Technology Learning » Advent

24/7 Learning vs 24/7 Teaching

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 15:07:52 +0000

We keep hearing about how wonderful it will be when students can learn 24/7, thanks to the advent or at least the dissemination of virtual learning environments, learning platforms, or whatever other name you wish to give them.

But what does this really mean, and what pressures does it place on teachers?

What does 24/7 learning mean?

The answer, to be precise, is nothing at all, on the simple grounds that we always have learnt 24/7 from the moment we appeared on the planet. After all, even when you’re sleeping, your brain is still doing data processing. In other words, the term is a misnomer: what it should really be is 24/7 access.

Now, you may think that this is unduly pedantic, but it is, I believe, an important point to make. I was one of the trainers on a course for headteachers (principals) recently, and one of the headteachers said something along the lines of: “Why should we expect children to learn 24/7? Aren’t they allowed to be children?”

If you take the view that children are always learning in some form or other, the question ceases to have meaning, or at least the impression of systems being set up solely to ensure that children never have a break from formal schooling is dispelled.

The idea of being able to enjoy – and I do mean enjoy – 24/7 access is really an idea about choice. If you know that you can check what your homework is at 6 am or 10 pm (parents willing, or unknowing, of course!), then the idea of what we might call a personalised learning style starts to become a reality. This, too, is an important idea, and not merely clever wording. Educationalists often talk about individual learning styles, and personalised learning, but they do not put the two together. Having access 24/7 enables you to find, and then conform to, your on personalised learning style or, if you like, personalised learning pattern.

For example, I do my most creative work in the morning or late at night. The afternoon is my low point, and so to optimise the use of my time I reserve the afternoons for the things that don’t require much creativity: shopping, paying bills, answering routine emails and so on. I am aided in this by the fact that I have 24/7 access to most of the resources I need in order to do my work.

The benefits of 24/7 access can – and should – be extended to parents also. Parents should be able to see what homework their child has been set, and how s/he is doing in tests, any time they like. We now live in an age where the fact that a parent or carer is working shift work, and can therefore rarely attend a parents’ evening to meet his child’s teachers to discuss her work, should not matter as much as it used to. In fact, the technology is there to enable parents 24/7 access to assignments and marks, and it is becoming harder and harder for schools to bury their heads in the sand and try to carry on business as usual as if nothing has changed. The fact that many parents do not want or cannot have 24/7 access is not in itself an excuse for not making the facility available.

However, there are always at least two sides to every issue, and in the case of 24/7 access there are several points that need to be addressed if teachers are not to feel under immense pressure to be available 24/7.

• It should be axiomatic that 24/7 student access should not mean 24/7 teacher availability. Everyone knows this, but it isn’t said – certainly not by those who have a vested interest in teachers being available 24/7 to meet students’ and parents’ demands!

• If assignments, students’ grades, lesson plans, worksheets and so on are to be placed on the web to be accessible 24/7, a system must first be put into place to make this happen that does not rely on teachers physically uploading the materials or data and fiddling with access rights. These jobs should be undertaken by administrative staff or network technicians. Certainly in the UK, teachers now have the right to refuse to undertake such work.

• It’s a good idea – in fact, virtually essential – for lesson plans and materials to be created and uploaded well in advance of when the teacher thinks they will be required. That really means right at the start of the school year. For that to happen, teachers must be given the time to do it. This could be achieved by teachers being given a week at the start of the term or semester before the students return to school after the summer break, ie have the students come in a week later. Alternatively, ask teachers to come in a week early – and pay them overtime to do so. And make sure that there is 24/7 access so that those teachers who prefer to work at 3 am on their materials can do so.

• Students and parents need to have their expectations managed. To be specific, they need to know that the fact that they can submit their assignment at 2am on Sunday morning, or send a message to Mrs Jenkins at 8pm on Friday night, does not entitle them to a reply any faster than would have been the case had they done those things during normal school hours. In other words, the customer-focus nature of 24/7 access is to do with convenience for the customer; it does not bestow the right to insist on some version of a 24/7 call-out system. After all, education is important, but it hardly fits into the category of emergency service!

There is no doubt that 24/7 access has many benefits, but the underlying systems must be planned and managed properly, and customers’ expectations managed wisely.

By: Terry Freedman

Distance Learning

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 10:40:19 +0000

When you go to the movies there are several things that you expect: big screen, comfortable seats, great sound system, quality movie etc. The relationship between hardware and software help in creating a memorable movie-going experience. Conversely, when students go to school, there are certain things a student expects to find. These include, seats, tables, books, a teacher and the classroom itself. All of these things together help to create what we have come to know as the classroom learning experience. Recently the advent of online learning has begun to introduce a new concept in how we learn. Through this technology students no longer have to leave their homes to attend classes.

