A Distance Learning Scenario...

Our latest blog assignment in my Distance Learning course was to select a real-world example, which described a unique distance learning technology challenge.  Each student in the class was charged with determining the needs and requirements of the learning context presented, and which technologies could provide solutions in each situation.  I chose the following scenario since this scenario represented a possible problem that might arise for me as an Instructional Designer:

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, I have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices.  As part of the training,  I was advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information,  in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

Wikis

For this scenario, the training department would be assigned to join a Wiki, where everyone would be able to keep in touch and share their online training ideas, problems and  learning experiences, at different times and locations.  I would like to suggest PBWorks.com (http://pbworks.com).  PBWorks.com is a free website that offers a host of online collaboration options for employees. Staff members will be able to document training experiences, upload, download, share documents, screen shots, and keep an ongoing collaboration by logging into the website and using their chosen password. When changes are made, they are documented by PBWorks and automatically emailed to each subscriber keeping everyone in touch with what is happening in their training project.  The site offers excellent project management, and can be used from the computer, Ipad, or mobile telephones.

There are many available Wikis for business to utilize for distance learning training purposes. Wikis help organizations collaborate to share knowledge, give feedback on training, and enhance learning among employees.  Sony Electronics uses SharePoint, a Wiki to improve communication across different sites throughout the globe. The Business Applications Manager wanted to increase communication between the sites and prevent each location from operating independently, without communication. Before using a Wiki, the Sony Manager says he was receiving up 300 emails a day.  Problems were not solved immediately, because it took unnecessary time to get to the original email to view the components of the problem.

Sony also uses the collaboration tool to help attract new young employees.  Whitmoyer says  "Young employees are very excited about social computing because they know they can use it to easily connect with people, at home and at work" (Microsoft Office 2010).

Blogs

An online blog can be used for the purpose of collaborating employees in training also.  I like WordPress (http://wordpress.com), because it has many available options for employee collaboration. This free blog offers assistance 24 hours a day to those who may need it, and has a support page with a variety of self help topics. WordPress can import an existing blog from another source, if needed, in case the employee has something they want to share from another source.  Web pages with links can be created on the sidebar where the employee can provide links to important documents and images for other staff members to view.  Another option is to create a custom home page, which would host screen captures and documents to share with staff members.  WordPress is a secure site that does not permit scam, and is enjoyable to use, while providing an array of options for trainers and trainees.  The employee can utilize this site any time they want to, from any location and by utilizing the electronic device of their choice. 

Online blogs are a great way to train employees on organizational issues.  People can log in at their convenience, and chosen location from a multitude of electronic devices. Blogging gives people the opportunity to collaborate with other employees by sharing, learning and teaching. Many blogs are able to host most electronic forms of communication such as hyperlinks to documents, videos, and screen shots making them ideal for training.  TopRank.com (www.toprank.com) is a blogging website that trains people who are interested in operating small business how to be successful.  The site covers a variety of  topics on marketing  issues geared toward small business success. The free site is easy and fun to read and solicits comments from readers. TopRank is an impressive example of how people collaborate at their convenience on selected topics.

Media Sharing Sites

Joinme.com (https://join.me)  is an instant screen sharing site that could be used when staff members are having technical problems. The users can share screens to help each other with technical problems, questions and training project ideas.  The Joinme site would be easy for the IT staff to intervene because of the screen sharing,  if  necessary.  This open source  meeting site also supports internet calling, chat, audio, presenter swap, scheduling and the ability to send files when needed. The free site enables 250 users to join.  All users have the ability to speak to any staff member in another location when he needs to.  Joinme appears to be a simple website to use with endless possibilities that would enable all six of the regional offices to collaborate on training issues regardless of time, space or geographic location.

Screen sharing is becoming increasingly commonplace.  Screen sharing makes it possible for another user to share or control the other user's screen.  This technique is useful for online meetings, chats, trouble shooting, and telecommuting.  Screen sharing would be a great tool to use when training an employee on a process.  A demonstration could be given showing the employees the steps in the process making it easier to teach from a distance, rather than being present. The demonstration can be recorded, and the video can be viewed at the employee's convenience.  Arrangements can be made to use the audio component, if necessary, allowing the instructor to make clarifications if needed.  With today's modern technology,  it is amazing what we can do at a distance, enabling people to be present with technology. 

