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/