This blog post written by:
Dr. Jolly T. Holden
USDLA Chair Emeritus
Advisory Board Chair

 

“I do not know any innovation upon existing methods more radical and revolutionary than this”

Although this quote sounds as if it were referring to a new technological breakthrough, in reality, this profound statement was uttered by the Reverend Joseph H. Odell, D. D. (1910) in his address titled “The New Era in Education: A Study of the Psychology of Correspondence Methods of Instruction” delivered in November of 1910 at the dedication of the instruction building of the International Correspondence Schools in Scranton Pennsylvania.

Fast forward a 106 years, and the above statement would be applicable today. In fact, it could accompany the marketing of any new and innovative technology used to deliver instruction today. So when I received my weekly Chief Learning Officer newsletter announcing “Why More Enterprise Companies are Adopting Virtual Instructor-Led Training over Traditional Classroom Training”, I viewed it with a little skepticism. What was this new technology that touted virtual training as being one of the most effective ‘new’ ways to deliver high-impact learning programs to a global audience…the benefits of this training delivery method includes lower delivery costs, broader student reach, and higher knowledge retention.”

The attributes of this new instructional delivery medium integrated a visual component (PowerPoint) with live [instructor-led] audio where the students can interact via a conference phone bridge, or by typing in a text response into a chat box. Not to keep you in suspense any longer, the announcement was about a web conferencing solution. Hmmm…seems to me I recall a similar application of the same concept (albeit different technology) used 30 years ago. This legacy solution was called audiographics, and integrated text/images delivered via a computer tablet and/or the use of an electronic whiteboard and a POTs (plain old telephone) phone bridge.

Sound familiar? Same idea, new wrapper…which ironically, uses the same [old as in legacy] phone lines as does the web conferencing solution of today but digitally! Furthermore, the concept of integrating live [instructor-led] video into a distance learning solution was practiced well over 3 decades ago where it was called Instructional TV (ITV)/Video Teletraining (VTT) and delivered via satellite or video teleconferencing (VTC)—both still in use today, albeit vastly improved.

That said, web conferencing is a very efficient solution since it leverages the ubiquitousness of the internet, and some say easier to use (a debatable point), but it’s still the same idea wrapped in a newer technology. The point is this: there will always be newer technologies that can delivery instruction more efficiently, but when it comes to instructional media, it’s the message that counts, not the technology. This point was made years ago, and is still appropriate today:

“The best current evidence is that media are mere vehicles that deliver instruction but do not influence student achievement any more than the truck that delivers our groceries causes changes in nutrition… only the content of the vehicle can influence achievement”

Richard Clark, Review of Educational Research Journal, 1993

So it all comes down to this—is any medium used to delivery instruction as effective as the traditional classroom? Consider this–one element of the traditional classroom that cannot be emulated is least technological component: The live instructor. It’s no wonder new and innovative instructional technologies want to emulate the traditional instructor-led classroom—the one element that makes both effective is the instructor. So why is the traditional classroom preferred, and why won’t it go away anytime soon? There are a number of reasons, but perhaps it comes down to simply the human dynamics of learning…we are a gregarious species that embraces human interaction and presence.

Check out these upcoming USDLA events:

USDLA 2017 National Conference, April 30 – May 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN

The USDLA 2017 National Conference is the premier event for professionals in the distance learning industry. This year’s conference celebrates USDLA’s 30^th year and promises to deliver an action-packed agenda that will bring together distance learning practitioners from across the country and around the world.

Submit an Award Nomination Today!!!

The United States Distance Learning Association, the nation’s premier distance learning association since 1987 presents its NEWLY REVISED International Distance Learning Awards Program, the premier awards for the distance learning industry.

About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets.

 

This blog post written by:
Linda Dickeson
USDLA Chair of State Chapters

 

As a fairly new USDLA member, I’m developing deep respect and admiration for the innovative educators and programs honored each year at the USDLA awards ceremony. Each year the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) recognizes the preeminent distance learning practitioners from around the world, saluting some often unsung but hardworking professionals and also showcasing the “best of the best” so that others may admire and emulate their excellence and innovation. Our USDLA blog will be featuring a different 2016 USDLA Award Winner over the next several months.

A required course, MGMT3013: Fundamentals of Management, in the Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business received a major make-over under the leadership of Dr. Jim Pappas, Management Department Head. This 12-week course is required for all undergraduate business majors and typically has over 170 students enrolled. In order to increase student retention, engagement needed to be increased. How can a large group of students be provided opportunities for engagement without increasing instructor workload? The course was completely redesigned over two semesters with help from the college’s Distance Learning staff, including video production, test administration, instructional design, and multimedia A1:X15.

To include interactivity with peers, sub-grouping was necessary in this large group. After taking a Myers-Briggs assessment, students posted to discussion boards in the group that shares their personality type (16 types). Students were also put into small “study buddy” groups, where they first exchanged some personal information about each other and then were encouraged to email each other (as well as the Teaching Assistant, for accountability) with any questions or concerns about the course.

