Week 3: Application

In this weeks blog post we will be discussing a technology that can be used in distance learning and a situation that would be good to use it with. I will also discuss a few websites that you can look at of people and schools that have successfully implemented the said technology.The situation is as follows;

Example 3: Asynchronous Training
 
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.

There are many different distance learning technologies you will probably find that can work with this situation, but I feel that a podcast would be a good tool to use. One of the big draws for podcasts is the ability to be able to download the content to a device and make it portable tyo watch anywhere anytime. In this situation I think that the employees should be required to view the podcasts which will be video and written instructions. It will have someone acting out proper step by step protocals and then words to explain it.

As we read in our resources this week, one of the advantages that is important in this situation is the opportunity to let people be responsible for their own learning. The fact that the content is downloadable and available whenever helps with the problem of all shifts needing access to the content.

One thing that I feel has to be taken into consideration that I found at the Lorain College site is an exclusiveness of the content. The company in question would have to put time and money into the creation or collection of the podcasts and would not want to allow just anyone from any company to be able to access them. Somehow I think it needs to be set up so that only the people at the company can access the podcasts.

To solve the problem of the supervisors being able to ensure that the employees can demonstrate what they learn the employees can  take an online test about the proper operation of each piece of equipment. In addition I would have the employees demonstrate in front of a supervisor after successfully passing the exam how to properly use the machine.

As we can see in this blog from a high school math teacher (webiste listed at bottom) a lot of time can be saved by using podcasts. It also serves as a great supplement to anything learned in a face to face environment.

Lorain County Community College. (2011). 
Podcasts of Lectures [Information Page]. Retrieved March 
19, 2011, from
http://www.lorainccc.edu/Distance+Learning/iTunesU.htm

scodella56. (2009, November 4). 
Using Podcasts In The Math Classroom [Web log post]. Retrieved from 
     Confessions of a High School Math Teacher:
http://scodella56.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/ 
     using-podcasts-in-the-math-classroom/ 

Distance Learning Definition

This post is going to include a discussion of the different ways that people define distance learning. Feel free to comment or post as well.

I feel bad about admitting this because I used to be a teacher in a previous life but my definition of distance learning was always extremely basic. I felt as if distance learning was learning that was done either online with a computer or through watching a video or digital conference. Different software and methods could be used but my definition was very limited. Not that I didn't do other things that would be considered distance learning, it's just that because of the definition I personally had I never considered them distance learning.

How the things that I learned this week affected my previous definition was mostly to broaden my understanding. I know what distance learning is but never really considered all that was involved in it. I liked some of the things I learned and feel that it is time to improve on my personal definition of distance learning. What I learned is that there are four components to distance learning. It must be institutionally based, have separation of teacher and student, use interactive telecommunications, and sharing of voice, data, and video.

I don't completely agree with everything I learned about distance learning this week but I am going to change my definition. The most important part of distance learning I feel is the separation of teacher and student. Without this distance learning is not going on. To accomplish this we need a form of interactive telecommunication which could include, but is not limited to, the sharing of voice, data, and video.So my definition of distance learning is learning that takes place through the use of interactive telecommunication where things like voice, data, and video is shared when students are separated from there teachers.

The future of distance learning has a lot to get excited about. There are many technologies that have been around for a long time that have yet to become mainstream in education. We see both new inventions that get used to further education and to keep students interested and old inventions that people have found new use for in technology

One of the old technologies that always come to mind for me when I think of education is video teleconferencing. This could have many positive effects on students learning and for distance learning. Students could connect with teachers from all over the country and also see some of the cuture in other countries. Also the fact that the students have a good chance of using the technology in the business world is another good reason to introduce them to it. A new technology that has been upcoming for years is Web 2.0. This is actually a very broad term and Web 2.0 tools refer to different software that can be used on the computer for a wide range of things. Like software to help with organization or to help you create citations. The best thing to compare it to would be apps that you find on smart phones these days. There seems to be one for everything. With Web 2.0 it's the same way, all you have to do is look.

Welcome Everyone

I look forward to taking on the new challenges and knowledge that a new course brings.

The topic of Distance Learning is sure to be a fun one.

Hopefully you all will enjoy what I have to say during my posts to this blog and learn something at the same time.