Application: Blog—The Impact of Open Source

Application: Blog—The Impact of Open Source

 

Eric Cartmenez
"How Do I reach these Kids?"

            When I had first heard about free courses for learning, I was on the social site reddit. There was a post about the pros and cons of online learning, specifically how schools are somehow manipulative when offering courses at extravagant prices. The debate was in regards to accreditation, and how free learning should be available to everyone, and not just those who could afford the privilege. This is the focus of openculture. I really like how this site is set up in a blog type format. Open Culture brings together high-quality cultural & educational media for the worldwide lifelong learning community. Web 2.0 has given us great amounts of intelligent audio and video. It’s all free. It’s all enriching. But it’s also scattered across the web, and not easy to find. Our whole mission is to centralize this content, curate it, and give you access to this high quality content whenever and wherever you want it.

            Openculture in itself isn’t the learning platform. Instead editor Dan Colman scours the web for the best educational media. He finds the free courses and audio books and post them as an update regularly. So essentially, you could be taking a public speaking course at Penn State, or an Intro to Engineering course at MIT. Their mission is to centralize this content, curate it, and give you access to this high quality content whenever and wherever you want it. It has 6 main sections: Audiobooks, Online courses, Movies, Language lessons, e-Books and Textbooks.

            This isn’t how the textbook lays out how the course should be laid out. However the way in which it is presented is excellent. It informs the user briefly about the course prior to having them visit the schools site. The work has been done for the user and they even let us know if taking the course will yield a certificate or credential. Learners have become so tech-savvy that to catch up with them and maintain their interest, teachers have to be a couple of steps ahead.

            My guess is people will come for the movies, and stay for the courses, I couldn’t help but view this website as bound up with the issue of self-motivation. Without a strong desire to learn, I fear that users will inevitably drift towards the “junk food” part of the buffet. (Rossoff, 2011) That’s my sentiment as well. I feel as though I would take a course that is free if It offered a certificate and transcript that I can show to employers that is valid. With a large buffet of learning to acquire, can it be successful without students motivation to learn?

                                                                     References

Rossoff, F. (2011, December 7). EdLab Review: OpenCulture | EdLab. EdLab | A Research, Design and Development unit at Teachers College, Columbia University. Retrieved June 3, 2013, from http://edlab.tc.columbia.edu/index.php?q=node/6906

Blog—Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

In this final and romantically charged scene, our hero Rick Hunter much choose between two polar opposite Learning Technologies. Lyn Minmei represents the newer and exciting dream laden future of Distance Education. While Lisa Hayes is the Disciplined and structured CMS. To discover who he chooses, you must watch Robotech.

Application: Blog—Selecting Distance Learning Technologies
Example 3: Asynchronous Training

            The training program I am going to develop is for the asynchronous training for the Safety Training Module. The reason I am going with this is because it offers training in operations without the use of fixed time intervals. This way learners can train on their safety needs accordingly. Being cognizant of company time frames and needs will usually require a synchronous training method. Unless you are on a weeklong conference at a swanky hotel where you will have a known time period of training, this would be an effective method of training.

Dubai Hotel is swanky

       

     In an internet-based learning environment, the instructor needs to be concerned with the layout of the course ware and the types of resources available to the students at the distant sites. The instructor needs to be certain the material is designed in a way that is intuitive for the various types of learners who may be interacting with it. (Simonson, 2012, p. 161)

            Some forms of distance technology, such as radio, telephone, television, satellite, and Internet-based chats are synchronous, meaning that the student(s) and the instructor are communicating together at the same moment in time - sometimes called "real time." These technologies are time-bound requiring participants to all "meet" at the same time, although not the same place. Advantages include:

Motivation
Instantaneous interaction
Quick Feedback
Pacing

            Asynchronous communication and learning refers to communication between two or more people that does not take place during real time. For example, an instructor may post a question on a discussion board, and students may post their responses at various times. However, the postings are online for the instructor and other students to view and respond to at any time. Asynchronous learning has many advantages as well. These include the ability for students to correspond, regardless of time zone. For example, students who are living on a military base in Germany may read and respond to questions and comments, regardless of the time zone difference between the US and Germany. Another clear advantage of asynchronous communication is that it allows students more time to think about the questions posed, thus promotes higher quality responses. (http://www.ou.edu/cls/online/success.htm)

            A web portal solution in terms of CMS is something that I am more familiar with. The Army often uses his method to get training done on a massive level. The massive training of 100 or more students will require a more rich adaptable and functional learning solution. For this reason asynchronous learning is the best solution.

Who will you choose.? Lynn MinMei, or Lisa Hayes?
	Lisa Hayes
	Lynn MinMei

References

Simonson, M. R. (2012). INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION. Teaching and learning at a distance: foundations of distance education (5th ed., pp. 150-192). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Successful Strategies in Online Education . (n.d.). The University of Oklahoma. Retrieved May 19, 2013, from http://www.ou.edu/cls/online/success.htm

Defining Distance Learning

Blog Assigment: Defining Distance Learning

            Before I had encountered the world of Online Learning, I was in the mindset of the traditional college where one would physically go to a campus full of students kids Adult learners . The campuses and community colleges I knew were always a hive of activity, with desperate students striving to accomplish so much in a short amount of time. It was about early 2007 1983 1921 1863 today when I first encountered distance learning, and I was exceedingly nervous about it. I had asked a lot of questions about the class, and couldn't wrap my head around how the physical displacement of me in terms of the university could work. I was offered an introductory course, and followed along with the procedures and things we were supposed to do. I think back on it now, and it seemed silly that was actually a prerequisite, even before they let me into an actual course.

            Simonsen notes a formal definition, which sounds about right to me. Distance learning is an institution based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors. I could add that additional devices aside from telecommunications could be used as well. I have learned through this degree plan that creativity plays a pivotal role in facilitating education online. 

How Does Distance Learning Work? -- powered by ehow

            When I adjusted to my first experience online, I learned that online learning was about reading a few chosen articles and responding in a discussion forum. My Undergraduate program offered digital versions of class books, which could be accessed online, or on an iPad or eReader. The adjustment period took a short while, but after the initial enrollment and participating in the class, I knew what to expect. It was like the first time you took off your training wheels from your bike. I felt the same way that I was “doing it” I was going to school online, and I didn’t need anyone to hold my hand.

            Higher learning in Education is becoming more global. We are welcoming to students across dispersed countries, and there is an increased focus on internationalism facsism socialism dictatorship commune milk . With the new focus of reaching out to students, there are opportunities for spreading the word about the value of education. With the further reachings in education being able to permeate to students who would not otherwise have an opportunity to go to class, we are essentially breaking down international barriers.

            The vision of distance learning is going to become Popularized Everlasting Global ; it will become the norm for students and busy professionals. I know I am already feeling the busy influences that come with a career driven life. Distance learning is wound together closely with technology and evolves with the resources and advancements that we make. Ideas and technology will have a profound influence on what is expected of distance learning. The growth from correspondence courses and how we have evolved from that will bring newer compelling ways to connect us.

select your favorite thing about distance learning

I can go to class in my underwearI can use reddit and check facebook while in schoolI can save gas moneyI can do alot of learning through the resources provided online.I can get capel tunnel syndrome from being on my computerI can get bad vision from squinting at the screen

FAR AWAY LEARNING