Creating
Distance Learning Courses
Lesson One
The Dynamics of Teaching
and Learning at a Distance
Choosing Course Readings
This guide outlines some points to think about when you are considering
using print materials in your distance learning course.
Print has
several advantages for students. It is extremely portable, cost effective,
readily available, and comfortable to use. Students don't need special
equipment to use it, and with adequate light, print materials can be used
anywhere at anytime. Students can review the materials at their own speed.
Disadvantages
of Print
Printed
materials also have some disadvantages. Text materials are static, and
less appropriate for teaching languages and visual concepts. If you use
exclusively print materials, you may find it difficult to interact with
students and explain some concepts such as those involving motion. Consider
your students' reading and language ability when selecting materials.
It may take days or weeks to distribute printed matter, and it may be
difficult to update the materials once the class has started. Also students
with visual
impairments may need the material in another format.
Textbooks
and Readers
To save
time with revising your course in the future, choose texts and readings
that will be relevant, current, readable, and available over several years.
If you plan
to create a course reader, plan time for securing
copyright permissions. If you are unable to obtain permission to use
some materials, you will need time to find other material.
Course
and Study Guides
A printed
course guide is one way to organize the content of the course that you
would normally give in your syllabus and explain in person during the
first day of class. Use it to provide a course outline, required text
and materials, study instructions, assignments, exam preparation tips,
suggestions on how to approach the material, and answers to frequently-asked-questions.
You can also include information about other media the students will be
using.
Course guides
are generally print-based; however, here are a few online examples:
Workbooks
You can
use a workbook to supplement other course materials or as a self-guided
course in itself. A workbook provides real-life examples of many of the
techniques, strategies and tactics students will need to master.
You can
save yourself time by having your students progress through workbook material
at their own pace with little or no assistance or feedback from you. You
may provide corrrect answers or criteria for satisfactory responses somewhere
in the text so the students can correct their own work. The best workbooks
are tied specifically to the course learning objectives and other course
materials.
Here are
some well-designed electronic examples of workbooks:
Periodicals
Current
general interest periodicals such as newspapers and magazines can make
excellent supplements to a distance learning course.
Newspapers
and magazines are usually easy-to-read and distribute, contain current events,
and bridge the gap between academia and the "real" world.
Here are
some examples of periodical-based coursework and activities:
Electronic
Reserves
If you provide
a clean copy of printed materials, the University Libraries will place
selected journal articles, book chapters, class notes, past exams, and
homework solutions online for easy student access.
Find out more.
Resources
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