Introduction to Web-Based Learning

Defining Web-Based Instruction

• Instruction via Internet and Intranet only.

• Synonymous with online learning.

Distance Education• Instruction that exists when instructors and

learners are separated by time and/or location.• Synchronous vs. asynchronous.

Distributed Learning vs. Distance Education

• Distributed Learning uses a wide range of computing and communication technology to provide learning opportunities beyond times and place constraints of traditional classrooms.

• Can take place on or off campus.

• Distance education and on-line learning are subsets of distributed learning.

Distance Education Delivery Systems

• Correspondence courses.• Broadcast systems.• Teleconferencing systems and communication

networks.• Computers and digital technologies.

– Local area networks and wide area networks.

• Internet– Text-based (Gopher) vs. graphical environments

(browsers, search engines, portals).

Advantages and Disadvantages of WBI

Choosing a WBI project

• Can problem be solved appropriately with WBI?• Identify the purpose of your WBI.• Choose a content area in which you have

expertise and that is of interest to you.• Select a topic for which participants will be

available.• Select a topic for which you have the technology

available to develop and implement.

Web-Based Learning Environment and Community

Continuum of Web-based learning communities

Types of Online Instruction

For your project

• What is your learning environment and community like?

• What kinds of administrative and technology infrastructure do you have?

• Where would your WBI be on the learning community continuum?

• What type of on-line instruction would you use?

Current and Emerging Technologies for WBI

Current and Emerging Technologies for WBI

Learning Management Systems

• Technology that supports planning, designing, developing, implementing, and administering online learning experiences.

• Schedules, registers, and tracks learner progress and performance.

• Blackboard, WebCT.

Features of LMS

• Chat rooms.

• Discussion boards.

• Forums.

• Student lists with email addresses.

• Electronic drop boxes.

• Assessment tools (grading, quizzes).

Stakeholders in WBI

• Administrative stakeholders (managers, superintendents, principals, deans).

• Technology stakeholders (webmasters, networking specialists, programmers).

• Learning community stakeholders (instructor, learner, instructional designer).

Administrative stakeholders

• Roles and Responisbilities– Set project priorities.– Provide approval.– Fund and allocate resources.– May or may not have daily interactions with

WBI designer.

• Challenges– May lack expertise; must rely on others.

Technology stakeholders

• Roles and Responsibilities– Assist designers.– Solve problems.– May develop Web pages or multimedia

products.

• Challenges– Troubleshoot in timely fashion.– Upgrade knowledge and skills.– Be able to communicate.

Learning Community stakeholders

• Instructor Roles and Responsibilities– Establish the learning community, set the

tone.– Lead teaching using good teaching practices.– Be available.

• Instructor Challenges– Expectation of immediate feedback.– Volume of learner contacts.– Keep current with technology.

Learning Community stakeholders

• Learner Roles and Responsibilities– Participate!– Help establish goals and community.– Self-motivation, good study skills.

• Learner Challenges– Feelings of isolation.– Issues involved with becoming a self-

regulated learner.

Learning Community stakeholders

• Instructional Designer Roles and Responsibilities– Project Designer.– Communicate with other stake-holders.– Monitor the design and delivery.

• Instructional Designer Challenges– Balance quality standards and expectations with

constraints of limited resources.– Communicating with other stakeholders that have

unrealistic expectations.