Question

Consider the 10-minute lecture that you developed in the previous module. How would you revise this if delivering the content via distance methods? How would you promote student interaction. Would the evaluation methods differ?

Answer 1

Distance learning or distance education and distributed learning is the process of delivery of instruction from one location to another, which means the teaching takes place in one location and the learning takes place in one location and the learning takes place at another location.

The process utilizes a local network or the internet for the delivery of content and interaction between students and teachers as well as content.

The courses and programs offered by these institutions are usually in the form of Web-based or Web-enhanced courses.

It is a cost-efficient and effective way for the business to keep their employee up to date.

In distance education, there is also a great need to combine the specialties of the different members of a team to achieve the final product -quality distance study materials for guided self-study.

The administrators work closely with technical and support service personnel, ensuring that technological resources are effectively deployed to further the institution's academic mission. Most importantly, they main an academic focus, realizing that meeting the instructional needs of distant students in their ultimate responsibility.

Effective distance learning is making sure that both students and instructors become comfortable with technology, and that courses are designed to work within the medium

$\rightarrow$Revise:

*Assess the amount of content that can be effectively delivered in the course.

*The teachers have to, be aware that student participants will have different learning styles.

*Avoid long lectures and presentation of content should be presented with discussions and student-centered exercises.

*Develop strategies for reinforcement, review, repetition, and remediation

*Develop one-on-one phone discussions and electronic mail communication can be effective in reviewing.

$\rightarrow$ Interaction

Using effective interaction and feedback strategies will enable the instructor to identify and meet individual student needs thus improve the course components.

*Learners value timely feedback regarding course assignments, exams, and projects

*Interaction should be foster by involvement in small learning groups. The groups foster the feeling that if help is needed it is readily available.

*The use of technologies such as fax machines, computers and telephones can also provide learner support and interaction opportunities.

*Use pre-class study questions encourage critical thinking and informed participation.

*Require students to contact and interact among themselves via, electronic mail.

Integrate a variety of delivery systems for interaction and feedback, including one-on-one and conference calls, fax, email, video, and computer conferencing.

*If possible contact each student every week.

*Have students keep a journal of their thoughts and ideas regarding the course content as well as their individual progress and other concerns.

*Call on individual students to ensure that all participants have ample opportunity to interact.

*Make detailed comments on written assignments, referring to additional sources for supplementary information.

$\rightarrow$Evaluation:

*Make use of follow-up during the course

*Alternate between instruction and interaction

*Go ahead and ask for suggestions and improvement

*Place open-ended questions after quick answer questions. This helps the students built-in thinking time.

*Draft and revise questions, and change if necessary.

*On summative evaluation, assure anonymity.

*Withhold judgemental responses and establish a rapport by being interested and supportive.

*Adapt to the student in a degree of formality and pace of communication.

*Use evaluation as a method for understanding teaching and learning.

*Try to get both positive and negative feedback. It is important not only to know what is not working but also know what is working.