Week 3: Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

First and foremost, here is the example I chose to discuss in this posting:

Example 1: Collaborative Training Environment


A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

It's a fairly well known fact that I am not only a student at Walden but an employee as well.  Walden's structure is much like the structure of the example above, in that there are multiple sites scattered all across the country.  There are enrollment advisors in all sites, in all time zones, and we often need to learn similar material at different times.  While the collaboration of our trainings doesn't match well to the example, I think the Walden model, properly modified, would serve well to act as a template for the development of the training workshop for the hypothetical company.
 
Since the staff of the hypothetical company cannot meet at the same time at the same location, it would seem that an asynchronous training platform would be a good fit for this workshop.  That way, staff can come and go to and from the workshop on their schedules.  However, the corporation has also made very clear to me as the instructional designer that collaboration between staff members is essential, that information sharing is crucial, and that this collaboration be on-going.  These requirements, to me, scream Web 2.0, and the employment of such technologies would serve the corporation well.  "In the early 2000s, a new generation of web applications emerged, tools that are highly participatory and promote collaboration, networking, sharing, and the widespread generation of content (Simonson et al., pg. 244, 2009)."  According to that definition, Web 2.0 technologies provide everything I need.  But which technology would be the best fit?  For my initial design, I will choose the wiki.
 
"A wiki is an online writing space designed to be created and edited by groups of persons" and "can be an excellent tool for collaborative online writing assignments and group activities compiling information in a single online source (Simonson et al., pg. 245, 2009)."  I've had previous experience with wikis in the program here at Walden, and I've found them to be terrifically valuable platforms for document sharing and collaborative document editing.  Many people can work with the same documents, edit them, and then post the edited documents to the wiki for further review.  This type of platform should be a great fit for a staff information system.  As staff rosters change, posted listings can be easily edited to reflect the new staff rosters.  If new information needs to be shared with all staff, the documents can be posted to the wiki to be accessed by all.  There are also many free wiki sites available, so the wiki would seem to be a cheap way to ensure staff collaboration across all sites.
 
In addition to the wiki itself, training would need to be designed and implemented to teach the staff of the corporation how to use a wiki.  A simple interactive wiki presentation could be built using Adobe Captivate (or MS PowerPoint) defining a wiki, explaining the beneficial uses of a wiki, and allowing learners to experience a wiki first-hand.  Then, assuming there are trainers located at each corporate site (like Walden has), an in-class session can be scheduled for the sites, allowing for staff to work with a wiki in the presence of co-workers and a trainer.  Once this practical application knowledge is acquired, staff should have no trouble using the corporate staff information wiki.
 
Wikis have been shown to be effective in this capacity before, and will show more effectiveness in the future.  A couple of examples to prove my point:
 

• "At Universitas 21 Global, selected faculty potentials undergo a mandatory three-week online faculty training programme (FTP), which they must successfully complete before they received their official appointment to teach an online class for U21Global (Gullett & Bedi, pg. 358, 2007)."  It was noted that due to the length of time of the FTP and the length of time to official appointment, it was easy for faculty to forget the information presented in the FTP.  The university implemented a collaborative wiki as a continuing part of its training and development program, allowing for faculty to access previous FTP materials, edit the materials for future use, and build social networks within the school.  This example shows well how a wiki can continue a training and development process, allow for staff collaboration, and enhance social networks.
• Innovative Learning Group in Michigan has a five-part series on YouTube extolling the virtues of interactive wikis in corporate training and learning environments.  Innovative Learning Group specializes in custom trainings, and for them to focus so much time and energy producing a five-part YouTube series extolling said virtues of wikis in training, says a lot for the increased use of wikis in training environments.  Tom Werner linked to this series on his site, workplace learning today; says Werner: "Wikis are probably the most relevant Web 2.0 tool for training because they are all about group contribution to content (http://www.brandon-hall.com/workplacelearningtoday/?p=4342)."

