Blog Exercise Summary

This was the first time creating a blog. I found the experience very challenging and initially, somewhat disconcerting. First, I consider myself somewhat of an introvert. That being the case, I think that I am very uncomfortable with putting my thoughts, even educational ones, out for public consumption. I know that sounds strange since I post to the discussion threads, but I view that a little differently. Besides, I have been doing online classes for the past ten years and have become very comfortable with that controlled environment. Publishing for the entire world to view, to me, seemed somehow strange. Hopefully with more experience in this area, that feeling will go away.

The challenge of this assignment, and class, had to do with the timing. Prior to beginning this degree program, my professional responsibilities were manageable and their associated deadlines minimal. With the passing of the stimulus plan, or its official title, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, our state agency as probably other state agencies, have become inundated with several initiatives, all having to be completed, right now. The next thing I knew I had more deadlines than there were hours in the day. Although very grateful that I have a job, I’m not necessarily happy with the amount of work that has come my way in the past month. The challenge now is managing this extensive increase in work and staying on top of my course work. I am also somewhat frustrated that I don’t have as much time as I would like to become more familiar with the new technology that I have been introduced to during the class but this blogging exercise is a step in the right direction for gaining the desired new knowledge.

Cheryl

Instructor Roles

When I was working on my bachelor degree, I attended a traditional class of sorts in that we had to physically go to the classroom and it was face-to-face instruction. However, since it was on a military installation, the class size was smaller than those large university campuses. So I was completely taken by surprise when I read that graduate teaching assistants taught without the supervision of their professors (Bates & Poole, 2003, p.155). This was definitely new information to me, but obvious the normal course of doing business at universities. I wonder, then, would it be difficult to get a teaching position at a community college with a graduate degree; although my interest actually lies towards corporate training.

Another statement in the text had to do with instructional designers being capable of being project managers but managers cannot be instructional designers without extensive training (Bates & Poole, p. 158). I beg to differ. I have had the unfortunate luck of holding the position within my organization of Software Quality Assurance (SQA). In this role, one of my primary responsibilities is to evaluate IT projects throughout their development life cycle. This may not always be the case, but I have watched a great deal of IT professionals fail miserably at being project managers simply because they were not trained to be project managers. My opinion here is that it is an advantage to have Instructional Designers involved with training design projects, but unless they are trained project managers, it would be more beneficial if the project manager of the design project actually have project manager experience.

Cheryl

Module 2b Web 2.0 Technology

In module 2 I had a question I wanted to pose to the class but the events within my professional life overwhelmed me and I let the opportunity slip by. Nonetheless, the question still exists. I am curious to find out who uses radio as a delivery method for distance education and what are they teaching with it? Okay onto my discussion of web 2.0 technology.

Module 2a

I really enjoyed this module. This module validated for me the selection of the MDE program as a compliment to my bachelor and prior master degree which are in Information Systems (CIS/MIS). It allowed me to blend my love for Information Technology into what is becoming my second passion; education. I actually got a chance to experience two of the applications used to develop and deliver distance education classes. I chose WebEx and Moodle as the two applications to explore. I have had a great deal of actual practical experience with WebEx because it is what my agency uses to hold meetings, conferences, and training. I have hosted several past WebEx meeting and events. It was only after doing the comparative analysis of the two applications did I consider that there were just as many cons as there were pros for WebEx. When compared to Moodle, WebEx can be somewhat limiting in terms of how flexible the application can be; but WebEx does has some advantages as well. The key advantage of using WebEx is that of convenience. With WebEx there is very little preparation required to get up and running. Moodle on the other hand requires a great deal of preliminary work to get up and running to include installation and configuration of the application. However Moodle was the application that held my interest the most. I would really like to become more familiar with this application. I like the possibility of developing my own course. Moodle, with its open source code offers unlimited potentials in this area.

The only drawback I had with this module was that of time. There was just not enough time for me to really learn the application the way that I wanted to. I also wanted to try Second City but again, there was just not enough time. I can only hope that I will somehow be able to get back to both of these applications sometime in the future. Unfortunately it may have to be after I have finished my degree.

Cheryl

Synchronous and Asynchronous Technology

It has been quite awhile. I will never understand why everything has to always happen at once but that seems to be the story of my life these past few weeks. Well on to my discussion of synchronous and asynchronous technology.

