In an effort to improve its poor safety record, a biodiesel manufacturing plant needs a series of safety training modules. These stand-alone modules must illustrate best practices on how to safely operate the many pieces of heavy machinery on the plant floor. The modules should involve step-by-step processes and the method of delivery needs to be available to all shifts at the plant. As well, the shift supervisors want to be sure the employees are engaged and can demonstrate their learning from the modules.
The best solution for this case is the Asynchronous learning, it is a student – centered teaching method that uses the online learning resource to facilitate information sharing between networks of people at anytime and anyplace (Wikipedia).
As instructional designer, in order to build these stand-alone modules, I would use the linear programmed instructions technique, which requires all content to be organized into concepts that are presented in blocks / modules. The students review the content which involves a step-by-step processes, then take a self-test, and if successful move to the next block of information. This happens sequentially until all the modules are completed. The ID have to determine the order of concepts / modules based on the sequence of the processes and the students should move in the same order (Simonson et. al., 2009), pp.119.
To build the learning materials, I would use narrated PowerPoint presentations that include text, processes flow charts, costumed graphics, snap shot pictures, videos and flash animations. A course management system such as Moodle or any other available CMS should be used to host and administer the use of the presentation contents, students assessment, required reading and assignments, some sort of communication and reporting such as e-mail and blogs, course and system statistics and course management components such enrollments, course calendar and coursework grading.
My first example comes from New York State Department of Health to show how the integrations of PowerPoint, flash animation, custom graphics, special video effects, and professionally produced video and narration in a professional way have resulted a great online modules for the National Quality Center, please check the presentation from: http://www.nqcqualityacademy.org/tutorial1/
The following link accesses a website that gives a great example of how the use of flash animation technology and animated presentations can produce highly interactive distance learning modules:
http://www.clearlytrained.com/portfolio/eLearning_Samples_of_Work.htm
References:
Clearlytrained website: http://www.clearlytrained.com/
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance Foundations of Distance Education (4th ed). Boston, MA; Pearson.
WebWorld Technologies website : http://www.webworldtechnologies.com/distance-learning-systems
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_learning
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Evolution of Distance Learning
Before starting this course, my personal definition for distance learning was simply is the learning process when learners are physically separated from the teachers or the source of the instructions. Learners mostly work on individual basis, and learning materials would be sent to the learner in different forms either text, audio, video, or online instructions. I always had the impression that final assessment still has to be in the same format of traditional class assessment however that changes when I have experienced the online assessments.
From this week’s resources I have learned that four major components are required in order to define distance education: 1- It should be institutionally based. 2- Physical separation between the teacher and student, separation could be in both terms of geographic and time. 3- Interactive telecommunications and interaction could be synchronous or asynchronous. 4- Connecting learners, resources and instructors. (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009).
I believe that the most feasible definition for distance education is the one given by Simonson, 2003 as “instruction-based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors”. Based on this definition, distance education can be simply described as “the process of creating and delivering an access to learning when the source of learning materials and the learners are separated by distance and time or by both of them”.
The definition of distance learning is always changing with the change of the technology used for implementing and managing the learning process. Other different terms could be used based on using locations and the actual use and requirements of distance education such as “ virtual schools” which refer to using distance education in schools and in my company for example we use the term Learning Management System or “ILearn” .
Distance learning programs have grown and multiplied incredibly over the past ten years, I believe in the future, distance learning will continue to evolve at the same pace of developing new technologies that will help in facilitating the delivery of learning materials. I expect it to gain more ground in the schools and universities as well as other institutes with more classes are taught online either by itself or blended with traditional classes. I also believe that the future developments will be even faster in rates than the development rates over the last ten years as a result of the growing population of the technologically educated young instructional designers / instructors who can easily handle and promote the advantages of the current technology towards delivering a highly effective distance learning classes.
References:
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson. Chapter 2, "Definitions, History, and Theories of Distance Education", pp. 31–40.
From this week’s resources I have learned that four major components are required in order to define distance education: 1- It should be institutionally based. 2- Physical separation between the teacher and student, separation could be in both terms of geographic and time. 3- Interactive telecommunications and interaction could be synchronous or asynchronous. 4- Connecting learners, resources and instructors. (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009).
I believe that the most feasible definition for distance education is the one given by Simonson, 2003 as “instruction-based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors”. Based on this definition, distance education can be simply described as “the process of creating and delivering an access to learning when the source of learning materials and the learners are separated by distance and time or by both of them”.
The definition of distance learning is always changing with the change of the technology used for implementing and managing the learning process. Other different terms could be used based on using locations and the actual use and requirements of distance education such as “ virtual schools” which refer to using distance education in schools and in my company for example we use the term Learning Management System or “ILearn” .
Distance learning programs have grown and multiplied incredibly over the past ten years, I believe in the future, distance learning will continue to evolve at the same pace of developing new technologies that will help in facilitating the delivery of learning materials. I expect it to gain more ground in the schools and universities as well as other institutes with more classes are taught online either by itself or blended with traditional classes. I also believe that the future developments will be even faster in rates than the development rates over the last ten years as a result of the growing population of the technologically educated young instructional designers / instructors who can easily handle and promote the advantages of the current technology towards delivering a highly effective distance learning classes.
References:
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson. Chapter 2, "Definitions, History, and Theories of Distance Education", pp. 31–40.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Distance Learning
Hello,
Welcome to my Blog. My name is Adel Abdelaziz; I'm working on my Masters degree of Instructional Design Technology with Walden University. I will use this Blog to publish interesting discussions about different subjects that are related to Distance Learning , so please come back to view, share ideas and post your comments. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Adel
Welcome to my Blog. My name is Adel Abdelaziz; I'm working on my Masters degree of Instructional Design Technology with Walden University. I will use this Blog to publish interesting discussions about different subjects that are related to Distance Learning , so please come back to view, share ideas and post your comments. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Adel
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