Best Practices Guide for DL

Best Practices Guide for DL

Distance learning has improved significantly over the past decade allow more interaction among learners and enhanced activities.

The following tips will help guide trainers convert classroom modules into successful online versions (Durrington et al, 2006).

Points for facilitators to remember:

      Ensure courses are highly interactive

      Be supportive and respectful

      Develop a discussion forum similar to questions and answers sessions that occur naturally in a face to face session

      Respond to student’s questions in a timely fashion

      Incorporate students names in correspondence as it helps personalize communication

      Establish criteria guidelines for discussion postings

      Develop content material that will generate student interactivity

      Consider incorporating student-moderated discussions to increase communication levels

      Keep group numbers small for discussion (6-7) to avoid overwhelming learners

      Be prepared in case technical problems occur (i.e. students can not access the material)

Some online activities to consider when converting classroom courses to online version (Simonson et al, 2009)

      Discussion forums

(See Example attached)

      Interactive study guide ( “a structured note taking system that leads the learner through a series of concept”, p.207)

Example-

XAMonline IntelliGuide.(2011). Interactive Study Guides for Teacher Certification.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2vWy1M3urg

      Podcasts

Example- K12 Handhelds(n.d.)

http://k12handhelds.com/podcastexamples.php

      Blog

Example- Piechnick (2011) How to set up a Blog, by using Wordpress.

http://websitesetupguide.com/basic/blog-wordpress.htm?gclid=CLulypWX0KoCFQPrKgodcT1ycA

      Videos

Example- Ask the Builder (2007). How to make a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zFePU1uvtc

      Virtual Learning

Example- EdHeads (2011). Virtual Hip Replacement Surgery.

 http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/index.shtml

References

Ask the Builder (2007). How to make a video. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zFePU1uvtc

EdHeads (2011). Virtual Hip Replacement Surgery. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from:

 http://www.edheads.org/activities/hip/index.shtml

Piechnick (2011) How to set up a Blog, by using Wordpress. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from:

http://websitesetupguide.com/basic/blog-wordpress.htm?gclid=CLulypWX0KoCFQPrKgodcT1ycA

K12 Handhelds(n.d.) Podcasting Examples. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from:

http://k12handhelds.com/podcastexamples.php

                               

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

XAMonline IntelliGuide.(2011). Interactive Study Guides for Teacher Certification. Retrieved August 14, 2011 from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2vWy1M3urg