final project was an examination of a technology company relevant to DL. I chose, Articulate, a software developer that markets Articulate Studio '09 to instructional designers and trainers in DL applications. Studio '09 is a bundle of programs utilized in conjunction with PowerPoint to create highly interactive e-learning applications. These programs facilitate the use of narration and Flash video and format the output into a user-friendly platform specifically designed for online learning. In addition, I took advantage of the company's free 30 day download to gain hands-on experience using their products. The PowerPoint presentation I prepared is attached below as well.
For the final week of the course, myself and another student partnered to lead the discussion on that week's subject - The Future of Distance Learning, by creating a Facebook page, EDAE 590 Future of Distance Learning on Facebook and demonstrating it as an alternative DL teaching method.
Based on what I have learned from this course, I offer these general conclusions:
For my first assignments, I interviewed a teacher and administrator to gain a deeper understanding of Distance Learning in practical applications. I first interviewed Jamie Collins, a DL high school English teacher with the Paradise Valley Unified School District in Phoenix, Arizona. For my second interview, I met with Sheryl Hart, Educational Technology Manager for the Arizona Department of Education, Adult Education. My reports on those interviews are attached below.
I then prepared a PowerPoint presentation on Moodle, a free Learning Management System (LMS) being utilized by the Paradise Valley Unified School District as well as other ABE programs in the state of Arizona. I learned that it is a worldwide DL phenomenon. I participated in several of its many tutorials and gained an understanding of its diverse capabilities and applications.
My final project was an examination of a technology company relevant to DL. I chose, Articulate, a software developer that markets Articulate Studio '09 to instructional designers and trainers in DL applications. Studio '09 is a bundle of programs utilized in conjunction with PowerPoint to create highly interactive e-learning applications. These programs facilitate the use of narration and Flash video and format the output into a user-friendly platform specifically designed for online learning. In addition, I took advantage of the company's free 30 day download to gain hands-on experience using their products. The PowerPoint presentation I prepared is attached below as well.
For the final week of the course, myself and another student partnered to lead the discussion on that week's subject - The Future of Distance Learning, by creating a Facebook page, EDAE 590 Future of Distance Learning on Facebook and demonstrating it as an alternative DL teaching method.
Based on what I have learned from this course, I offer these general conclusions:
- DL programs must develop and evolve over time, largely through trial and error. The sub-field is still in its infancy and not fully understood, but offers tremendous potential.
- Ideally, these programs should be first tested with a pilot program to identify and correct the biggest challenges prior to being offered en masse.
- DL programs provide a number of situational, educational, and economic benefits to institutions, teachers, and students, but do not work for everyone in every situation. Often a hybrid of DL and traditional classroom learning is the ideal platform.
- Before undertaking DL programs, students should be professionally assessed as to their suitability for such programs based on their individual life situations, goals, and educational needs.
- Both teachers and students participating in DL should receive an in depth orientation that sets expectations prior to beginning a DL program, for it may not work for every student or teacher practically and/or philosophically.
- Inherently, DL programs provide flexibility, increase available learning opportunities, and lead to desirable outcomes for students who are motivated and committed to achieving their educational goals.
| online_learning_at_paradise_valley_unified_school_district.docx |
| distance_learning_-_arizona_state_sponsored_abe_programs.docx |
| discovering_moodle.pptm |
| learning_activity_4_-_technology_company_overview_-_articulate.pptx |