To improve student retention and success, Dr. Pappas and the instructional designer set up an Intelligent Agent within the LMS to check for any students who have not logged in within five days. Each Friday, and email composed by Dr. Pappas in advance goes out to nudge them to log into the course to see what they have missed.

Student learning was also enhanced by including multiple visual, textual, kinesthetic and/or auditory activities to enhance learning. Various media includes high quality instructional videos; interactive text, practice, and quizzes in McGraw Hill’s LearnSmart; and custom-designed visuals. Custom icons were created and strategically placed throughout the course to signal certain types of content or interactions.

With multiple types of formative and summative assessments, students have opportunities to prove their learning in various ways. The formative assessments consist of the LearnSmart modules, quizzes, extra credit video case quizzes, and discussions. The summative assessments are three proctored exams.

This amazing course make-over will prove that interactivity (with content, peers and the instructor), combined with good design concepts, easy navigation and multiple types of assessments will surely improve student retention and success!

Check out these upcoming USDLA events:

USDLA 2017 National Conference, April 30 – May 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN

The USDLA 2017 National Conference is the premier event for professionals in the distance learning industry. This year’s conference celebrates USDLA’s 30^th year and promises to deliver an action-packed agenda that will bring together distance learning practitioners from across the country and around the world.

About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets.

 

 

Each year the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) recognizes the preeminent distance learning practitioners from around the world. The annual awards program not only salutes some often unsung but hardworking professionals but also showcases the “best of the best” so that others may admire and emulate their excellence and innovation. Our USDLA blog will be featuring a different 2016 USDLA Award Winner over the next several months.

USDLA’s 2016 Bronze Award for Best Practices for Distance Learning Programming was presented to Adam Peterson and Crystal Halley, JD of the University of Arkansas System eVersity for their work in developing an exemplary online course on the subject of Legal Research.

The Distance Learning Programming category considers both individual or a series of online courses or training modules. Each body of work is judged in regards to interactivity, design, use of technology, and assessment.

Ms. Harriet Watkins, the Director of Online Learning at the University of Arkansas System eVersity nominated the course for the award and stated, “This six-week innovative online undergraduate Criminal Justice Legal Research course, created by professor Crystal Halley, JD was produced using 100% open educational resources (OER). The course design encompasses interaction, collaboration, assessment, and learner support which are all hallmarks of an exemplary course. Engagement can be seen throughout the course with a good mix of activities to keep the students focused on the content. For example, the case file activity is interactive, enjoyable and engaging. The inclusion of external resources and multimedia resources embedded throughout the content help to round out the course.”

In a video describing the course, Adam Peterson, the Senior Instructional Designer, who worked with Dr. Halley to build the course, points to several of the strategies and design elements that keep the course learner-centered and remove barriers for the students. For example, emphasis is placed on consistency of design so that students can navigate content and course elements easily.  In order to reduce the cost to students, there is no textbook required.  Instead, students have access to open education resources at no cost.  In addition, careful attention is paid to delivering content in multiple formats to address the learning needs of individuals and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.

Check out these upcoming exciting USDLA events:

IFWE: The International Forum for Women in eLearning

November 30 – December 2, 2016 in San Antonio, TX.

USDLA is proud to present IFWE every two years, recognizing the role of women leaders in the field of eLearning. IFWE includes open discussions, a voicing of ideas, and presentations that include audience participation. IFWE is designed to tap into the resources of the attendees as well as other experts in their profession.

*For more information about this USDLA signature event, check out the agenda.

USDLA 2017 National Conference

April 30 – May 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN

The USDLA 2017 National Conference is the premier event for professionals in the distance learning industry. This year’s conference celebrates USDLA’s 30^th year and promises to deliver an action-packed agenda that will bring together distance learning practitioners from across the country and around the world.

This blog post written by:

Randy McDonald, Ed. D

About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets.

Each year the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) recognizes the preeminent distance learning practitioners from around the world. The annual awards program not only salutes some often unsung but hardworking professionals but also showcases the “best of the best” so that others may admire and emulate their excellence and innovation. Our USDLA blog will be featuring a different 2016 USDLA Award Winner over the next several months.

USDLA’s 2016 Platinum-level Best Practices Award for Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching was presented to Jenna Ellis, a teacher at Mountain Heights Academy of West Jordan, Utah for her use of Online Technology in K-12 Education.

Jenna and her colleagues first earned statewide distinction for putting together the best of traditional teaching methods with 21^st century learning practices to help advance this charter school’s students in grades 7-12.  Their mission was to exceed the educational objectives by go beyond academic success to prepare them to excel in the 21^st century global workforce.

Jenna initially designed courses for English 8, English 8 Honors. Of note was a Leadership/Peer Monitoring course, which has become a cornerstone element for all students enrolled at Mountain Heights. Jenna now works with colleagues to develop instructional blueprints for courses across the school’s curriculum.

Important to Mountain Heights Academy’s success is Jenna’s commitment to the idea that the use of technology in the classroom does not eliminate or reduce the need for teachers and instructional strategies. Instead, a variety of open source tools are used in conjunction with interactive technologies to provide personalized learning experiences for each student while meeting state standards.

