Distance Education

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Distance Education

• Can we debunk some of the myths?
• Robert Aucoin,
• Distance Education Co-ordinator, ATL
• Robert.aucoin_at_ualberta.ca

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What is Distance Education?

• Nothing in education is so astonishing as the
  amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of
  facts.
• Henry Adams

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History

• Historically known as correspondence courses
• matchbook courses
• Rapid Results College

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Distance Education Defined

• Trying to define distance education is rather
  like trying to define art or science.we all have
  a sense of what it is when we see it but we would
  be hard pressed to accurately define it.
• Learners and teachers are separated by geography
  and/or time.

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Distance Education Myths

• Distance education is about technology
• Distance education is about replacing professors
  http//e-education.mtt.ca/
• Distance education is about saving/making money
  http//www.polycom.com/streams/streamstation_overv
  iew/index.htm
• Distance education is about administration
• http//129.128.5.72/main/index.jhtml

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So what is distance learning about?

• Distance learning is more about teaching and
  learning than about technology
• Moore
• Distance learning is about access and equality
  for learners
• The first ATM was located inside a bank and was
  available only during regular banking hours

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Benefits of distance education - student

• Flexible
• Interactive
• Responsive
• Supportive
• Technological

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Benefits - Professor

• A new way of looking at his/her course material
• A chance to work with more mature students
• A learning opportunity

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Challenges - students

• Resistance to change
• Technological challenges
• Self-discipline
• Feelings of remoteness / resentment

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Challenges - Professors

• All preparation work is up front
• Flexibility
• Organizational problems
• Feelings of outside interference
• Worries about technology being rammed down their
  throats

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Whats happening at U of A?

• Athabasca vs U of A.
• http//www.atl.ualberta.ca/disted/database/output/
  search.cfm
• http//www.ualberta.ca/WEBCT/courses.html

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Current Initiatives

• New Media Diploma Extension
• CFD Business
• COHERE
• Presidents initiative
• MACT Extension
• Rehabilitation Medicine

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Regular department channels still govern

• Course/programme approval
• Tuition fees
• Registration
• Accreditation

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TLC ATL can help

• Course design
• Media decisions
• Logistics
• Faculty/student training
• Evaluation
• Funding(?)
• External contacts

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Which technology is Best?

• 52 research reports over 80 years say No
  significant difference in learning

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Which Technology is Best?

• What you may not know Compare single mode
  delivery to multiple-mode/hybrid delivery plan
  across a degree program
• 3 year study at the University of Tennessee with
  statistically significant results
• Early Data Multimode delivery is MORE effective
  than any single delivery mode
• Better retention rates
• Better and more consistent grades
• Why?
• Synergy Multiple mode delivery plan is more
  likely to address learners needs

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Sacred cows

• Weve invested X in this distance education
  programme and we havent made any money yet.
  Whats wrong?
• Distance education is ok for other people, but,
  it will never work in my faculty/department/subjec
  t/class.

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More sacred cows

• The old technology worked just fine in the past.
  I dont see why we should change it.
• Make this as easy as possible because I dont
  want to learn anything new.
• This technology isnt working. Why bother having
  it if it never works?

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Concluding remarks.

• Distance education is not for everyone, but, it
  works and it works well
• Distance education is not a panacea, but, it does
  solve problems in education and training
• Distance education is not all things to all
  people, but, it provides access to those who
  otherwise would be denied

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• The biggest obstacle to innovation is thinking
  it can be done the old way
• Jim Wetherbe
• The illiterate of the 21st century will not be
  those who cannot read and write, but those who
  cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.
• Alvin Toffler

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Discussion..