1

Learning at a Distance: How Does it Work?*

First DE textbook (LearnerAssociates.net): ”Making Distance Education Work:Understanding Learning and Learners at a Distance” (Edited by: Levine, 2005)

First DE experience (three professors) in 2005: Dr. Joseph Levine (U.S.), Dr. josé Chotguis (Brazil), and Dr. Stanley Mopfu (Africa).

Images courtesy of ClipArtPhoto courtesy of RZP

*Based on my experience as a DE learner (2005-2013) and educator (2011-2015)

Welcome!

TEAM Conference 2015

Rita Zuba Prokopetz

2

Tentative Agenda:• Foundation• Assumption• Discussion• Reflective Discussion• Examples*• Questions/Comments

*ESL: http://blendedlearning4eslstudents2015.weebly.com/ CAE: http://cae4rrc2015.weebly.com/

3

FoundationDE: education in which the student and instructor are physically separated from each other and use technology to complete instruction – eTV, Internet, Skype, etc. (p.12)

Elements of effective DE: command of the technology and an understanding of the learner (p.x)

4

Discussion:

“Media are mere vehicles that deliver instruction but do not influence student achievement any more than the truck that delivers our groceries causes changes in nutrition… only the content of the vehicle can influence achievement.” (p. 445)

Clark, R. E. (1983). “Reconsidering research on learning from media. Review of Educational Research.”

5

Assumption

✓How does DE work?✓How does learning take place?✓How do we understand learners at a distance?

Charles Wedemeyer * (mid 1900s) – “Self-initiated Learning” (1911–1999) Michael Grahame Moore** (1960s) – “Theory of Independent Teaching and Learning”Albert Bandura *** (1990s) – “Self-efficacy” (1925 – age 90)

*Self-directed learning **Transactional Distance Theory (1983)

Structure DialogueLearner Autonomy

“People will try to do what they think they can do, and won’t try what they think they can’t do.”***

6

Reflective Discussion

✓How does DE work?-components, course format, length, platform

✓How does learning take place?-resources, tasks, modules, feedback, media

✓How do we understand learners at a distance?-empathy*, learning principles, connectivity

*understanding learners from their perspective (Psychology Today) – help increase prosocial (helping) behaviourhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/empathy retrieved May 6, 2015

7

Discussion

✓What is effective DE?“…effective DE depends on the provision of pedagogical excellence…”

*Bernard, R. M., Abrami, P. C., Lou, Y., Borokhovski, E., Wade, A., Wozney, L., Wallet, P. A., Fiset, M., & Huang, B. (2004). “How does distance education compare to classroom instruction? A Meta-analysis of the empirical literature. Review of Educational Research”, 74(3), 379-439. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/00346543074003379

(permission to quote granted by the author* - Apr.04, 2015)

8

How Does DE Work? How Do We Understand the Learner in DE?

By building relationships (p.p.17-24):Learning relationships• Learner-instructor relationship• Learner-learner relationship• Learner-instructional content relationship• Learner-technology relationship

Enhance experiences by learning with technology rather than learning how to use it

9

✓Online /onsite & online/eTV / F2F✓Synchronous / asynchronous✓ESL: http://blendedlearning4eslstudents2015.weebly.com/ ✓CAE: http://cae4rrc2015.weebly.com/ ✓Massive Open Oline Course**2008: Stephen Downes/George Siemens (2,200 learners)

‘Connectivism**/Connected Knowledge’/xMOOC/cMOOC2012: Sebastian Thrun/Peter Norvig (160,000 learners)

‘Artificial Intelligence’

** Theory of Connectivism reflects:

Bandura: Self-efficacy/Social Learning

Vygotsky: ZPD/Social Development

Examples

Source: Short History of MOOCs and Distance Learninghttp://moocnewsandreviews.com/a-short-history-of-moocs-and-distance-learning/ Source: Learning Theory Fundamentalshttp://www.theoryfundamentals.com/differences.htm

10

Personal Examples of DE

✓Introduction to Education (online) D2L 2015

✓Course Implementation (eTV/online/f2f) D2L 2015

✓ESL – 20-week five-module program (IS) D2L 2014

✓Course Implementation (blended) D2L 2013

✓Weebly* (Flipped class) Web Tool 2013

* Link: http://www.slideshare.net/RitaProkopetz/weebly-to-enhance-language-learning-a-flipped- classroom

LMS / Web Tools used to ‘Disrupt Instruction’

*“Social networking raises the capacity of individuals to connect with others/experts/content”Handbook of Emerging Technologies of Learning (Siemens & Tittenberger, 2009) p.12

11

Some of the many authors cited• Bandura, A. (1989). Social cognitive theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.), Annals of Child Development, 6. Six theories of child development (pp. 1–60).

Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.• Bandura, Albert (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman. p. 604. ISBN 978-0-7167-2626-5• Bernard, R. M., Abrami, P. C., Lou, Y., Borokhovski, E., Wade, A., Wozney, L., Wallet, P. A., Fiset, M., & Huang, B. (2004). “How does distance

education compare to classroom instruction? A Meta-analysis of the empirical literature. Review of Educational Research”, 74(3), 379-439. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/00346543074003379

• Clark, R. E. (1983). “Reconsidering research on learning from media. Review of Educational Research.”• Levine, S.Joseph et al (2005). Making Distance Education Work: Understanding Learning and Learners at a Distance. LearnerAssociates.net

LLC• Keegan, D. (1990). Foundations of Distance Education. New York: Routledge.• http://www.slideshare.net/kshelton/equivalency-theory • "Marshall McLuhan: The Medium and the Messenger". Philipmarchand.com. Retrieved 2015-04-23.• Moore, M. G. & Shin, N. (Eds.).(2000). '"Charles Wedemeyer: The Father of Distance Education" in Michael G. Moore and Namin Shin

(Eds.), Speaking Personally about Distance Education: Foundations of Contemporary Practice. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press.

• Siemens, G. (2006). Knowing knowledge. Vancouver, BC, Canada: Lulu Press• Siemens, G. & Tittenberger, P. (2009) (http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/blogs/cetl/) • Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education, 4th

edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.• Wedemeyer, C. A., & Childs, G.B. (1961). New Perspectives in University Correspondence Study. Chicago: Center for the Study of Liberal

Education for Adults.• Wedemeyer, C. A. (1981). Learning at the Back Door: Reflections on Non-Traditional Learning in the Lifespan. Madison, WI: University of

Wisconsin Press.• Moore, Michael G. 1973).Toward a Theory of Independent Learning and Teaching -

http://192.107.92.31/Corsi_2005/bibliografia%20e-learning/theory.pdf retrieved May 25, 2015• Malcolm S. Knowles (1950) Informal Adult Education, Chicago: Association Press, pages 9-10.

•

12

Thank you!2015 TEAMConference

by RZP

Questions, concerns, comments

"One can choose to be mediocre and live an unfulfilled life or one can choose to excel and live with a gust of wind within”* Link to my capstone project: http://rita4webtools.weebly.com/

*May 17, 2013: thoughts that came to my mind while on the bus on my way to work this morning – I had just completed my graduate program of studies via distance – what a journey!)