Face to face teaching is the most common approach that comes to mind when I think about synchronous teaching. This course, however, reminded me that audio, video, and internet delivery methods can also offer synchronous approaches in distance education. I have been introduced to several technological products to enable synchronous distance education communication. These tools offer, among other things, the potential for online collaboration and video presentation of course material to their intended students. I have not pursued many synchronous courses in several years, however, synchronous courses do offer several benefits including motivation through group interaction and competition; a feeling of belonging to a group; and instant feedback. The disadvantage of synchronous technology is the requirement to be present at a specific time to participate in the delivery of the information which takes away the flexibility I have identified as being necessary in order for me to continue my education.

Asynchronous technology is the reverse of synchronous. Asynchronous technology provides delayed transmission of communication. There are several common technologies that use asynchronous methods of communication. These examples include email and written documentation. Asynchronous technology may also use some of the same methods as those used by synchronous technologies, as well. The most obvious are the internet and audio. The key advantage that I have found with asynchronous technology is that of flexibility. These last three weeks are prime examples of the advantages afforded me by asynchronous technology. Between my job and my problematic satellite connection, I had to work on my class assignments as some very odd times of the day and night. Asynchronous technologies makes situation such as this possible. Asynchronous technologies offer other advantages as well. The opportunity to think through what I want to write is a luxury not offered during synchronous communication. This is truly my preferred method of education communications. I need this flexibility.

The Ever Confusing World of Terminology

There are a great many terms in use to describe distance education and its components and the list appears to be growing. It is important, therefore to understand the user’s meaning when encountering distance education terms (Moore & Kearsley, 2005, p. 3). I actually do not have a preference concerning which term best describes distance education. Prior to researching the MDE program, when I heard the term “distance education” I thought about correspondence courses. When I heard the term “online education” or some variation of the term “online” as it pertains to learning, I thought of course offerings from an Academic institution. I realize now, that these thoughts were spur-of-the-moment interpretation with no deep evaluations involved. The solution I intend to practice for the terminology dilemma is to follow Moore & Kearsley’s recommendation.

Introduction

I now know that contrary to my initial beliefs and somewhat limited way of thinking, distance education has been around for a very long time. Holmberg (2005, p. 13) brought out a very interesting idea on how, during New Testament times, disciples used the form of letters to teach their followers about Jesus Christ’s teachings. I found this to be quite intriguing. What a novel perspective for the evolution of distance education.

Although it is still early in the course, I now have a different point of view for the concept of what distance education really entails. It is not simply teachers training students that are physically separated from one another. There is so much more involved with the characteristics of distance education. For example, according to Moore & Kearsley (2005, p. 2) in order for learning to be truly considered distance education, it must be planned. To me this means that there must be a goal, objective and some method for evaluating whether the goal has been met. Another aspect of distance education is that there must also be some manner in which information is relayed between instructor and students. This is the point at which the word media starts to confuse me. The word media as I had understood it seems to mean something slightly different when referring to distance education. Whenever I heard the word media in the past, I thought of news reporters, CD, and some variation of technology. Based on what I have read, I think that media in terms of distance education is more of a technique by which communication is accomplished. According to Moore & Kearsley (2005, p. 6) distance education’s media involves some form of technology. Technology in the context of distance education is a word that I struggled with since when I visualize technology I think of automation. After reading the material however, I realize that term technology could not be limited to just automation, since there was really very little automation involved in the written word as was used back during the early 1700s when the first form of distance education was recognized (Holmberg, 2005, p.13). When I now think of the term technology as it relates to distance education, I substitute it with the word method. Some method (or several methods) must be used as a means of facilitating communication between students and teachers. This is a great lead in to my next topic which will be continued on my next posting.

Holmberg, B. (2005). The evolution, principles and practices of distance education. Oldenburg: BIS-Verlag der.

Moore, M. & Kearsley, G. (2005). Distance education: A systems view. Belmont, CA : Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Welcome to My Blog

The purpose of this blog is to document my thoughts on the material covered during the OMDE603 Technology in Distance Education course which is part of my UMUC’s Master of Distance Education (MDE). I truly enjoy technology from a development, application, learning, and teaching perspective. My feelings are somewhat more reserve about the social side of technology which is why the idea of blogging has me a little apprehensive. I am sure; however, with a great deal of effort, and continual practice as a result of this class and the MDE program, I will eventually evolve in this arena and hopefully find enjoyment in the world of blogging as so many others seem to have found. With that introduction, I will now enter the world of blogging.