Convergence and difference between campus based and

distance education: trends in a digital age

Jennifer GlennieApril 2013

Continuum of Educational Provision

From purely face-to-face (contact) tuition through to education purely at a distance

Face-to-faceDistance

As for face-to-face education, there are many variations of distance provision

Convergence?

• No doubt that any ‘toenadering’’ will be accelerated by the growing use of technology which offers opportunities, or affordances, to facilitate and enrich learning in all modes

Technology has always had a dramatic impact on Distance

EducationSo-called ‘Generations’ which privilege technology as the differentiatore.g. Moore and Kearsley (2005)1st Correspondence – single medium (print) – mass production –correspondence2nd Radio and TV broadcasting in the ascendency3rd Combined approach – correspondence assisted by broadcasting 4th Tele-learning: interactive audio/video conferencing5th Online delivery – multimedia interactive content with online communication and support

Affordances of New Technologies for Distance Education: Some

examples • Communication • Learning materials

– More cost effective, quicker access to a wider range of learning materials for online and offline use

– Ease of adaptation of course materials– Availability of open educational resources

Affordances of New Technologies for Distance Education: Some

examples • Possibility of real time and/or asynchronous

engagement with and support of students – also among students

• Assessment– More frequent and interactive formative

assessment – peer and educator– Rapid turnaround in assignment submission,

marking and return• Tracking students’ progress

Changing context

• Increased bandwidth• Increased connectivity• Affordable devices• Unisa set to take advantage of these affordances

Changing nature of face-to-face education

© Bates, A. and Poole, G., 2003: Creative Commons license (non-commercial use; acknowledgement)

Changing nature of face-to-faceBates prediction: Hybrid learning: one year 20-40%; three years: 40-60%; five years: 70-90%Questions? • What can the university or college offer that will

make the morning commute for students worthwhile (not to mention faculty)?

• How can institutions leverage more fully the benefits of the campus when students can do much of their learning more conveniently, and often more effectively, online or remotely?

The emerging Networked School environment

Moving to two dimensions

Campus-based Remote/off campus 

No digital support Digitally supported Internet-supported

Internet-dependant

Fully online

A

D

C

B

Fully Offline

Internet Supported

Internet Dependent

Fully Online

Campus-based Remote

E

Digitally Supported

O

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Third dimension: level of interaction

Laurillard (2002) • meaningful learning requires active student

engagement including interactions between students and content, students and other students, students and faculty and, when appropriate, students and workplaces and/or communities

• Made more difficult by large class size

‘Good teaching may overcome a poor choice of technology but technology will never save bad

teaching’

Challenges in Remote Provision

Having distance/remote students requires careful upfront planning which consider all dimensions

Robust systems which can accommodate growing numbers are essential

Moving to Distance: NADEOSA Quality Guidelines Policy and planning

Learners Programme development Course design Course materials Assessment Learner support HRD – employing more and more

tutors Management and administration Collaborative arrangements Quality assurance Information dissemination Results

An Example: Learners and Their context

CriterionThere is up-to-date detailed information about past, present and potential learners. This is used to inform policy and planning in programme development, course design and materials development, learner support and other relevant aspects of educational provision

Course Design and DevelopmentCreating an enabling learning environment –

need to investCourse curriculum is well researched with aims appropriate to the level of study. Content, teaching and learning strategies and assessment are carefully structured to facilitate the achievement of learning outcomes

Course Materials

AssessmentLearning supportCourse materials

support the aims and learning outcomes; are accessiblypresented; teach in a coherent way that engages the learners. There is an identified process of development and evaluation of course materials.

Assessment

AssessmentLearning supportCourse materials

an integral part of the teaching and learning process, is recognised as a key motivator; is properly managed, and meets the requirements of accreditation bodies and employers.

Learning Support

AssessmentLearning supportCourse materials

Learners are provided with a range of opportunities for real two-way communication through the use of various forms of technology for tutoring at a distance, contact tutoring, assignment tutoring, mentoring where appropriate, counselling (both remote and face-to-face), and the stimulation of peer support structures. The need of learners for physical facilities and study resources and participation in decision-making is also taken into account.

A Word on MOOCs

The technology hype cycle: Gartner Inc, 2012

• MOOCs are examples of fully online courses for remote students• Lots of hype – need time to discover real worth

Offering MOOCs?• Unpack your understanding of a MOOC - ?

mass

• Explore your purpose

• What do you want to be known for?– Where have your faculty made a name for themselves in

research and in global conversations?– Any UCT MOOC will reflect on UCT’s pedagogical

practices

• Be sure to meet open learning principles

• In Siemens’ words: ‘our cMOOC model emphasises creation, creativity, autonomy and social networking learning. The Coursera model emphasises a more traditional learning approach through video presentations and short quizzes and testing. Put another way, cMOOCs focus on knowledge creation and generation whereas xMOOCs focus on knowledge duplication’

Fulfilling Open Learning Principles?• Learners are provided with opportunities and capacity for

lifelong learning• Learning processes centre on the learners and the

contexts of learning, build on their experience and encourage active engagement leading to independent and critical thinking

• Learning provision is flexible, allowing learners to increasingly determine where, when, what and how they learn, as well as the pace at which they will learn

• Prior learning and experience is recognised wherever possible; arrangements for credit transfer and articulation between qualifications facilitate further learning

• Providers create the conditions for a fair chance of learner success through learner support, contextually appropriate resources and sound pedagogical practices

In conclusion..Embrace the opportunities

whileHolding onto the key principles of quality

pedagogical practicesand

Concentrating on creating an enabling learning environment using these wonderful

technologies but

Attempting to bring down the unit costs of quality education