Comments on: Online Distance Learning: whose future? http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/ Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:45:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: John http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-421 John Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:19:55 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-421 I think there are a couple of siuses here that need to be drawn out:How are podcasts used by lecturers:Podcasts should be used, as has been stated above, to give added value' information. Or possibly, to allow a student to catch up with a lecture that they have missed. They should be entertaining and informative as the aural medium is one of the weaker ones for humans. Have you ever been in a bad presentation? What do you do? Do you listen to the speaker, or do you ignore them and just read the information on the slides? How are podcasts used by students: A recent survey conducted by Bridge Data has shown that 80% of podcasts never get moved onto a portable medium. This suggests that most people would rather listen to it while at a computer when they are in work mode'. The idea of a 24/7 student, listen to extra learning material on the train to work etc quickly disappears if you listen to the students themselves. How should downloadable content be managed: There are two sub-points here, depending on the lecturer. If the lecturer is a normal' lecturer, you can make some assumptions: (Note: these are based on experiences my friends and I have had.) The most relevant one here is that they will not know how to give a presentation, and seeming most lectures are in a presentation format, this is interesting. But on the plus side of this, this means that when they upload their presentation files, there is enough information there for the student to be able to recreate most of the information from the lecture. However, if they present correctly, then their uploaded files will be meaningless without some audio as information should come from a lecturer not a .ppt file. If it did come from a file, why keep lecturers on staff, just get them to create the files and then pay Equity minimum and get actors to give the lessons. In this case, a podcast coupled with a presentation would be best. This would also give the best experience for the learner. And, before you start complaining, this is easy to achieve. You could just record the lecture and edit it together without any breaks or ums' and ahs'. I could go on, but I think this may be long enough for the moment. Mark I think there are a couple of siuses here that need to be drawn out:How are podcasts used by lecturers:Podcasts should be used, as has been stated above, to give added value’ information. Or possibly, to allow a student to catch up with a lecture that they have missed. They should be entertaining and informative as the aural medium is one of the weaker ones for humans. Have you ever been in a bad presentation? What do you do? Do you listen to the speaker, or do you ignore them and just read the information on the slides? How are podcasts used by students: A recent survey conducted by Bridge Data has shown that 80% of podcasts never get moved onto a portable medium. This suggests that most people would rather listen to it while at a computer when they are in work mode’. The idea of a 24/7 student, listen to extra learning material on the train to work etc quickly disappears if you listen to the students themselves. How should downloadable content be managed: There are two sub-points here, depending on the lecturer. If the lecturer is a normal’ lecturer, you can make some assumptions: (Note: these are based on experiences my friends and I have had.) The most relevant one here is that they will not know how to give a presentation, and seeming most lectures are in a presentation format, this is interesting. But on the plus side of this, this means that when they upload their presentation files, there is enough information there for the student to be able to recreate most of the information from the lecture. However, if they present correctly, then their uploaded files will be meaningless without some audio as information should come from a lecturer not a .ppt file. If it did come from a file, why keep lecturers on staff, just get them to create the files and then pay Equity minimum and get actors to give the lessons. In this case, a podcast coupled with a presentation would be best. This would also give the best experience for the learner. And, before you start complaining, this is easy to achieve. You could just record the lecture and edit it together without any breaks or ums’ and ahs’. I could go on, but I think this may be long enough for the moment. Mark

]]> By: Craig Williams http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-25 Craig Williams Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:39:54 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-25 Absolutely loved this podcast, and agree with Lynn. I have been doing a distance learning course with the aptly named Distance Learning College and Training (www.dlcandtraining.co.uk) and i was slightly apprehensive about the lack of face to face support. They have a structured the support package so that you can speak to a tutor as many times as you need too. The main thing for me, was that i was working full time and going back to university or college wasnt really an option. Id 100% recommend this to people who are looking to further there education there are so many benefits. Absolutely loved this podcast, and agree with Lynn. I have been doing a distance learning course with the aptly named Distance Learning College and Training (www.dlcandtraining.co.uk) and i was slightly apprehensive about the lack of face to face support. They have a structured the support package so that you can speak to a tutor as many times as you need too. The main thing for me, was that i was working full time and going back to university or college wasnt really an option. Id 100% recommend this to people who are looking to further there education there are so many benefits.

