Creating Distance Learning Courses
Lesson Two
Part 2: Repurposing Existing Materials
Understand
the Distance Learning Environment
Distance
learning, any course taken outside a classroom environment, may include
the use of a number of media to facilitate learning. Because a distance
learning class generally does not include a scheduled classroom meeting,
the environment differs significantly from the classroom. Although distance
education is still a transaction between you and the students, the relationship
between you changes. The majority of your time and energy during a traditional
course is devoted to presenting the content through lectures and demonstrations.
In distance learning, much (if not all) of the content is prepared--and
in some cases, provided to the students--in advance, and embodied in printed
materials, audio or videotapes, World Wide Web (WWW) pages, or other media.
Once the course begins, the majority of your time will be spent as a facilitator,
as students interact with the material and with each other.
Distance learners as a population differ in key ways from more traditional classroom students. Many distance learners are adults for whom campus attendance is difficult due to circumstances such as employment, family responsibilities, military service, or disability. Many are seeking academic credit in pursuit of a degree. Some on-campus students enroll in distance learning courses as well because of scheduling conflicts with classroom- based courses. Distance learners may also be mid-career professionals seeking continuing education, workers requiring a credential to make job change possible, students with physical or learning disabilities, or geographically isolated students. However, the audience for distance education is growing rapidly and, as a result, the population of distance learning students is changing.
Allow
Adequate Time for Planning
Differences
in the way that content is presented in a distance learning course will
change the amount of time that you invest in different aspects of teaching.
These changes make careful planning and time management essential. Our
organize
and manage your course guide may help you think about ways to manage
your time effectively. As you begin planning your distance learning course,
allow enough time for planning course materials and learning new technologies
before the course begins.
Go
on to Lesson 3
