Week Three Application

Example 1: Collaborative Training Environment

A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

I would recommend a webinar recorded training to train the staff on the new automated staff information system. A webinar will provide many pros:
Webinars are generally one-way conversations with an audience that is listening to audio over the phone and watching your presentation over the web.
• More than 84 percent of all people are visual learners.
• Webinars are a one-to-many system, where visuals and audio come “streaming” through the computer.
• Can easily create a “hybrid” with audio conferences, meaning attendees can choose webinar option or audio-only option; both groups would hear the same presentation.
• Webinars are an interactive medium, and the more interactive the medium, the better the satisfaction and the higher the increase in repeat customer rates, which can often translate to more revenue for your company.
• Recorded video clips can be easily added.
• Simple and easy to use, with no downloads required.
• The best webinar services provide useful features, such as instant polls, live chat (perfect for Q&A), live desktop share, and the ability for several users to control slides. Live chat and Q&A allows you to screen questions and only answer the ones you want. Still, you can capture all the questions, which provides you an additional marketing opportunity: you can communicate with the audience by sending an email with the answers to all of the questions after the event ends.
• Post call reports are available showing log in times, duration, etc.
To provide ongoing collaboration I would set up a discussion group on a wiki which would allow for the participants to collaborate with each other easily throughout the company and across the nation.

References:
http://www.mequoda.com/articles/new-media-trends/the-pros-and-cons-of-audio-conferences-webinars/

Week 1 Application

I define distance learning as any learning that takes place in a non-face to face environment. It could be online, video, TV, radio, DVD, CD, or mail. Prior to starting this course I took a class by mail. They mailed me a notebook, text book and cassette tapes (yes we are talking many years ago). When I was ready to test out of a section I had to ask someone to proctor me taking the test and mail it in. If I had questions there was a phone number I could call and speak with someone.

This week I learned the evolution of distance learning. I had no idea distance learning goes as far back as 1833. It amazes me how far it has evolved in the 150+ years. I mean now learning is at anyone’s finger tips. It does not have to be a formal class it could be surfing the internet for information about a disease or test or anything.

I think the definition of distance learning is always changing because distance learning is always changing. Factors that are effecting the change include, evolution of technology, society, new generations. The evolution of technology has taken distance learning from mail, which use to take weeks to reach its destination to computers with instant information. Society is involved because society has changed over the past 150 years meaning we have two income households, there is more emphasis on education today and of course over the years generations change. The baby boomers are different from generation X and the millennial’s. Each generation had a different outlook on education and on technology.

I believe we will continue to see more and more people and companies taking advantage of distance learning. It opens up many opportunities for more people. Companies are already taking advantage of distant learning for training opportunities. For instance at the company I work for they have short 5-10 minute videos to walk someone through a specific process. So if I have a new registrar and they need to transfer a student from the night program to the day program they can watch this short video to walk them through the process. This has saved a lot of time and energy on many levels.

The definition of distance learning will continue to change throughout the years as distance learning continues to change and evolve.

Resources:
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). “Distance Learning Timeline Continuum” [Multimedia Program].

Welcome

Hello,

Welcome to my blog. My name is Christine. I am a student at Walden University taking a Masters Degree program in Instructional Design and Technology. The current class I am in is Distance Learning. In this blog I will be writing about this very exciting course. Keep tuned for more to come over the next eight weeks.

Thanks for visiting.

Christine.