Example 2: Interactive Tours
 

 I was really thinking about how students would be able to visit and art museum without actually attending the museum physically! Well, apparently Google Art Project offers virtual tours to the world’s top art museums (technology)! Therefore, as instructional designers we would need to decide which form of distance learning technologies would best fit the teacher outcome.

To address the best learning technologies for the best learning outcomes for the high school teacher; therefore, “learning outcomes are those observable, measurable behaviors that are consequence of online instruction”(Simonson n.d). The learning outcomes:

1.Tour of the museum 
2.Interact with museum curators 
3.See the art work on display 
4. Participate in a group critique

Tour of the museum

Since the teacher wanted the students to experience the two prominent New York museum and they were located on the west coast; the best for of technology would be the virtual tour by A Street View feature by “Google that lets viewers take a 360-degree virtual look into selected galleries. Users can click from a view of an entire gallery to a close-up look at one of the pieces inside it” (Art Project by Google).  Therefore, the students would need to use a two-way audio/video using a desktop or laptop because “streaming video is becoming more widely used in traditional as well as distance education classes” ( Simonson n.d). In addition, Mullins- Dove ( 2006) “ describes streaming video as using the internet to allow video and audio content to play, or stream, as it is downloaded from a remote source”.   As instructional designer, I would suggest that the students use the computer lab or if they have the technology capabilities to desktops or individual laptops. Therefore, by using Google Street View the students will be able to tour any select museum in New York and allowing them to interact with the curator while using the Google Street View.  In addition, the students will be able to see the artwork on display and select various artworks that they like.  Another technology that could be use would be for the teacher to create a classroom blog that the students could respond to the different artwork selected by the teacher.  The students will be able engage in group discussions with the blog about the various artwork that the teacher posted and the artwork that they liked themselves. According to Blog in Education the educational benefit of  blogging are, “Educational Benefits Gives students the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with people from around the world Provides a larger audience for student writing Provides an authentic writing experience Postings can be created any time, any place Improves student motivation for writing and quality of writing Gives students opportunity for feedback outside of the classroom”.

Technologies for the teacher to use:

       Desktops  or laptops

2     Google Street View- internet- http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/02/02/google.streetview.art/

3     Classroom Blog – for all the student to respond to different artwork posted by the teacher; sample of a classroom blog below

http://wparena.com/themes/wordpress-theme-for-educational-websites/

References:

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance:     Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson. 

Mullin-Dove, T. (2006). Streaming video and distance education. Distance Learning, 3(4), 65-71. 

Blogs in Education. http://awd.cl.uh.edu/blog/

Defining Distance Learning

     After reading this week’s reading about distance learning, my views of distance learning has truly evolved because I originally only thought of distance learning from the perspective of higher education. However, distance learning not lonely effects the higher education arena but it has truly evolved in the areas of K -12 and training and development.  Distance education in the K-12 arena is one of the fastest growing areas of educations thus far ( Roblyer 2006). Even within the training and development arena the use of distance education is on the raise primarily because it’s cost effective for companies.

      As I stated in this week discussion, I was totally supportive of distance learning but just not for me! I honestly heard so many rumors about the distance learning environment I was a little leery. I heard things such as it was too easy and companies will not think your education as being creditable.  The thought of taking a course of line and not having the face to face contact with your instructor was just heard of to me!  When I received my Master; we met twice a week for every six weeks. Mine you, it drove me crazy to attend class and instructor would read from the power point presentation.  I would think to myself, I could be home doing this (Ironic).   Never did I think about the possibilities of distance education because I attended a traditional college so that was all I knew at the time.  Now, I truly enjoyed the campus life because it has shaped me into the person I am today and I would have never joined a sorority for example if it wasn’t for the on campus life.  I think the amazing thing about education today is that we have choices about your educational goals.  

       Over the past couple of years, distance learning has changed dramatically because of all the technological advances which have made education at your fingertips. I see distance learning as alternative form of education and learning. It allows learning to take place virtually. Distance learning is use of education and technology working together to make learning more accessible.  Not only is distance education more accessible but it allows learners from all different regions to come together and collectively share educational thought and ideas. I believe distance will continue to evolve over time because of the technological advances that will allows distance education to be even more accessible to the masses.

       In my opinion, the benefits to distance learning out weights the disadvantages!  Distance learning provides opportunities for people to not commute to school every day,  it will allow you to keep your job, gives you more income, experience and stability while completing your degree; hence, giving you less to worry about and more time to focus on your studies. In addition, students can complete their school work from just about anywhere, as long as there is a computer and internet connection. However as I mentioned earlier, I believe distance learning reduces the social interaction by not giving you the opportunity to become affiliated with campus life activities such as sororities and fraternities. And not all courses can actually be completed online for example;   courses that a nurse and trucker would need to been in the classroom setting because it requires a lot on hands knowledge and experience.  There are still common disadvantages such as employers or companies still do not accept distance online degrees and education as being creditable.  However, many of the disadvantages are beginning to change because of the competiveness among schools or learning institutions for student and there is a population increase among the “non-traditional student”.

      Since I work at a distance learning institution, I see the ever growing changes by the universities to keep up with the trend. We are consisting looking for ways to better address the needs of our students whether its e-books or updating blackboard to make it more user friendly among the students.  I have even experience the training and development side of distance education because most of our trainings are done virtually or online at our desk.  Even more so, I have seen the growth in the school system because I have a son that is in the third grade and a portion of his day is on the computer doing classwork.  It’s funny because at times he knows more about the computer than I do. His generation is all about technology and distance learning.   I think that with all the technology out here, it will be required to take some form of online learning course just to stay competitive in the workforce.

Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education:   Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 1: Training and development). TechTrends, 52(3), 70–75.

                                       
Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 2: Higher education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66-70.

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5), 63–6 7.

Distance Learning Course

Welcome to my blog site! I look forward to sharing my ideas and thoughts with you about this class!