The Attributes of Successful Distance Learners

     There are several things one must ask their self before becoming a distance learner.  The self-assessment will help the potential student decide whether distance learning is for them or if the traditional classroom setting is more their style of learning.  Here we will look at some of those attributes that make up the distance learner.

      1)   Motivation 

     As a distance Learner you must be self-motivated and self-disciplined and have the ability to renew your motivation for learning when it lags.

     Maintaining and sustaining the motivational level of e-learners is a big challenge for this type of education. (Jain 2002)  This is usually done by the learner-learner student-content / communications can motivate learners to encourage learning outcomes.        

     Borje Holmberg believed students learn by engaging in guided “didactic conversations” with their instructors. (Simonson p. 48)  Guided didactic conversation helps the instructor/student relationship, therefore increasing the students learning outcome.

2)        Set Goals 

      “Learners who want to know something have learning goals. Students who want good grades have performance goals.” (Ley 2005) Goal setting helps the learner to add to their performances.  Setting goals are great motivating techniques. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

3)

     Willing to communicate with the instructor so that if problems arise and have the ability to deal and cope with personal blocks to learning.  “Online learners must be able to determine where and how to seek help, and make decisions concerning the most appropriate sources for such help.” (Dembo 2004)  By not communicating with the instructor when you fall behind or do understand something could make you frustrated and put you further behind.  This can also contribute to losing your motivation in yourself and lose sight of your goals.       

                                                                 

   4)      Time Management

     Having time to study and do your homework is the biggest influence for your online progress.  Life often comes between you and your online classes, knowing how to balance and adjust time is important.  You as the distance learner must be able to commit to 4 to 15 hours per week per course.   Be able to complete assignments on time.  “Self-regulated learners know how to manage their time because they are aware of deadlines and how long it will take to complete each assignment.” (Dembo 2004)  Decide the time of day you think you will be able to concentrate on your studies.  Once you set aside a designated time stay committed to that time.  (Gatlin)     

     The attraction to distance learning is that you can study around your schedule, so set your study time around your down time.  Distance Learning has a lot to offer to the students who can donate the time on their education.   (Gatlin)     

    5)     Technology Knowledge

      You will need to know how to use a computer for numerous reasons.  Since distance learning primarily means exactly that.  The majority of your learning and correspondence is online, therefor having the ability to use technology correctly will also add to your success. 

Class assignments will be available on the course website. You will need to know how to view them and the knowledge and skill to utilize it. You will also need to know how to access the schools resources that is available to you.

References

Jain K    Student Affairs Online:    Motivating E-Learners - A Case Study of E-Learners Seeking an Advanced Degree from UNITAR Fall 2002 • Vol. 3, No. 4 Retrieved March 26, 2012

http://studentaffairs.com/ejournal/Fall_2002/motivatingelearners.html  

Ley, Kathryn Motivating the distance Learner to be a Self-Directed Learner.  Retrieved March 2012

http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference   

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.  Retrieved March 2012

Gatlin, Stephen      How to Succeed as an Online Student Retrieved March 2012

http://distancelearn.about.com/od/distancelearning101/a/studentsuccess.htm

Dembo, M,  Lynch, R  August  2004 The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning    The Relationship Between Self-Regulation and Online Learning in a Blended Learning Context  Retrieved March 2012

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/189/271  

A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

 Windows Live Meeting

 

       Often companies with multiple operations around the world would need to have up to date training with their employees at different sites.  Travel time for the trainers, renting conference rooms, loss of productivity, reproducing training manuals and other materials can be costly.  Using operating systems such as Windows Live Meeting and Knoodle, can cut down those costs while allowing each employee the exact training.  This will also allow the employee’s to share what works and doesn’t work with each branch of the company.

 Since many computers use the windows operating system Netmeeting from windows would have been a good choice.  However if the company upgraded to Windows 7, then it will not be a good fit.

     Windows 7 has what is called Live Meeting.  Office Live Meeting is a conferencing solution that you can use to engage audiences in online meetings, training, and events.   Live Meeting includes software that is installed on client PCs, and uses a central server for all clients to connect to.  The software is offered for free download from the Microsoft website. This software also operates on Mac computers. 

     The ID trainer can schedule, join, or present a Live Meeting by using newly available features that includes: audio, video conferencing, uploading handouts for distribution.

