Teacher Education:Research Obligation and

Virtual Schools

Michael Simonson, Ph.D.Program Professor

Instructional Technology and Distance Education

Fischler School of EducationNova Southeastern University

North Miami Beach, FL

Remember Him?

www.nova.edu/~simsmich

It is happeningAgain! ThisReport sounds Great,But???

The Florida Virtual School

SoundsExciting, but?

Our Agenda

• Status of Distance Education today– Who is getting into DE

• Distance Education – What do we really mean?• Myths and misconceptions• A Research Agenda

Status of Distance Education

• Literature• Definitions• Status Reports – Sloan Consortium

Journals

The Future of Distance Education

The Future of Distance Education

Definition of Distance Education

Institution-based formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems/media are used to connect learners, resources and instructors (Simonson, 2009)Encyclopaedia Britannica’s Definition

Categories – Sloan-C

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education

“Learners, distant and local, should be provide equivalent learning

experiences in order for them to achieve similar learning outcomes”

Critical MassWhen an innovation “takes off on its own.”

Critical Mass

Myths and Distance Education

The term "myth" is often used colloquially to refer to a false story!

Teacher as Skeuomorph

Make Distance Classes as Close to Traditional Classes

as Possible

Nope!

Equivalency Theory of Distance Education

"The more equivalent the learning experiences of the distant learner are to the learning experiences of the traditional learner, the more equivalent are the learning outcomes."

Distance Education is Different

Nope

Distance Education will replace Traditional Education

Nope

Face to FaceInstruction

Distance DeliveredInstruction

Teaching

Categories

Learning About Social Networking: A Taxonomy

Level 1: Learning about social networks – definitions, history, background, and examples.

Level 2: Designing for social networks – profiling, blogging, wiki-ing, and friending.

Level 3: Studying social networks – ethics, uses, mis-uses, policing, supporting.

Level 4: Learning from and with social networks – social networks for teaching and learning, science, research, and theory building.

Distance Education has Little or No Research

Nope…Well?

Best Practices

• U-M-T Design Approach• Logical and Intuitive Organization• Multimedia Use to Present Content• High Quality Production Standards• Content-Rich DesignMultiple Options• Meaningful, Quick and Meaningful Interaction• Self Pacing Apparent• Continuous Evaluation and Revision

Indicators of Concern

• Dual tracks – distance learners and traditional• Dual populations• Dual evaluation systems• Standardized courses• Duplication of traditional courses

–Failure to apply Equivalency Theory• Poor Institutionalization• Many drop-outs• Many complaints

Indicators of Quality

• A clear mission statement• Faculty oversight and input• Support ~24/7• Clear plans for the future• Rigorous Evaluation

A Distance Education Research Agenda

The Plan• Evaluation Studies

• Comparison Studies (Sorry R. Clark)

• Multiple Variable Studies

• Prediction Studies

Researchable Topics• Theories – Relevance and

Appropriateness• Instructional Design• Assessment Strategies• Time Expectations –

teachers and students• Social Networking• Technology Needs

• Cost Analysis• Teaching Strategies• Administrative

Competencies• Selecting and Managing

Vendors• Organizational

Transformation• Student

Teaching/Certification