]]> By: Ken Punter http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-23 Ken Punter Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:13:45 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-23 Should have mentioned I'm not a student at Warwick. My MSc is with Econsultancy and MMU. Should have mentioned I’m not a student at Warwick. My MSc is with Econsultancy and MMU.

]]> By: Ken Punter http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-22 Ken Punter Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:12:49 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-22 I'm currently both a post-grad, distance learning student and a digital practitioner within UK HE (Digital Comms Manager at Warwick). I'm very interested in the subject but currently assessing for myself how/if e-learning supports a good student experience. As a practitioner I think it'll be a mistake to think that cost reduction is a benefit, done well digital/online content (in ever sector) tends to cost more, at least in the upfront capital expense. Speaking as a student the critical issue is the appropriate engagement from the lecturers, they need to engage regularly and communicate clearly. The key fundamental though has been the opportunity to blend the experience with face to face contact (although some of my peers haven't attended any of the discussion days yet have still done well in their assignments). Although story-boarding is a necessity when designing anything interactive, it's important to acknowledge that perfection can be the enemy of progress. Sometimes good enough, is an appropriate standard. I’m currently both a post-grad, distance learning student and a digital practitioner within UK HE (Digital Comms Manager at Warwick).

I’m very interested in the subject but currently assessing for myself how/if e-learning supports a good student experience.

As a practitioner I think it’ll be a mistake to think that cost reduction is a benefit, done well digital/online content (in ever sector) tends to cost more, at least in the upfront capital expense.

Speaking as a student the critical issue is the appropriate engagement from the lecturers, they need to engage regularly and communicate clearly. The key fundamental though has been the opportunity to blend the experience with face to face contact (although some of my peers haven’t attended any of the discussion days yet have still done well in their assignments).

Although story-boarding is a necessity when designing anything interactive, it’s important to acknowledge that perfection can be the enemy of progress. Sometimes good enough, is an appropriate standard.

]]> By: Lynn Hunt http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-21 Lynn Hunt Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:32:53 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-21 Impressive podcast - especially liked the emphasis that learning materials need to be designed for online learning, not just transferred. I would, however, take issue with the discussion on online learning being the poor relative of face-to-face learning when it comes to networking. Having just completed the Open University online Masters module H800, I have expanded my network tremendously with contacts all over the world. The course encouraged us to use blogs, forums and Twitter and we built a very good and supportive working relationship. Impressive podcast – especially liked the emphasis that learning materials need to be designed for online learning, not just transferred. I would, however, take issue with the discussion on online learning being the poor relative of face-to-face learning when it comes to networking. Having just completed the Open University online Masters module H800, I have expanded my network tremendously with contacts all over the world. The course encouraged us to use blogs, forums and Twitter and we built a very good and supportive working relationship.

]]> By: Alastair Clark http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-20 Alastair Clark Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:32:33 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-20 My quote from this ...........Turning material into 'intake' e-tivities My quote from this
………..Turning material into ‘intake’ e-tivities

]]> By: Mark Childs http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/online-distance-learning-whose-future/#comment-19 Mark Childs Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:03:11 +0000 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/blog/?p=429#comment-19 Great podcast, lots of eminently quotable lines for persuading people of the potential of online learning. Good to hear Dave and Rich sounding like radio professionals, a career on R4 await. For hard data that training students in a Second Life environment can work in a real life environment, check out Nigel Wynne's Comslive project http://comslive.health.bcu.ac.uk/ Great podcast, lots of eminently quotable lines for persuading people of the potential of online learning. Good to hear Dave and Rich sounding like radio professionals, a career on R4 await.

For hard data that training students in a Second Life environment can work in a real life environment, check out Nigel Wynne’s Comslive project http://comslive.health.bcu.ac.uk/

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