E-Learning - lets start from the beginning

14 August, 2003

My message is simple.

People seem to think that there are only two types of teaching going on at the moment.: -

Plain old boring "chalk-and talk" lectures which somehow don't cut it anymore with today's learners.
And "online learning" with all sorts of flashy graphics and cool tools.

It seems the teaching world is divided between these two camps and that somehow you are "deficient" if you are not delivering everything online.

But this isn't true.

People forget about the advantages of face-to-face teaching. After all its : -

Cheap
Requires minimal technology.
Is completely dynamic and interactive (depending on the teacher of course!)
Is immediate in its feedback.
Allows instant answers to questions from students.
Can happen in a variety of settings and contexts.
It's easier to develop a sense of community in the classroom.

Online learning however, can produce these advantages: -

Provide flexibility for the student.
The student can choose when and where they will do their learning.
The student can have access to the resources they require.
The students build other technology based skills while they do their online learning.

Of course there are disadvantages to both type of learning (online and classroom based) but rather than choosing one mode of teaching or the other wouldn't it be great to use the best of both these forms of teaching?

Of course this idea is not really new; just do a Google search on terms like "blended learning or "mixed-mode teaching" and you will find lots of interesting articles on this concept.

I think it is all too easy to get dazzled by the marketing hype and soon you start getting into the mind-set that you need the latest web page editor, the latest learning management system and the latest virtual learning environment in order to provide a meaningful learning experience.

But in reality, simple everyday tools like Microsoft word, a floppy disk or a CD burner is all you need to try out some online or flexible learning techniques.

How about these ideas to start on the road to online learning and flexible delivery?

Publish your lecture notes online or on floppy disk - this way your students can get access to them at home, at work, or even load them into their PDA so they can read them on the bus.

Get your students email addresses - you can then send them late breaking information, lecture notes via email, you could even subscribe them to a mailing list for your subject and develop discussions in between class-times. You can even answer student's questions via email.

Start collating your resources - if you start indexing and collating the resources you develop, you make it easier for yourself to find those resources at a later date. Instead of having to completely re-write a student handout or lecture presentation you can speed up this process by cutting and pasting from previous work you have done. If you share this resource with other lecturers in your team, they can do the same with their resources. And before you know it you have a system of creating and using re-usable learning objects. (do a Google search on that term!)

Extend your classroom presentation to web resources. - don't do Internet searching for your students, get them to find stuff. Find out how to put together a "Webquest" (again use Google to find excellent resources on developing a way to allow your students to search for resources on the web with them getting distracted or going off on an unwanted tangent.)

Use Acrobat to copy websites - if you have remote students or students that don't have Internet access use this tool to copy a website into a single PDF document. You can then burn it to CD.

Add expert opinion to your presentations - don't just take my word for it. Add weight to your presentations by referring to online papers and readings from experts in the field.

See: http://www.xmlw.ie/events/edtech2003_onlinecontent.pdf

Wrap up!

I hope this article has made you stop and think about how you as a "teacher at the coalface" can try some of these easy-to-do flexible learning / online learning ideas.

If you want to discuss these ideas and develop them further, why don't you join me for a chat in the chatroom at 1.30 - 2.30pm Fri 14 August AEST?

I hope to chat to you there!

Peter Allen

(Peter is a lecturer in IT Studies at Adelaide Institute of TAFE, and has been teaching in online, blended and classrooms since 1992 - ish.)

Comments:

15 August, 2003

Lynne Ruth

Very true, Peter. The blended option is the perfect compromise. It is also worth remembering that not everyone has access to a computer at home! I believe that most people can express themselves better in this format than face-to-face, but you don't learn those valuable social skills.

15 August, 2003

Rosemary Carson

Peter, your article was REFRESHING. I personally love technology and all things virtual - BUT - not everyone is ready - OK that's fine. But somehow I sense you are aware that the softly softly approach has been effective. Well done. A few years ago I lectured at the NTU and became aware of the level of receptivity to flexible learning "the blended way" before they thought of the term. There were positive results. I know I am early for this discussion but your article grabbed my attention. Thanks.

15 August, 2003

Sue Leed

Peter -You make it sound so easy. Although I have had the opportunity to study online, I haven't yet started delivering but with your simple and easy to use tips you have encouraged me to give it a go - I can't wait to get started.

Thanks

15 August, 2003

Sylvia Kendall

Lots of good advice and suggestions here Peter. Our organisation in the NT is travelling along the road towards online learning and I think a mixture of f2f, online and CD based is how we're likely to finish up. Many of our trainees are from remote communities where online is difficult or sometimes not an available option. Our own staff are also finding that 'blended' learning enables us to access the best of all mediums. Thanks for the topic.

15 August, 2003

Jan Peterson

I enjoyed your article. It shows anyone who is worried about starting to use technology in their teaching that they probably are already doing it... great for dispelling fears and encouraging further exploration. Thanks Peter, I will share your article with others in my team.

18 August, 2003

Cathy Baxter

Peter, you have given a list of helpful ideas that I intend to share with others...

I've obviously missed out on the chat - can I access the log?

22 August, 2003

Barbara Copeland

Hi Peter, sorry I missed the chat session. As a teacher f2f in a class of adult learners who range from early stages of developing literacy & numeracy to students wanting to enter uni next year with a bit of revision, the online work I can use to complement their programs is a life and sanity saver for me. It allows them so much flexibility and empowers them to take control of more aspects of their learning.

3 September, 2003

Norm Henrickson

Peter, I have been trialling toolboxes with my general construction trainees for a while now, and I must admit that there are fewer sleepy heads in the class when the screen show is playing. I find a combination of visual aids and 'coalface' chalk and talk teaching is working better than the either/or approach. When the eyelids start drooping, it's time for a change of pace.

Is the old adage; 'skills in the morning, thrills in the afternoon' still doing the rounds? I think it applies just as pertinently now as it did when the phrase was coined.

Peter Allen