Any of these technologies, and many more that were not referenced to, can be used for adult training in organizational settings, removing time, space, and geography.  When selecting the type of technology that will be used for online instruction, four important steps must be considered:

1. Assess available instructional technologies.

  a. choose either instructional or telecommunications technology.

2. Determine the learning outcomes.

 a. observable, measurable behaviors that are a consequence of online instruction.

3. Identify learning experiences and match each to the most appropriate available technology.
4. Preparing the learning experiences for online delivery. (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright & Zvacek 2012)

 References:

A. Zeckman. (2012, March 16).  TopRank: Online Marketing Blog. Retrieved from http://www.toprankblog.com/

Microsoft Office. (2010).  Boosting collaboration with wikis, blogs, my sites, rating, and tags. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-server-help/boosting-collaboration-with-wikis-blogs-my-sites-ratings-and-tags-HA101889364.aspx#_Toc278127828.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., and Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Distance Learning

Defining distance learning...

The definition of Distance Learning is defined as institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated from the instructor, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek 2012).

My decision to participate in distance learning...

I attended one of the top universities in my state before enrolling at Walden University. I attended class for three hours, twice a week, after work, barely keeping my eyes open and my mind from wandering to the confines of my bedroom. Rote memorization played a huge part of my past educational experience, as hardly anything was retained after the homework assignment had been fulfilled.

Previously, like many other people, I thought that persons who participated in distance learning were lazy. I did not believe a degree from a distance learning program would hold as much weight as one from a brick and mortar school.  After I realized that I would benefit from returning to college, I began a long investigation of distance learning education compared to attending another brick and mortar school.  I  finally chose to pursue higher learning at a university that offered distance learning in the program that I was interested in.  William Rainey Harper, who concluded through his correspondence study that the students who prepared lessons in the correspondence school knew more of the subject in those lessons, and knew it better, than the student who had covered the same ground in the classroom. (Simonson,  et al.  2012).

Currently, as a non-traditional baby-boomer student attending an online university, I find that distance learning serves all of my characteristics and learning needs well. I notice that presently I am able to learn more effectively. I accredit this fact to being able to learn at my convenience and the ability to learn, anywhere, with whichever electronic device that I prefer.  In the future, I predict that many students and employees will learn many subjects with their favorite  2.0 web tool.  Being able to learn at their convenience from any location, or participate globally with others in the same learning community or from the same corporation that one works for will become common-place.  How much better can learning be?

A distance learning timeline...

Distance learning has evolved a long way from its inception in the 1800s when learning took place via newspapers. The rise of correspondence schools in the late 1800s allowed students to take courses via mail, when it was encouraged for women to study at home. In 1922, distance learning courses were offered via radio broadcast, and in 1934 television broadcasted distance learning which remained popular until 1964. Who would think that the telephone could be used to learn? In 1965, the University of Wisconsin initiated distance education for its physician students via the telephone. 1975 introduced distance learning courses using video tapes to distribute learning materials. The internet gave way to the first online courses using proprietary software for (DOS) in1983. (Simonson, n.d.)

By 1989, distance learning programs became available in two-thirds of U.S. states. 1993 brought virtual and completely online schools in the distance learning field for educators and learners alike. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become mainstream distance learning environments with emerging standards regulating the distance learning environment. Today, in 2012, there are many LMS, CMS (Content Management Systems) virtual, and distance learning educational facilities in existence. These entities exist to teach any subject that we desire to learn in K-12 or in higher learning institutions.

Distance learning in the future...

As Web 2.0 technology hosts numerous avenues for distance learning to be globally successful, online learning communities will become larger including people from distant global places who link with each other through blogs, wikis, social media, audio, podcasting, RSS syndication, data mash-ups and multi-media sharing. Students and trainees will expand learning experiences as they communicate with people from around the world who join distance learning communities in educational and organizational work place settings.

References:

Simonson, M. (n.d.). [video webcast] “Distance Education: the next generation” retrieved from
      http://www.waldenu.edu

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a
       distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.