New Directions for IDT

List 5 examples of distributed learning.

• Hybrid Classes

This type of instruction combines or blends online instruction with face to face instruction.  I believe that this type of class offer the flexibility that working adults with family need.  It also affords them the opportunity to meet with the professor and other students periodically.  I believe that meeting with others in your class and your professors offer you a networking system.

Example:

FlexNet® Learning Format

The University of Phoenix offers a program called FlexNet Learning.  It is a combination of campus-based and online learning.  It is structured for students who need scheduling flexibility, but also want some face to face class meetings.

• Virtual Classes

This type of instructions occurs in the learning environment when the teacher and student are separated by time or space, or both.  The teacher is responsible for providing the course content through the use of methods such as course management applications, multimedia resources, the internet, and videoconferencing.  Students receive the content and communicate with the teacher via the same technologies.  My son attended TXVA a couple of years again when I was homeschooling.  I really enjoyed the experience.  The school provided all the needed resources and the instructions were given via internet.  The teacher would hold weekly classes via internet.

Example:

http://www.k12.com/txva/

TXVA is a tuition-free public charter school that uses the K¹² curriculum, which is accessed via an online school as well as through more traditional methods. Materials are delivered right to the family's doorstep—including books, CDs, microscopes, cell samples, and more.

• Skills-based training

This is instruction via technology over a specific skill or concept.  This is great training is it is specific to the one topic of interest. 

Example:

http://www.biology.arizona.edu/biochemistry/biochemistry.html

The Biology Project: Biochemistry

This site offers tutor and online quizzes over a specific concept.

• For-profit distributed learning

This is when educational or training experiences uses a variety of means, including technology, to enable learning.   This model involves using various information technologies to aid students in their learning.  It can be comprised of video or audio conferencing, satellite broacsting, and Web-based mutimedia formats. A fee is charge for this type of learning.

Example:

http://www.tutor.com/

This site has tutor available 24/7 for assistance with homework.  Every tutoring session takes place in their online classroom, which runs in your web browser window. The online classroom includes a chat window and a two-way interactive whiteboard where you can draw with your mouse. You can also send files to your tutor or browse the internet together.  Their is a fee for this service.

• Academic distributed learning

This is when institutions are providing training online and through virtual institutions.

Example:

The Academic Distrubted Learning Co-Lab

http://www.academiccolab.org/

The vision of the AADLC is to advance sustainable, immersive, distributed learning technology to enable global access to high-quality educational opportunities.

Chapter 29 discussess the concept of reusablity.  Think back over the courses you've had over your educational career and identify one with poor reusablity characteristics.  Explain how the course could be redesigned to improve reusability without changing the underlying context.

• The textbook defines reusability as the "ability to use the same resource multiple times in multiple ways and in multiple contexts.  The texbook states this allows for the learner to have more learning resources at their disposal, therefore increasing the likehood that they can find one that is right for them.  The text states that for a resource to be reuasble it must answer the following for questions.

         1.  Can I find it?

         2.  May I use it?

         3.  Will it work?

         4.  Can I use it in a way that works for me?

Using these questions as my guiding point, I chose a class.  I chose a class that I took on learning theories.  It not so much that the class wasn't good but the reusablitly factor was low.  The class would have improved in this area if the instructor connected the learning to the present day and how one's  theory of learning impacts the classroom and a teacher's learning belief.

Chapter 30 takes a look at using rich media.  Find or create a visual for instruction describing its surface and functional features.

Chapter 31 discusses the future of instructional technologies in the near future from metadata to nanotechnology.  Describe how nanotechnology could be used to improve a specific job or task you are familiar with.

Nanotechnology is the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering. Nanotechnology is not just a new field of science and engineering, but a new way of looking at and studying.  I believe that it would  be neat to be able to have all your computer's memory store on a tiny little chip.          

And finally!  Chapter 32 provides two points of view on the direction of the field--the straight and narrow road and the broad and inclusive road.  Which point of view do you agree with and why?

I believe in the "broad and inclusivie" road.  Technology is growing and advancing rapidly.  I wonder how you can work in the field of technology and not be open and flexible to what the future has in store.  I believe that one limits themself when they are rigid in their believe about future possiblities.  I also believe that at the core we most remain focus on what we are to achieve.  Tecnology is changing and working in this profession we must embace the change and incorporate it into our field of knowledge.