designing instruction for distant learners marilyn hirth & jim russell
Post on 19-Dec-2015
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WHAT is Important?
WRITE down some of the things YOU think would be important when designing a course for distant learners.
Let’s share our ideas.
HOW to Start? PLAN!!
PLANNING is the key to success in a distance education environment.
Must know your objectives to determine HOW it can be conveyed visually.
Getting Ready To Teach
If time permits, consider sending students a WELCOME LETTER – Provide a student
information card that students mail back with information useful in designing the course.
Preliminary Information
Name of course & why needed
Identify the learners:– Age– Level of education– Reading ability– Cultural bkgrd.– Motivation for
learning
Other information:– Logistics– Number
Determine prerequisites, if any.
DEVELOP course Goals & Objectives
Instructional Design Process
Three interrelated components:– Objectives– Activities– Evaluation
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES EVALUATION
Educational Goals
Educational goals are broad, overall purposes or plans for a course.– Example - to make
effective presentations in front of a group.
WRITE down an educational goal for one of the courses you teach.
Objectives
Educational objectives are very specific statements of what students will be able to do upon completion of the instruction.
Example: After completing this course, you should be able to identify three types of essay questions.
WRITE an educational objective for a course you teach.
Activities
The student should be actively involved in learning the content and practicing the skills (behaviors) stated in the objectives.– Activities can take
place both in or out of the classroom.
– More on activities later....
Evaluation
Evaluation should match the objectives / goals for the course / lesson and it should be consistent /parallel to the activities.
It’s not appropriate to teach at one level and expect students to perform at a higher level on the evaluation.
Purposes of Evaluation
To measure student achievement To assess the entire instructional
process To determine student attitude toward
content and the instruction To diagnose teaching/ learning
problems.
Types of Evaluation - All Apply to Distance Education
Product construction
Attitude assessment
Paper-and-pencil tests
Group discussions Oral quizzes
Performance or demonstration by students
Games & simulations
Student projects Questionnaires /
surveys
How to Use Evaluation to Increase Learning
Give a quiz, test, or homework assignment early so that students become committed to your course.
Give frequent tests so that students keep up with the material.
Give a practice test so that students know what to expect.
Give students a checklist ahead of time showing how they will be evaluated when they do projects.
Evaluation to Increase Learning, cont.
Take class time to go over the correct answers when you hand tests back so students who miss a question can see how their answers differ from yours.
Evaluation of the Instructional Process
Self-reflection A videotape or
audiotape Comments from
colleagues who attended or viewed the presentation
Student performance during the lesson
Student performance on tests and projects.
Student comments on evaluation forms.
Planning - The Key to Success!!
All of the components of instructional design need to be organized and planned so that your lesson is a huge success.
The Planning Spreadsheet will help you accomplish this for each class session you teach.
The Planning SpreadsheetObjectives Presenters Visuals Method/
ActivitySupportMaterials
Est. TimeRequired
SystemOp.Cues
To DoList
Evaluation
The SpreadsheetColumns 1 & 2
Objectives: What are the key points, tasks. – Outline what you will
teach.
– Concentrate on content and not delivery mode
– Content should directly relate to course objectives
Presenters– Include guest
speakers to add interest & a change element.
WHO are some experts you might invite?
– What can your students present?
– What should you present?
Column 3 - Visuals
THINK visually– HOW can you
SHOW the information instead of tell it?
Media may need to be reformatted for TV.
Method/Activity - Column 4
Evaluation can be built into many of these activities
Common choices are:– Lecture– Interview– Panel discussion
– Physical or visual demonstration
– Role play– Case study– Brainstorming– Silent reading– Reading aloud– Quiz
Method/Activity, cont.
– Other written exercise
– On-line discussion– Off-line discussion
THINK about other possible activities that you might use. in your class.– WRITE them down.
What Else Should be Considered in Planning?
Reserve time for INTERACTION!!!– Minimum of 30% of
class time for discussion & activities among students.
An hour class = 40 minutes of content, 20 minutes interaction.
Selecting Methods & Activities
Ask two important questions:– Can the learner do
this instead of me? If they can do it, is
there a creative way for them to participate?
– What is the learner doing now?
– There should be a balance of change elements:
Listening, writing, speaking, reading, and doing!
3 Important Points to Remember
Don’t just lecture. Select many of the
same instructional methods you use in the classroom.
Be creative.... Explore.... Experiment....
Columns 5 & 6
Support Materials– List anything that is
going to be needed at the learner sites during class.
– Handouts, quizzes, worksheets, etc.
Estimated Time Required– How long will it
take to deliver the content topic?
– If you never taught the course before, practice and time.
Columns 7 & 8
System operation cues - prompts to tell you what to do with equipment.
To Do List - tasks that must be done before you can teach.
Evaluation - Column 9
You must EVALUATE your plan. Does it pass the following tests:– Methods vary and
involve student physically & mentally
– Change type of activity every 10-15 min..
– No lecture lasts more than 10 min. w/o a change element.
– A balance between on-line and off-line activities
– Sufficient time allowed to complete tasks.
– Interaction is at least 30%
Evaluation, cont.
– All visuals formatted to the video medium.
– Students are asked to read, write, listen & speak at some point.
– Does the leaner have an opportunity to play a leading role in the lesson?
Course Management
Course management is important for every course, but some would say more important in a distance education course.
Some things that happen “naturally” in face-to-face course must be carefully planned for & deliberately implemented in distance education courses.
Course Management Concerns
Communication (student-teacher contact)– Instructor makes
deliberate attempts to communicate with all students at distant site
– Students need to know when and how it is appropriate to ask questions.
– Outside of class instructor must be accessible by phone and/or e-mail
Course Management, cont.
Course Policies & Procedures– Students need to be
informed verbally & in writing of your course policies.
– The policies should be in the syllabus & presented verbally early in the class.
Course Management, cont.
Support Staff– Stay in touch with
personnel at remote sites (weekly) to make sure equipment is operating properly, materials are arriving in a timely manner , & students are behaving appropriately.
– Instructors, site coordinators, & technicians should meet after each class & discuss how class went, address problems that arose, agree on instructional changes & plan the procedures for the next class.
Course Management, cont.
PLAN AHEAD!! - Use the Planning Spreadsheet!!– With distance
education you MUST be prepared & plan ahead.
– Must allow time for handouts to be delivered to and/or reproduced at remote site.
– Have a back-up plan if the transmission fails.
– Plan for ALL possible problems
– Remember Murphy’s Law...and O’Toole said that Murphy was an optimist - - this is particularly true with distance education!!
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