From this the trainer can import the content in the Live Meeting, managing attendee permissions

Recording a meeting

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/live-meeting-help/office-live-meeting-instructor-led-training-HA010242972.aspx?CTT=1

Knoodle

      "Knoodle provides a cloud-based social presentation, training, and learning management system in a single platform.  Deliver more effective and engaging online training and presentations to your target audience within minutes by using a combination of slides, video, audio, images, surveys, tests, multiple delivery options, and data analytics.  You can use Knoodle for sales pitches, product demos, sales or product training, video resumes, professional career and employee development, e-learning, and more." (Knoodle 2012)

Knoodle offers effective classroom experience for on demand learning.  Trainers can share their presentations and training tools by uploading them into media sites like YouTube and Facebook for future references. Trainers and the corporate offices can get feedback on how well your presentation or training was received by taking Knoodle's real-time analytics and data reporting dashboard.

http://www.knoodle.com

"Assessing available technologies often requires that the instructor determine the level of lowest common technologies (LCT)." Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, S. (2012).   This can be done by the learner taking a survey on what technology is available to them.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/live-meeting-help/office-live-meeting-instructor-led-training-HA010242972.aspx?CTT=1  

 http://www.knoodle.com 

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and Learning at a Distance (Fifth ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Distance Learning

     Simonson, Smaldino, Albright and Zvacek (2012) in Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundation of Distance Education, defines distance education “as institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors” (p.32)  

     Before this course, I had not understood much about distance learning. My definition of distance learning was education outside of a classroom by use of a video tape of lectures or by computers. The assumption I had about this course before it started was that it would cover the basics of teaching online classes.  Now I am learning that distance learning covers much more than I ever imagined it was.  

     I found that distance learning is a flexible alternative learning style to the traditional classroom setting in which the same educational goal is achieved.  Teacher and student are connected by technology such as smart phones, android tablets and computers that brings educational opportunities to the learner anytime and at the learners own pace.  

     The beginning of distance learning goes back more than 100 years, newspaper advertisements for correspondence courses on learning how to write short hand. (Simonson p. 37) Linda Hinkle wrote in The History of Distance Learning, “Born out of a need for educational opportunities to reach a geographically dispersed population, the first distance learning was in the form of correspondence courses.”(2009),   this was done by sending the learning materials to the prospective students’ homes.  As the postal systems grew so did the growth of distance learning.  As technology and social environments grew it opened the doors for a better form of communications between student and instructor.   Pen, paper, and the postal service were used to connect them. As communication technologies (audio, video, and data) became readily accessible to learners, these have been increasingly used. Today cellphones provide access to the web, graphics and video; wireless networks are available at schools and stores; and Internet access in homes is available through television cables and fiber optics.

     In today’s society, the economy affects how and where the modern student learns.  Students who are single parents, caregivers, full time employees, disabled or unable to attend traditional classes are now seeking the same education in the form of distance learning. They are attending online classes at reputable schools that offer several degrees or certificates while allowing the student to continue with their everyday lives of working and taking care of their families with as few interruptions as possible. 

     These students may attend strictly online or have a combination of classes online and in a traditional offsite campus that will be taught by instructors who will represent the participating college of the student’s choice. The need to understand computers is a must to keep up with the technology that goes with the new age of distance learning. Through modern technologies such as the internet, computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones, allow the distant learner access to his or her classes at any time and any place, check correspondences, university updates, check homework assignments and view financial accounts and grades. 

     Before taking this course, I had taken several online classes for my Associates Degree and a 50/50 mixture of online and traditional classes for my Bachelor’s Degree.  My first online class took me a couple of days to understand exactly what I was doing. With the help of classmates and the instructor I was able to get in the swing of things. I now prefer to do all my classes online while still maintaining my family life with very little interruptions.   As a distance learner then and now time management can be difficult.  I have to set aside time for studying, projects, discussions. Sometimes life disrupts those plans and I have to readjust my educational life schedule to it.  

     As distance learning continues to change and advance, the more colleges will be able to use distance learning as a means to reach more students across the globe. I see instructional designers designing programs with the instructor that will meet the educational needs of students in a distance learning setting.

     Tomorrow may bring a virtual classroom setting.  With the use of the cameras, glasses and virtual programs, my grandchildren may be attending classes in virtual world without leaving the house.  Put on a pair of glasses sit in front of a computer or television and enter the educational world.  With this virtual setting, students will unite all over the world to sit and meet their fellow classmates and instructor.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and Learning at a Distance (Fifth ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Hinkle L, November 29, 2009 The History of Distance Learning

http://www.brighthub.com/education/online-learning/articles/24126.aspx

Evolving of Distance Learning