WU EIDT 6510 Week 3: Online Learning
A major issue in the significance of available technology is that some learners may not yet have access to certain technology either due to cost or technical know-how. Some older versions of technology still work well and a learner may see no reason to upgrade to newer technology that is available. In other cases new technology may still be in a phase that bugs are being worked out and learners are waiting until afterwards before using the new technology. In those cases the cost is prohibitive or deemed to have inadequate value in return on investment the learner may forego using that technology. Whether a school allows the use of Windows operating systems or Apple is a major issue. Windows may be less expensive and used by more learners in a market. In the end available technology determines what technology can be used.
A student can spend their time on any variety of endeavors learning. And without clear direction a student may not know how to allocate time on what learning material, especially in off time outside the classroom. In other cases due dates for submission of work or taking a test allows learners to allocate their time to optimize their performance. Clear expectations must be communicated at all times to prevent loss of use of time (Sung & Mayer, 2012, p. 1).
The greatest considerations for an instructor is to identify the academic ability of the intended learner, the prerequisite work for the course and the linear sequence of information to be provided to the learner during the course (Dai et al, 2021, p. 1). Ability determines if the learner has a reasonable potential for success and protects stakeholder from losses when learners cannot benefit from the program. Prerequisite work helps identify learners who need additional study while entering the course to protect success. The linear sequence of information protects the time of the learner when the order of information promotes learning, not frustration rearranging the order later by the student.
References
Dai, Y., Yoshikawa, M., & Sugiyama, K. (2021). Prerequisite-aware course
ordering towards getting relevant job opportunities.
Expert Systems with Applications. Volume 183. ISSN 0957-4174.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2021.115233.
Sung, E. & Mayer, R., (2012) Five facets of social presence in online
distance education. Computers in Human Behavior, 28: 5, 1738-1747
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.04.014.
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2010). Launching the online learning experience [Video file].
Hi Christopher,
ReplyDeleteYou have raised some excellent points regarding the challenges associated with technology access and its impact on learning. Another challenge students in online courses can face is getting the required textbooks on time based on their geographical location and the textbook cost (Mucundanyi, 2011). However, thanks to technology, every year, more journals, publishers, and authors publish open-source materials to make reacher accessible to individuals for free. Mucundanyi (2011) mentions that online instructors and instructional designers should first use open-source materials as a way to remove the burden on their students and increase the availability of educational resources. Also, using different types of resources such as text, audio, video, and educational games can allow the students to interact and engage with the course content (Woodley et al., 2017). Therefore, instructors could provide free educational resources based on the content.
Your point about the importance of clear expectations for the students is key for instructors to state at the beginning of the course. Many students may experience inefficiency and increased stress levels without specific guidance on prioritizing tasks (Sung & Mayer, 2012). Establishing clear priorities can help students navigate their responsibilities more effectively, leading to a more productive and less overwhelming experience.
References
Mucundanyi, G. (2021). Design Strategies for Developing an Engaging Online Course in Higher Education. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 17(3), 198-206.
Sung, E. & Mayer, R., (2012) Five facets of social presence in online distance education. Computers in Human Behavior, 28: 5, 1738-1747 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.04.014.
Woodley, X., Hernandez, C., Parra, J., & Negash, B. (2017). “Celebrating difference: Best practices in culturally responsive teaching online”. TechTrends, vol. 61, no.5, pp. 470- 478.
Hello Heather, Your point on learners being able to obtain their textbooks on time resonated with me how much preparation time or lead time is needed so the class time is made worthwhile. Setting up housing if dormitory us is needed, signing up for school healthcare plans, verifying immunity records, getting parking stickers, meal plans and supplies all take time. And without each one in certain circumstances can hurt the ability of the learner to benefit from the course. The instructor must be “present” attending to many issues before class begins. I view school administrators as “instructors” and part of the instructional process as much as the lecturer in the classroom is an instructor. The process designs who is and is not a “instructor”.
DeleteChristopher
Boettcher, J. V., & Conrad, R. (2016). The online teaching survival guide:
Simple and practical pedagogical tips (2nd ed.).
San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Christopher,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post. I believe that you made several valid points. There are so many students that do not have up to date technology available to them. I believe that the student should be in contact with the instructor to see what accommodations can be made or if the school may provide some of the technology needed. There are some schools who will provide computers/laptops and wifi. They will also provide other essential items as well. It should be the students responsibility to make sure they are ready to begin class on the first day of class.
You also mentioned time management outside of the online learning time segment. I have seen that students who make a schedule and time slots for each period perform very well in an online environment. I believe the Abeka homeschool program is designed this way and has been working for students for many years.