Many universities have begun to use these online learning techniques to assist students who may have some trouble in attending classes on campus or for those who would just rather stay at home. These classes typically cost more than the regular ones and require the students to attend online forums, and use the Internet extensively during the curriculum. Though there have been a large number of students that have embraced this opportunity, standardizing this type of online learning would be rather difficult. There would be serious obstacles to overcome.

Universities, like all other organizations are in it for the money. This money is made not only in the form of tuition paid by students, but also from many forms of ancillary revenues. This can be anything from textbook sales, to group events, to merchandise with university logos to sporting event tickets. To standardize Distance or online learning would be practically synonymous to the ending of college campuses, as we know them. Who needs a campus when there is no need to attend class? Why have a registration building if it is done online?

The standardization of this technique would not only affect the universities but also many others. No longer would there need to be high paid professors with years of experience. They could be replaced with webmasters that follow a particular curriculum and pass on the necessary information. Authors would not have to write textbooks and publishers would not have to publish them for that matter.

Aside from all the people who would be against this standardization, there are many other things that would have to be done to assist in the process. For example there would have to be a standard speed of connection that students would be required to have. There would have to be new processes designed to make online exams easy to take, as well as security measures designed for the passing of information and the downloading of necessary things for all students.

The school itself would really no longer play any role in the educational process. A benefit to online learning would be that universities would not have to spend any more money on the beautification of campuses, or the construction of new buildings or improvements to existing classrooms. Students would no longer be drawn to a particular University because of its campus or campus life, but for the quality of the education that was being provided. That quality though would come into serious question.

With students taking courses online there would be many people concerned with the level of education being provided. How can we compare taking courses online with being taught by high quality professors with years of experience in what they have been teaching? Many people would begin to question whether or not it would matter what school you were associated with. Would there be much of a difference if you took an online course from FIU or from Harvard? Probably not. In fact the standardization of distance learning would probably create an entire new job position. The online professor. With the ease that Internet allows us to post information and make websites it is not far fetched that one teacher could work for multiple universities, or even offer the same classes without the sanctioning of a major school.

People fear that the standardization of this process would seriously dilute the quality of the education that the students would be receiving. Professors would have no real way of knowing if the student taking the class is actually the one taking that online exam, or whether or not the students are cheating. The value of an institutions history of heritage wouldn’t really matter anymore. If online learning was the standard many people doubt that students would be willing to pay more money to take online classes offered by one school over another. Universities would probably not be the only institutions that would be affected by this change. High schools and preparatory schools would have to adapt to this standard and probably begin offering online classes as well. How could you properly prepare students for college if you were not providing a similar environment to what they will be exposed to?

How about Collegiate sports? What sports? How could there be athletic teams associated with an institution if there were no campus? Would students really have pride in a team if they had no association with their school other than the keyboard they use on their pc?

If we think school is expensive now, imagine how much tuition might go up. Now schools would have to somehow cover the cost of keeping up with ever-changing technology, expensive servers and high speed Internet connections. Though the idea of online learning may sound like a convenient thing, we do not believe we will ever see it as the standard mode of education. We do believe that it will play a role in education in the near future but never as a replacement for the everyday campus environment. There are to many things and too many people that would be affected in a negative light by ending the on campus educational procedure. While the Internet is a great way to do research, have online meetings send and receive small pieces of information, it will never be able to fully recreate the educational experience produced by physically attending a university class.

By: Mathew Simond

Distance Learning Online – Internet Helps You To Study At Home

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:53:53 +0000

Distance learning online is one more advantage that modern technology has offered us for learning at home. if you are new to this concept then you will be surprised to know that a lot of distance learning courses are available in cyberspace. It is up to you only to find a suitable distance learning college and start getting distance education.

Change In Public Opinion

Few years back, before the advent of Internet, it was not possible to even think of distance learning online as an alternative method of acquiring required skills. In 1990s, when these online classes were first launched, many people did not take them seriously. However, today you will find a dramatic change in the public opinion because of many advantages associated with it.

If you are a person who do not like crowds, online education could be the right solution for you. Besides, you also have the freedom of learning at your own pace without any kind of pressure. This is very good for working people as they can carry out their studies while performing their duties also.

Distance learning online allows you to get education from an institute located anywhere in the world. You do not have to move from your place to get required degree. Most of the online colleges do not impose any kind of residency restrictions. You have the facility of choosing a college based in France, if you are interested in learning French art. So, physical distance is no more a hurdle as far as attaining knowledge is concerned.

