Distance+Learning



 Distance learning is a way for students and teachers to learn from and connect with experiences outside of their own classroom community. Students can connect to friends down the hallway in order to utilize technology for communication, or with people as far away as China to learn about new cultures and share information.

We are still in the process of researching various distance learning applications. Most of them can be downloaded from the internet at no cost, others have to be purchased through district affiliation. Here are some links to applications we are investigating: [|Skype], [|ooVoo], [|Podcast], [|Desire2Learn], and Wikispaces! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf9QZwCrK-Y video on the application of using distance for children who took a virtual field trip to a national park.

**Distance Learning Advantages**

**Flexibility**  you can fit the program into your schedule as you see fit  You can have a job without compromising missing work for class or vice versa  Eliminates commute time and time away from home  Program options are not limited by a geographic location  You can learn at your own speed, taking as long or as little time as you like  Increased familiarization with technology  Can increase your comfort with participation that would otherwise be inhibited by the presence of others in a classroom

**Convenience**  Distance learning technologies can provide convenient locations for both students and instructors.Many of the technologies, such as the Internet and telephone, are easily accessed at home. Others, such as videoconferencing, can be distributed from a single point (such as a university)  to multiple remote sites (such as schools). Satellite transmissions can be viewed at specified sites, or the transmissions can be recorded for later viewing at home or school.

**Effectiveness**  Not only is distance learning convenient, it is also effective. Several research studies have found that distance learning is equally <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">or more effective than traditional instruction when the method and technologies used are appropriate to the instructional tasks, when there <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">is student-to-student interaction and when there is timely teacher-to-student feedback (Moore & Thompson, 1990; Verduin & Clark, 1991). <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> **Affordability** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> Many forms of distance learning involve little or no cost. For example, almost all of the homes in the United States have televisions <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> and many are connected to a cable-TV service. For these homes, it is relatively easy for the students to watch a public broadcast television <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> show or educational documentary. In addition, almost all homes have access to a telephone and/or the Internet, enabling the use of voice mail and audio conferencing. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> **Multi-sensory** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> One of the benefits of distance learning is that there is a wide variety of materials that can meet everyone's learning preference -- at least part of the time. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">For example, some students learn from visual stimuli, such as video, and others learn best by listening or interacting with a computer program. If distance <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> learning courses are well designed, they will likely offer learners a wide range of choices, thereby providing the optimal combinations of interaction and media. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> **Interactivity** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> Contrary to popular opinion, distance learning courses can offer increased interactions with students. In particular, introverted <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> students who are too shy to ask questions in class will often "open up" when provided the opportunity to interact via e-mail or other <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> individualized means (Franklin, Yoakam, & Warren, 1996). Through the increased interactions, teachers can better meet individual student's needs. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> **Equity** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> Educational inequity is a major issue in this and other countries. Rural schools often have less contact with educational trends, fewer <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> qualified teachers, and more need for technology. Distance learning offers great potential for alleviating these issues and has been employed <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> very effectively in Canada and Australia -- two countries with geographically diverse student populations.

<span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">**Distance Learning Disadvantages** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Lack of discipline to follow through with course curriculum <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">Dishonesty among online students <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> Unforeseen technical difficulties with equipment (computers, printers, software etc.) <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> Lack of human interaction <span style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> Lack of socialization provided by traditional schools