ETC677 Spring 2009

Common Question III: Most of people probably would agree that all instructions should have integrated online (distributed learning) technology. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Please at least provide three reasons with good literatures to support your arguments.

I am going to play the devils advocate here and disagree. I do think that in some situations integrated online technology can be utilized to create a better learning enviroment. However I do not think that it is needed in all instructions. I feel that some times adding this distributed learning could take away from the content learning, because then instructors are not focused on what they are teaching so much as the tool they are using to teach it. This is discussed inds the Assessment portion of Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning by: Ana DiStefano, Kjell Erik Rudestam, and Robert Jay Silverman. The Encyclopedia also discusses briefly in the section on cognitive development another possible issue with distributed learning. The issue is that of isolation that distributed learning can create and how this can affect cognitive development. But as the Encyclopedia says long term results are not known because of the relative newness of distributed learning. I have taken many traditional classes that I feel were just fine without the added element that distributed learning brings. I think in some of those classes the teachers could not have handled a distributed learning element so it would not have been effective, if anything it would have taken away from the class, in fact I have taken some classes where this happend as well and the distributed learning took away from the content. Jeanette

Common Question III: Most of people probably would agree that all instructions should have integrated online (distributed learning) technology. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Please at least provide three reasons with good literatures to support your arguments.

We are going to play the devils advocate here and disagree. I do think that in some situations integrated online technology can be utilized to create a better learning enviroment. However I do not think that it is needed in all instructions. I feel that some times adding this distributed learning could take away from the content learning, because then instructors are not focused on what they are teaching so much as the tool they are using to teach it. This is discussed inds the Assessment portion of Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning by: Ana DiStefano, Kjell Erik Rudestam, and Robert Jay Silverman. The Encyclopedia also discusses briefly in the section on cognitive development another possible issue with distributed learning. The issue is that of isolation that distributed learning can create and how this can affect cognitive development. But as the Encyclopedia says long term results are not known because of the relative newness of distributed learning. I have taken many traditional classes that I feel were just fine without the added element that distributed learning brings. I think in some of those classes the teachers could not have handled a distributed learning element so it would not have been effective, if anything it would have taken away from the class, in fact I have taken some classes where this happend as well and the distributed learning took away from the content.

Thanks for the Wordle art. Based on your wordle art, students are used more frequently than learners. Please justify why? Are studetns the sanme as learners? If yes, why. If not, why not?

Thanks for the Wordle art! Based on this visual components, tools appear to be an important componenets in yoru paper. Please justify what the tools are and why they are critical?

Wetpaint Wiki was most effective when used with other synchronous communcation tools such as Elluminate. Although it did help us organize meeting notes, meeting times,etc, if the individuals in the group didnt check it often, it wasnt very useful. I think Wetpaint is more effective when you have consistent communication utilizing tool with active users. On the other hand, as far as keeping individuals abreast of the group activities and comments on specific topics and assignments, it did great.

Mary, Great thoughts! It sounds like to use wiki tools effectively, ones must develop the communication styles that connect them to the communication channels. Correct!

Hi Professor, Yes Wiki tools are quite useful and I do plan to incorporate them into the Unit Plan, and I think one of the many ways to make sure students are utilizing the tools are to grade them on their contributions. In order for this to happen though, an assignment that would be further enhanced through wiki would have to be created that would require extensive usage of the wiki ( similar to the treatise paper) and as the discussant was being graded, it would be used in a similar manner. * this sounds neat as I write, but I wonder how difficult it would be to implement?* ..lol! Thanks Professor! :)

I think the five most critical elements of distributed learning are the following: Effective Collaboration Integration of Creativity with guided expectations Effective Communication Tools Incorporation of Web 2.0 tools for indepth learning Involved Moderators/Instructors to Guide Learning

It is in here Tonya:)