By: Rishabh Sogani

Work Based Learning in the Virtual Learning Environment

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:53:30 +0000

Studying for an online degree whilst staying in your job is a great idea, and has a range of benefits. The essence of work based learning is that you can either study for a course related to your work, or a subject that can help you change career or enhance your existing career. Work based learning can improve what you do in your job and get you important qualifications to give you more choice and direction in your profession.

Since colleges and learning providers began to change their philosophies on how students study, and importantly where, the concept of work based learning has become the norm for many students returning to education.

The advent and innovation of the Virtual Learning Environment – an all in one online format for getting the most out of studying for online degrees and flexible or distance learning – has meant more students can now study around their work and family commitments.

Work based learning is a specific strand of distance learning, in that it is geared especially for students who need to learn and combine their learning with their jobs.

Study and learning activities are integrated within their jobs, and often the online course will be tailored exclusively, with input from the employer, to make sure the syllabus relates to their work activities and schedule.

This makes it easier for the employer to see the direct benefits of their staff who are studying for a degree online in their own time, and the impact on their work. Often an employer will allow students on work based learning some work time to complete their studies. As the student on work based learning will usually disseminate and apply their new skills and knowledge in the work place, giving the employee time off for work based learning is a sensible investment for companies.

Learning while working but with the aim of changing jobs outside your existing organisation is often better arranged solely by the student, as it is less likely the employer will find it to be of use when the work based learner aims to leave the company. Even so, an online management course or distance learning business degree online will usually have an immediate positive impact on the student back at work.

Colleges that offer work based learning are not simply offering courses for students while they work, but online degrees or foundation degrees online that will be integrated with their job. Such is the nature of work based learning that the ongoing studying can assist the job, and the ongoing job can assist with the studying. Both activities can be dependent on each other, while the student has the opportunity to introduce new skills and approaches to their work right there and then.

Work based learning is about making education relevant to the work place, while teachers have experience in the industries of their students, giving them practical understanding of the work of the students. Thanks to web technologies, work based learning is increasingly convenient, accessible and affordable.

By: Sarah Maple

Benefits of Using Elearning Solutions in Training Dispersed Workforce

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:58:42 +0000

Outsourcing business functions has been a common practice among companies of different sizes from small enterprises to those belonging to the Fortune 50 club. While this move could really improve the operations of companies, it could also bring some disadvantages when it comes to employee training and development. Since a company’s workforce is dispersed, the distance and time difference make streamlining the training approach and overall instruction methods more challenging for the training department. Global barriers such as language and culture could also be a caveat in training outsourced employees. These are just some of the problems that companies have to face in training workforce from different parts of the world. Fortunately, the advent of high technology learning has become so innovative that issues on distance and even cultural differences can already be solved.

With the rise of elearning solutions, companies these days need not worry about harnessing the skills of their employees even if they are dispersed in different parts of the world.

Accessibility

Through these technology-based course authoring tools, learning can take place virtually anywhere and anytime. No matter which part of the globe your employees are or what time zone they are under, there is still the possibility of conducting trainings and development courses since these technology based lessons can be done online. This makes it even more accessible for your workforce abroad.

Caters to Different Learning Needs and Types of Learners

Cultural and language barriers can contribute to the diversity of learning needs in a training scenario and elearning has been developed to meet this challenge. This technology-based mode of learning can be adjusted to match the learning styles and needs of a company’s dispersed staff, hence being more assured of the success of training sessions.

Solution to Affective Learning Issues

Learning is not only about cognition. The affective domain or the emotional and psychological aspect of learning also plays a major role in fossilizing knowledge and information among trainees. It is not enough that training be cognitively enticing for the learners. According to studies, learners absorb knowledge and skills better when they do not feel threatened by the learning environment or setup. These threats called affective filters like stress, fear of failure and poor motivation in learners usually present in conventional instruction can make instruction ineffective. Through this innovative training delivery, these affective filters can be eliminated since training modules are developed to match specific learning styles and needs. Learners can pace their own learning curve. This raises a trainee’s confidence and motivation to participate and actually absorb key information they need to improve their operation and productivity.

Cost-Effectiveness

Most companies turn to outsourcing skills for the sake of cost effectiveness and adapting an innovative online-based training will help businesses save in training costs and resources. They can also ensure a better training schedule that does not require interruption in regular working routines of remote staff and employees.

Improved Return on Investment.

Through the cutting edge technology elearning solutions, companies can accelerate and improve the learning curve of their employees in different parts of the country or the world. This will give companies the competitive edge, increased employee utilization and productivity, and faster ROI.

By: Don Robert