Best Practices and Organizationfor

Distance Education

Michael Simonson, Ph.D.Program Professor

Instructional Technology and Distance EducationFischler School of EducationNova Southeastern University

Florida, USA

Build It 4.wmv

Teacher as ?Teacher as ?

Teacher (Library Media Specialist?) as Skeuomorph

Teacher (Library Media Specialist?) as Skeuomorph

http://www.nova.edu/~simsmich/

What do we know?

Definition of Distance Education

Institution-based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems/media are used to connect learners, resources

and instructors.

STSPSTSP

DTSPDTSP

STDPSTDP

DTDPDTDP

Coldeway's QuadrantsColdeway's Quadrants

Face to FaceInstruction

Distance DeliveredInstruction

TeachingTeaching

Staggering Growth of DE

Best Practices?

Indicators of Quality: MissionIndicators of Quality: Mission

Positive

Explicit statement of purpose of distance

education in the organization’s

mission statement

Positive

Explicit statement of purpose of distance

education in the organization’s

mission statement

Warning Signs

Two separate approaches- DE v.

F2F

Two target populations

Warning Signs

Two separate approaches- DE v.

F2F

Two target populations

Indicators of Quality: Curriculum

Indicators of Quality: Curriculum

Positive

Faculty oversight

Faculty course design

Positive

Faculty oversight

Faculty course design

Warning Signs

Two course approval processes

“Cookie-cutter” course design

Warning Signs

Two course approval processes

“Cookie-cutter” course design

Indicators of Quality: Faculty Support

Indicators of Quality: Faculty Support

Positive

Faculty development process

Instructional design support

Positive

Faculty development process

Instructional design support

Warning Signs

Direct conversion of F2F to DE

Two course evaluation systems

Warning Signs

Direct conversion of F2F to DE

Two course evaluation systems

Indicators of Quality: Students

Indicators of Quality: Students

Positive

Strong technology support – 24/7

Academic advisers for DE students

Positive

Strong technology support – 24/7

Academic advisers for DE students

Warning Signs

Some services must be accessed F2F

Confusion about contact people

Warning Signs

Some services must be accessed F2F

Confusion about contact people

Indicators of Quality: Sustainability

Indicators of Quality: Sustainability

Positive

Systematic approach applied

Clear plans for future

Positive

Systematic approach applied

Clear plans for future

Warning Signs

History of started and stopped programs

Administrators know, but others do not

Warning Signs

History of started and stopped programs

Administrators know, but others do not

Indicators of Quality: Evaluation and Assessment

Indicators of Quality: Evaluation and Assessment

Positive

Evaluation results used for continuous improvement

Input from faculty and students

Positive

Evaluation results used for continuous improvement

Input from faculty and students

Warning Signs

Large number of drop-outs

Record of many complaints

Warning Signs

Large number of drop-outs

Record of many complaints

US DOE Technology PlanUS DOE Technology Plan

1. Strengthen Leadership

2. Consider Innovative Budgeting

3. Improve Teacher Training

4. Support e’Learning and Virtual Schools

5. Encourage Broadband Access

6. Move Toward Digital Content

7. Integrate Data Systems

1. Strengthen Leadership

2. Consider Innovative Budgeting

3. Improve Teacher Training

4. Support e’Learning and Virtual Schools

5. Encourage Broadband Access

6. Move Toward Digital Content

7. Integrate Data Systems

Best PracticesBest Practices

• Logical and Intuitive Organization• Multimedia Use to Present Content• High Quality Production Standards• Content-Rich Design• Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction• Self Pacing Apparent• Continuous Evaluation and Revision

• Logical and Intuitive Organization• Multimedia Use to Present Content• High Quality Production Standards• Content-Rich Design• Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction• Self Pacing Apparent• Continuous Evaluation and Revision

Rules of ThumbRules of Thumb

For a typical 3-credit course• 90 -130 hours of student involvement• 10 – 25 students/instructor• Clear organization ~ 45 topics, 15 modules,

and 3 units• Build Communities >5 <10• Grade often and everything• <1 instructor posting to 4 student postings

For a typical 3-credit course• 90 -130 hours of student involvement• 10 – 25 students/instructor• Clear organization ~ 45 topics, 15 modules,

and 3 units• Build Communities >5 <10• Grade often and everything• <1 instructor posting to 4 student postings

Organizing a CourseOrganizing a Course

The Standard?The Standard?

3 Credit, Carnegie Unit Course =

3 x 750 minutes of class time = 2250 minutes or ~45, 50-minutes classes

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education

“Learners, distant and local, should be provide equivalent learning

experiences in order for them to achieve similar learning outcomes”

“Learners, distant and local, should be provide equivalent learning

experiences in order for them to achieve similar learning outcomes”

Learning Experiences

Anything that happens to or with a student that promotes learning, including what is observed, felt, heard, or done.

Chunking of Information

Pre-Chunking Post- Chunking

Equivalency Units (vs. Carnegie Units)

Modules (3-5/Unit)

Topics (3-5/Module, each with a Learning Outcome)

3 x 5 x 5 Approach3 x 5 x 5 Approach

3 Units/3Credit Course

5 Modules/Unit

5 Concepts/Module

&

1 Objective/Concept

3 Units/3Credit Course

5 Modules/Unit

5 Concepts/Module

&

1 Objective/Concept

Unit

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Concept 1

Concept 2Concept 3

Concept 15

1 Semester Credit = 1 Unit = 5 Modules = 15 Concepts

Best Practices: DE CoursesBest Practices: DE Courses

Design

15 concepts/topics per credit

40-50 hours of student time per credit

Design

15 concepts/topics per credit

40-50 hours of student time per credit

Best Practices: InstructionBest Practices: InstructionContent

Readings

Viewings

Listenings

Interaction

Chats

Discussions

Teamwork

Email

VOIP

Telephone

Live Presentations

AssessmentExamsPresentaitonsWritingJournalsBlogs

ExamplesExamples

South Dakota

Florida Virtual School