Exploring Online & Blended Modes of Distance Education

Provision in the African contextBrenda Mallinson

Launch: Study Report on Distance Education Provision 31 July 2014

Outline

Converging education provision environment

Exploring continua of additional modalities

Enhanced environment variables

Visual representation / positioning

Concluding Remarks

The emerging Networked School environment

Traditional School Connected School Networked School• Schools perceived as physical

sites of learning• Face-to-face instruction

regarded as the ‘norm’ - and distance education accepted as ‘second best’

• Schools as autonomous units, catering for all the needs of their students.

• Schools remain as physical sites of learning, with emerging models of connectivity between and among school sites.

• e-enabled opportunities for learning embraced in traditional settings.

• Schools as collaborating units, negotiating areas of collaboration.

• Networks of schools and learners – accepted models of differentiation between places to learn and sources of learning and instruction.

• Schools as nodes on a network – integrally connected as consumers and contributors.

• Ubiquitous presence complete integration of physical/virtual nature of school.

The Nature of a School

• Technology appropriated in an additive manner.

• Schools/teachers are the ones in charge of use.

• Online environments used for resource location – the ‘online encyclopaedia’

• Technology appropriated to create new learning and teaching opportunities.

• Student access and use a priority.

• Online learning environments appropriated for use as:o Intranets in schools:

student: resources /support & parent: portal.

o Extranets (e.g. LMS)

• Student appropriation of technology – input as to what, where, when, and how it is it used.

• Online environments initiated and/or managed by learners utilizing existing and emerging social networking.

The Nature of a School ---> Technology

Adapted from Wenmoth (2010)

Layer Examples & Notes

Institutional Strategy Size and shape influenced by online / blended / face-to-face / distance delivery mix, market opportunities and constraints

Programme / Band Design

Articulation between streams and phases;Ensure congruence and alignment and identify where Ed Tech can support this layer.

Curriculum Design Course design enabled by appropriate learning technologies

Learning Design Integrating educational technology effectively in lesson planning and teaching and learning interactions e.g. ALL course materials could be online, but assignments, assessment & activities can be on- or off-line

Teacher Prof Dev Seminars, workshops, conferences, show & tell, mentoring and training

Learner Digital Literacies Computer and information literacy

Learner Support Helpdesks, support documentation, application training; Guides; just-in-time support; planned learner/staff support - e.g. short 1-2 hr sessions;

Software Applications Institutional LMS, multimedia content, classroom response systems, simulations, interactive tutorials, communication tools, social media

Access Device Smartphone, tablets, laptops, PCs NB: If and how to provide? Personal and/or lab usage

Network Wired & wireless networks; refer to National/Provincial ICT plan: Infrastructure & access

Physical Classrooms, labs, social learning spaces, libraries; Refer to National/Provincial/District/School plan - ensure integration of all known Ed Tech needs.

Educational Technology Stack (adapted from Marquard, S. 2013)

Continuum of educational provision

From purely face-to-face (contact) tuition through to education solely at a distance.

As for face-to-face education, there are many variations of distance provision.

DE delivery using the WWWTypes of e-learning using the World Wide Web (WWW) are commonly referred to as:

web-supported, web-dependent, and fully online.

These can also be represented using a continuum:

An expanded definition of e-learning includes the use of ALL digital resources, systems, hardware devices, and electronic communication in the support of education

Moving to a second dimension

No digital support Digitally Supported Internet-supported Internet-dependent Fully online

OfflineOnline

Face to face (F2F) Mixed Mode Distance Education

On Campus Off campus

Spatial or geographic distribution of teachers and learners

Extent of ICT support

A

D

C

B

Fully Offline

Internet Supported

Internet Dependent

Fully Online

School-based Hybrid / Blended Remote

E

Digitally Supported

Mode of Provision O

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On

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B

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Characterising Modes of DeliveryStructural Aspects Teaching and Learning

Elements to be alignedPedagogical Approach

(Young & Chamberlin 2006)

Course Title / sub-discipline & level

Objectives Independent Learning(low level of mediation)

ranging to

Interactive Learning(high level of mediation)

Target Audience Course materials

Location of Target Audience Learning Support

Expected level of learning support required

Level of interaction / engagement

Balance of synchronous vs asynchronous engagement

Level of temporal flexibility

Size of Annual Enrolments Assessment & more …

Transactional Distance

• course structure• instructional dialogue• learner autonomy

Making the most of the changed environment

• Dimensions– Spatial separation (geographically distributed)– Determining extent of digital ICT support– Temporal (asynchronous & synchronous)

• Human Dimension – Establish online/offline presence – teachers & learners– Promote engagement & interaction – Define appropriate level of mediation– Class size - small virtual/physical groups

Course flow• Synchronous flow: students do all of their work at the same time

as everybody else. • Asynchronous flow: students do everything at their own pace and

have no deadlines to consider.

• *Semi-synchronous flow: students do some parts of the course at their own pace and do other parts of the course on a fixed schedule. – Instructors release course materials on a fixed schedule, student can work on it

anytime after– Live events, such as live Q&A sessions with the instructors, happen at a fixed date

and time. Students can also watch archived versions.– Assessments are due by a fixed deadline.

*Google CourseBuilder- https://code.google.com/p/course-builder/wiki/CourseFlow

Third dimension: level of interaction

Laurillard (2002) • meaningful learning requires active student[learner]

engagement including interactions between students and content, students and other students, students and faculty and, when appropriate, students and workplaces and/or communities

Issue of scalability

B

School-based

Concluding Remarks• Blended mode

– An infinite number of ways to blend

• Influencing factors– Learner demographics– Class size– Pedagogical approach

• Dimensions– Spatial separation (geographic)– Temporal (asynchronous & semi/synchronous)– Determining extent of digital support (ICTs)

Re-examine core

assumptions for the

changing environment

Final Thoughts• Preserve the integrity of the teaching and learning process

and environment by:– using ICT to support (not drive) teaching and learning

• Employ flexibility to ensure the ICT support is appropriate for:– the topic, level of study, student context– and the expertise of the teachers / tutors / learners

The way in which we use digital technology models particular values for our students and places particular kinds of demands both on them and on their teachers. Therefore, we need to make conscious choices to use suitable digital technologies in appropriate ways taking cognisance of both our learning purposes and the technology profile of our target learners and teachers.

Thank You

Brenda Mallinsonbrendam@saide.org.za

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