Jenna’s courses feature opportunities for teachers to interact with students individually or in groups via video calls, online chat, or phone providing the option of reviewing work and assignments in both synchronous/asynchronous modes. This allows some course participants to advance through their work as quickly as they want to and are able to. Also, teachers can provide extra time to students who may need help. Jenna incorporates interactive activities such as student-annotated text and gamification of subject matter to encourage peer-to-peer learning and student collaboration.

 Central to the success Jenna and her colleagues have experienced at Mountain Heights is the idea that “expectations yield expectations.” Not only are course requirements specified at the beginning of each course, but also for behavior online and student collaborations to insure safe learning environments for each class participant.

For a detailed look of how Jenna and her colleagues create innovative blueprints for student success you can check out Jenna’s presentation online by clicking here.

Also, be sure to look at this short video to learn more about Mountain Heights Academy.

Stay tuned to our USDLA blog as we highlight each award recipient and the amazing things they are doing in the name of “Distance Learning”.

Check out these upcoming exciting USDLA events:

National Distance Learning Week (NDLW)

November 7-11, 2016.

During NDLW, all USDLA sectors including Pre-K-12, Higher Education, Corporate, Government/Military and Telehealth will educate their constituents on the amazing growth in distance learning and showcase their accomplishments.

*For more information about this USDLA signature event, check out the agenda.

IFWE: The International Forum for Women in eLearning

November 30 – December 2, 2016 in San Antonio, TX.

USDLA is proud to present IFWE every two years, recognizing the role of women leaders in the field of eLearning. IFWE includes open discussions, a voicing of ideas, and presentations that include audience participation. IFWE is designed to tap into the resources of the attendees as well as other experts in their profession.

*For more information about this USDLA signature event, check out the agenda.

USDLA 2017 National Conference

April 30 – May 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN

The USDLA 2017 National Conference is the premier event for professionals in the distance learning industry. This year’s conference celebrates USDLA’s 30^th year and promises to deliver an action-packed agenda that will bring together distance learning practitioners from across the country and around the world.

*For more information about this USDLA signature event, click here.

Written by:

Van L. Bridgeman, USDLA Board Member

 About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)

The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets.

 

Having been around distance learning for the better part of 20 years, I’ve had the honor to meet colleagues from all around the world and watch how they’ve made a difference in student’s lives through the use of distance learning. Each year the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) recognizes the preeminent distance learning practitioners from around the world. I first met Greg Zorbas and Rob Sparks at the USDLA annual conference in the spring of 2016 as they were there as award recipients for what they called the ‘Classroom without walls” (CWOW) project.

The CWOW originated with three high school history teachers in a fairly modern but remote part of Alaska who, back in 2005, sought to collaborate. I was amazed to learn how resourceful these guys actually were; they took unused, obsolete Polycom video conferencing gear and built a distance learning network that would be operated by each of them. I recall the joke they told about working together they probably equaled one good teacher!

Teaching in Alaska is no easy feat; Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) spans more than 25,000 square miles – an area larger than the state of West Virginia. Some schools, small and separated by wilderness or seawater, are as much as three hours apart. All that distance makes collaboration among schools vital, but it also makes it extraordinarily difficult. After getting to know Greg and Rob it was obvious that they thrived on these types of challenges.

Like any good distance learning project they established a set of goals to increase student engagement through student-to-student collaboration, broadened learning opportunities and state-of-the-art tools.

They ultimately realized all of their goals using distance learning – the mastery of subject matter was enhanced, their students learning 21st century skills and they also found that even stodgy old teachers (themselves) could learn and grow, too. Just look at a group of students in Kenai connected with a partner classroom (actually a one-room schoolhouse) in Cooper Landing some 70 miles away. The power of distance learning!

Not being ones to standstill, the CWOW project continually evolves. Now in its eleventh year, a new selection of classes offer a certification program designed to help develop individuals who have a desire or need to understand the world of video conferencing & the impact the video solutions have in multiple industries.

The benefits of distance learning are numerous but one that truly sticks out for me is the ability for teachers to teach to their individual strengths, while simultaneously giving students the benefit of learning from content experts. This is not financially possible in most remote, rural locations and helps to provide the opportunity for small and remote schools to collaborate with larger more dynamic classrooms. Greg and Rob also encourage digital citizenship by educating students on the proper use of technology and research tools as well as on collaboration and videoconferencing etiquette (something many adults could benefit from as well!).

The CWOW has gone on to bring together schools and communities in Alaska as well as around the world. What started out as a bunch of guys breaking down the traditional classroom walls, has turned into a tower of teaching for the local community and state of Alaska.

See Greg and Rob’s dream in action at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUs5Yn_jNfA

Written by:

Pat Cassella, USDLA Board Member

About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is a non-profit association formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The association reaches 20,000 people globally with sponsors and members operating in and influencing 46% of the $913 billion dollar U.S. education and training market. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance learning and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling as well as business, corporate, military, government and telehealth markets. The USDLA trademarked logo is the recognized worldwide symbol of dedicated professionals committed to the distance learning industry. https://usdla.org.