EDER 677 Telecommunications in Education Different Modes of Telecommunication Systems - Linking to Learn -

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EDER 677 Telecommunications in
EducationDifferent Modes of Telecommunication
Systems- Linking to Learn -

• Norm Vaughan

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Goals of this Session

• Key Terms
• Linking Resources
• Linking Configurations
• Advantages of Linking to Learn
• Implementation Issues of Linking to Learn

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Key Terms

• Distance Learning - learning situations in which
  the instructor and learner are separated over
  distance and/or time
• Telecommunications - communication at a distance
• -use of transmission technologies to link
  learners and educational resources
• Distributed Learning - combination of distance
  education and constructivist learning principles
• -integration of networking, computing, and
  multimedia technologies with learner-centered
  teaching approaches such as collaboration,
  discovery, and active learning

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Linking Resources

• Networks - common element to all linking
  resources
• Three basic components
• a) People who seek information

b) Source of information
c) Transmission technology that links
the two
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Linking Resources

• Transmission Technologies
• satellite
• microwave
• Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS)
• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
• cable systems
• fiber optic systems
• Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) -
  carry all data types on the same line

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Linking Configurations

• Audio Based Systems
• Video Based Systems
• Computer Based Systems

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Audio Based Systems

• One way audio (e.g. radio broadcast) (RealAudio)
• Audio conferencing (e.g. two-way audio
  (telephone)
• Audio graphics (e.g. computer networking -
  computer interaction with real-time audio
  communication)

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Video Based Systems

• One way video (e.g. TV broadcasting - live or
  tape delayed)
• One way video, two way audio (e.g. TV broadcasts,
  videos which are followed by teacher-student
  discussion)
• Interactive two way audio and video (e.g. link
  between two remote sites -room or desktop video
  conferencing

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Computer Based Systems

• microcomputer, modem, communications software,
  communication link (e.g. telephone line)
• provides access to
• Internet/WWW
• E-mail
• Chat Groups (MOO and MUD)
• Listservs
• Bulletin Boards

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Linking Configurations

• Advantages Disadvantages

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Advantages of Linking to Learn

• Provide ready access to a variety of people and
  information (changing the physical learning
  environment)
• Create opportunities for collaboration between
  classrooms (learning communities)
• Support learner - initiated study (changing roles
  of teacher and learner)
• Offer advanced and otherwise unavailable courses
• Deliver staff development programs with minimal
  restrictions of time or place

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Advantages of Linking to Learn

• Research Evidence (1954 to 2000)
• No significant difference between instruction
  delivered through traditional classroom methods
  and instruction delivered over one or more remote
  technologies in which a teacher and students are
  separated by distance.
• The quality and design of instruction, rather
  than the delivery mechanism, make learning more
  effective (Richard Clark).

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Implementation Issues of Linking to Learn

• Top level policy/planning (partnerships)
• Teacher involvement and training (voice of
  teachers)
• Technical limitations (constraints and constant
  change)
• Differentiated staffing (classroom and field
  assistants)
• Assessment (accountability split, non-traditional
  learning models)

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Implementation Issues of Linking to Learn

• Curriculum design and development for new and
  emerging standards (transition from classroom to
  on-line communication styles and nuances)
• Administrative support (modeling and environment
  issues)
• Common transmission and technology standards
  (incompatibility issues)
• Obtaining required resources (cost and
  sustainability)

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Implementation Issues of Linking to Learn

• Logistical problems (distance coordination
  issues)
• Ethical issues (on-line behavior and content
  monitoring)
• Equity and cultural issues (equal access,
  cultural communication bias, multicultural
  leveling versus appreciation)

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To-Do for Next Session

• Contribute to this weeks discussion forum The
  Different Modes of Telecommunications
• Prepare for our next session Module Six Readings
  Creating Online Iteractivities through the use
  of Multimedia
• Work on your web based student portfolio first
  review next Thursday Feb 14th