References:

Gullett, E. & Bedi, K. (2007).  Wiki: A new paradigm for online training and development of faculty.  Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/singapore07/procs/gullett.pdf.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Week 1: Distance Learning Defined

Walden University wasn't my first rodeo when it came to distance learning.  I had taken several online classes in my bachelor's program at Metro State University in St. Paul, MN, and even had the pleasure of completing a summer independent study class.  I will say, however, that in the years since I completed my bachelor's (I graduated in 2006), distance learning, especially in online learning, has come a long way.  With the way Walden integrates media into its online classes, I feel that a richer experience is felt by students.  Asynchronicity is a constant between my Metro State online classes and Walden, but to be able to take every class online in an asynchronous format has been realized by me to be very important and crucial to my success at Walden.  While my definition of distance learning hasn't changed much since my Metro State days, I will say that the delivery, efficiency, and consistency has improved tremendously.
As technology improves, the world gets smaller and it should then follow that distance learning delivery methods and efficiency increases at a proportional rate.  "Advances in electronic communications technology help[s] to determine the dominant medium of distance education (Simonson et al., pg. 38, 2009)."  Where the postal system first served as a delivery method for distance education, now the Internet serves as the primary delivery system.  Online education allows for learners and instructors to simulate a geographical closeness that is only trumped by in-class learning.  What happens to distance education when video conferencing software such as Skype becomes more prevalent?  At that point, is there any difference between in-class and online learning?  In terms of synchronous learning, I don't think there is much of a difference; the true differences will occur and be seen in synchronous vs. asynchronous learning.
 
This synchronous vs. asynchronous learning comparison is underscored in Michael Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance.  Moore describes transactional distance as being "composed of two elements, each of which can be measured.  First is the provision for two-way communication.  Some systems or programs offer grater amounts of two way communication than others.  Second is the extent to which a program is responsive to the needs of the individual learner.  Some programs are very structured, while others are very responsive to the needs and goals of the individual student (Simonson et al., pg. 43, 2009)."  Each system of learning has benefits and drawbacks; personally, I find asynchronous learning much more conducive to my particular learning style.  The ability to learn at my convenience and when I am ready to learn is the biggest reason for my success thus far in my program.  I never liked synchronous learning.  I was too depended on the hi-or-miss teaching talents of professors, and I hated sitting in class through discussions dominated by one or two students.  These programs were not very responsive to my needs as a learner.  Asynchronous learning has fit me like a glove.  I can come and go as I please, participate when ready and inspired, and get more out of instructional topics than I ever had before in synchronous environments.  Asynchronous learning environments allow me to participate more in class, so the two-way communication I have with my classmates and instructors have greatly increased since my in-class days.  According to Moore's Transactional Distance Theory, asynchronous distance learning is positively measured for me in both areas.
 
I think that technology will be the major driver in the development of distance learning; like I said, it seems that the more technology advances, the smaller the world gets.  It is crucial, however, that technology is not employed in distance learning simply because it can be, but that it is employed as a result of sound instructional design practice.  For example, Skype is an available technology that could greatly impact distance learning.  In the context of Moore's theory, Skype can greatly improve two-way communication in distance learning, and it serves the needs of learners who need face-to-face interaction with instructors and students.  However, if Skype were to be integrated in earnest into the  Walden experience, these same improvements may not be realized; I know they wouldn't be by me.  First, the two-way communication provided by Skype eliminates the asynchronous element of the Walden experience.  If I have to sit in front of a computer screen for two hours to attend a lecture, how is that any different that sitting in a classroom?  Also, two-way communication is served very well on the threaded discussion boards.  Who says that two-way communication must be synchronous and face-to-face?  In this example, employment of this available technology would not be rooted in sound instructional design practice.  The idea of Walden's asynchronous education is to make education available to busy, working professionals.  Introduction of a synchronous communication medium would violate the core design strategy of Walden's programs.
 
Consult the following Mind Map for a look at my personal take on the structure of distance learning:
 

 
Reference:
 
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Blog Dedux: Back To The Ol' Stompin' Grounds

When I created this blog in EDUC 6115, I had a hard time imagining ever using it again once the class ended.  So, upon looking at the first week's assignments in EDUC 6135 today, I was surprised to see that we'd be working with blogs again, and that use of a previously created blog was encouraged.  It's always nice to revisit the old neighborhood, so to speak, and it makes it even more enjoyable when that visit is for a purpose.  Welcome to my blog!  I look forward to engaging in future learning experiences here with all of you in the near future.