DISTANCE EDUCATION

Yorkton Regional High School

Yorkton Public School Division #93

DISTANCE EDUCATION -- AN OVERVIEW

• Defined• Who takes Distance Education classes?• Instructional Formats• Delivery Modes• Critical Components of a DE Course• Benefits• Student and Teacher Requirements

Is instructional delivery that does not constrain a student to be physically present in the same

location as the instructor.

Defined

There are many terms describing distance education

Distance Learning

Distributed Learning

Web-based courses

Virtual Education

Cyber Schools

Education or Knowledge on Demand

e-Learning

E-learning will be the great equalizer in the next

century. By eliminating barriers of time, distance,and socio-economic status,

individuals can nowtake charge of their own

lifelong learning.

E-learning is Internet-enabled learning

Who takes distance education classes?

• Students from rural schools -- desired course is not available or does not fit into their timetable

• Students from urban schools -- Course may not fit into their timetable

• Illness• Sports• Religion• Home Schooling• Academically advanced student• Students who are having difficulties in a particular course• Teachers who would like to supplement their course• Adults who are upgrading

Instructional Formats

1. Correspondence School• Traditional delivery with a

textbook/binder mailed out to the student

• The student works independently through the course

• Utilizes telephone support from the Correspondence School

• Submit assignments by snail mail or fax

Saskatchewan• 70 courses - Grades 9 - 12

2. Satellite Instruction• Partnership with

SaskEd and SCN• Delivery mode is

done in real-time

Saskatchewan offers several courses:

• Regina (Calculus 30, Law 30, Psych.30, Physics 20/30)

• Viscount (French)• Swift Current

(Biology 30, Entrepreneurship 30)

3. Web-based Courses OR ONLINE LEARNING

• Is a course that is offered on line (World Wide Web).

• Course is set up as a web page which students access at a time that fits their schedule

• Courses allow opportunity for interaction, animation, discussion (I.e. chat)

DISTANCE EDUCATION INCLUDES:

• Print (Textbooks, newspapers, handouts, magazines)

• Radio

• Electronic Whiteboards

• Fax machines

• Video cassettes

• Instructional Television

• Internet/WWW

• E-mail

• Audio teleconferencing

• Audio cassettes

• CD-ROM

• Voice mail

• Video conferencing

• Software

• Electronic bulletin boards

• Electronic chats

Delivery Modes

• Synchronous Instruction Interaction is done in real

time

Interactive TVAudioconferencing

Computerconferencing

• Asynchronous instruction Students choose their own

instructional time frameand gather learning materials

according to their own schedules.

Print materials, email, listservs, audiocassette courses,

videotaped courses, WWW courses,CD-ROM interactive disks

Critical Components

• Content• Instructional Design• Student/Audience/Client• Technology Support• General Support• Evaluation Methods

Benefits

• Flexibility in scheduling for students within the high school, the division, the province

• Opportunity for schools that are unable to offer the course

• Opportunity for students with different learning styles

• Opportunity for home-based students to enroll

• Opportunity for educators to develop new learning environments, strategies and technologies.

More Benefits

• Innovative programming• E-learning empowers us• Information from a greater variety

of sources• Increased access for life-long

learners• Location/Geography is no longer

an issue

Student Requirements for Programs

• Personal motivation

• Academic skills at appropriate grade level

• Keyboarding skills

• Independent learners

• Social skills development

• Other general tips and guidelines for online students….

• Participation. Contribute your ideas and participate in discussions with other students.

• Email, email -- stay in touch with the instructor

• Be able to spend the same amount of time per week in an online class as you would a traditional class.

• Work with the technology

• Communicate through writing

• Have fun!

The Challenge to Schools...

“We must transform all formal institutions of learning from pre-K

through college, to ensure that we are preparing students for their future,

not for our past. Schools that ignore the trends shaping tomorrow will cease to be relevant in the lives of

their students will disappear quickly.”

…David Thornbug

Thank You